ATLANTA -- As gas prices climb to record levels, many metro Atlanta drivers are looking to coax a few extra miles out of each tank.

Save On Gas By Hypermiling

Those metro Atlanta drivers who take the practice to the extreme -- known as hypermilers -- are cautioned against going too far to get more miles in the tank.

Marshall Doney, AAA Automotive vice president, said motorists need to think of safety first, refraining from fuel-saving techniques that could put themselves and others in danger and avoid practices that could harm their vehicles.

"The goals of hypermiling are positive, such as eliminating aggressive driving and saving energy," said Doney. "Unfortunately, some motorists have taken their desire to improve fuel economy to extremes with techniques that put themselves, as well as their fellow motorists, in danger."

Examples of the dangerous hypermiling techniques include cutting off the vehicle's engine or putting it in neutral to coast on a roadway, tailgating or drafting larger vehicles, rolling through stop signs and driving at erratic and unsafe speeds.

"These practices can put motorists in a treacherous situation where they could lose power steering and brakes or be unable to react to quickly changing traffic conditions," Doney said. "Not only are these extreme driving behaviors dangerous, many of them also are illegal. However, there are several safe and legal driving techniques motorists can implement to conserve fuel, such as smooth and easy acceleration and braking, maintaining a steady speed, using cruise control and looking ahead to anticipate changing traffic conditions."

Hypermiling techniques are not limited to driving style. How motorists maintain their vehicles is also key in reaching optimal fuel economy, but extreme measures can be harmful to a vehicle.

Keeping tires properly inflated can improve fuel economy by 2 to 3 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. However, some drivers have taken this advice too far by over-inflating their tires, which the Rubber Manufacturers Association reported can make them more susceptible to road hazard damage and result in premature wear to the center portion of the tread. Over-inflation can also cause handling issues due to less tire surface making contact with the road.

Using the recommended grade of motor oil is also helpful in improving fuel economy and some hypermilers opt to use the lowest 'weight' motor oil on the market. However, motor oil is not a fluid that can be freely interchanged and using too light an oil can cause major damage to a vehicle's engine.

In both instances, AAA said motorists should check their owner’s manual for the manufacturer's recommendations. Tires should only be inflated to the pressures specified by the vehicle manufacturer and should use the lowest-grade motor oil recommended by the manufacturer for their climate.