5 Eco-Friendly 2008 Must Have Auto Gadgets

Hypermiling is a new wave of drivers. Hypermilers do everything from driving barefoot to carefully regulate how hard the accelerator is touched, to obsessively monitor fuel consumption. Most of us are not that extreme, but we do want to see a little relief at the pump. With these 5 gadgets, even hypermilers would be pleased with the MPG results!

1. After market economy computers help you to see your MPG in various stages of driving. These little devices show real time results and help you to become an Eco-friendly driver when you see how much gas you waste when trying to make the light. Not only will these little beauties save gas, but they might also help you to cave on insurance if you can become a slower, safer driver! Scanguage is an affordable brand that you can pick up for around $160 and can install yourself.

2. Solar Panels on your car may sound like a funny thing, but many people have these factory installed babies on their cars. While the power generated is not enough to power your car, it can power small items like your interior fan. This way on a hot summer day you can run the fan without making an impact on your MPG. However, many car lines have discontinued these wonders.

3. Performance chips are becoming an ever popular after market item. Many use them to increase what their engine can do, but an increasing number of soccer moms are looking to them to help save MPG while hauling the kids around. Hypertech is one of the leading makers of performance chips. With these chips you can set shift points in your car, allowing you to save MPG by consistently running at a lower RPM, and even set the temperature for the engine cooling system. You should look through your manual and research the most efficient running temp for you car to ensure that you get the best MPG with this option.

4. One of the most basic things a car needs is an air filter. While this may not be high tech, the process used to make reusable filters can be. By purchasing reusable air filters you are accomplishing two things. First, you are helping the environment by not having to throw away you old filters. These filters may cost around 3 times more, but you can simply hose them off and use them again instead of buying another! Most people change the air filter about 10 in the time that they own a car, if you simply bought a reusable one, you would save the cost of 7 filters! Second, air filters impact the efficiency of your car. With reusable filters, you can make sure that your car is running at top notch because you can keep your clean all the time!

5. Navigation systems are common in many cars, but some people don't realize the Eco-impact that they have. By installing a navigation system, such as a Tom-Tom, you can actually save gas because you can choose between the shortest route, least congested route and even routes with fewest stops. By using a navigation system for guidance while running errands, you can save major MPG and you can check it by using gadget #1 at the same time!

Many things make cars Eco-friendly and they may not even need to be high tech. To turn you car into an Eco car, you don't really need to spend all the money for gadgets. Here are a few tips to economize your car for cheap. First clean out the junk, excess weight leads to lower MPG. Next, check your tire pressure. Also, combine errands and drive to the furthest first then backtrack, this gives your car the opportunity to fully warm up before you turn the engine on and off many times. Last, continuously research the latest ways to save MPG, but don't obsess. You can always find your own ways to cut back. Try walking!