Gas prices are heading into uncharted territory, so let’s separate genuine fuel-saving advice from automotive snake oil.

Does premium gasoline magically make your car more efficient? Usually, no. Do expensive fuel additives transform your engine into a hypermiler? Save your money.

The boring stuff still wins.

Check your tire pressures when the tires are cold. Use the correct oil viscosity. Keep the air filter clean. Look after the car you already own before buying a bottle promising “up to 15% more MPG” because it has a picture of a rocket on the label.

We’ll also tackle AWD: great for traction, but it can come with an efficiency penalty. Then there’s the hybrid question. Toyota’s hybrids have earned a reputation for durability, but that doesn’t mean every hybrid is automatically cheaper to own.

And what about going fully electric? EVs can be impressively efficient, but the financial calculation depends on more than fuel prices. With Rhode Island electricity rates rising, charging costs deserve a place on the spreadsheet too.

The bottom line? Better MPG usually comes from physics, maintenance and sensible driving — not marketing magic.