Ahh, the sounds of summer: the buzz of a lawn mower, the chirping crickets at night, the incessant ching-ching-ching of the gas pump. Unfortunately, a combination of factors — high crude-oil prices, low refinery supplies, tighter pollution standards — means gas prices nowadays can put a damper on your plans to spend the summer driving here, there, and everywhere. And if you're behind the wheel of a sport utility or another gas guzzler, you're putting a tiger in your tank all too often: The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that average new-car fuel economy is the worst it has been since 1980 — a mere 24.5 miles per gallon. But you can take a few measures to ease your pain at the pump.

AT THE PUMP
Don't pay for premium. Some grease monkey may have told you, once upon a time, that premium gasoline (which can be a dime more per gallon) will improve a car's performance. With the exception of some sports cars, and luxury cars like BMWs, most modern vehicles run just fine with regular gas. (A BMW spokesman hastens to add, though, that a tank or two of regular won't hurt your car, if that's all you can get at the moment.)

Buy bargain gas. The same discounters that slash prices on everything from diapers to dog food sell cheap gas. Retailers such as Costco and Sam’s Club typically sell gas for about 15 cents less per gallon than the local average. (For an SUV with a 30-gallon tank, that's a savings of $4.50 per fill-up.) You do, however, have to pay an annual membership fee ($35 at Sam's and $45 at Costco). Albertson's, a grocery chain that owns gas stations, doesn't charge a fee.

Pass up the miracle cures. Additives for your gas tank (like Sta-Power) and gizmos that attach to the engine (like fuel-line heaters) won't save you a penny. The Environmental Protection Agency tested a wide range of such products and found that none significantly boosted mileage.

IN THE GARAGE
Inflate those tires. Soft tires slow you down and can cut gas mileage by 10 percent or more, according to the tire-sales and research website www.tirerack.com. Follow the inflation instructions in your owner's manual or on the decal at the inside edge of the driver's door. Ignore the numbers on the tire sidewall, as they are more general and not specific to your make of car. Aim to check your tire pressure once a week — at least once a month is crucial. Keeping tires properly inflated will also help you avoid rollover and other tire-related accidents.

Maintain the engine. A reduced air supply or a sluggish ignition can cut into mileage. Change the air filter twice a year and the spark plugs every 50,000 miles. When you change the oil every 6,000 to 7,500 miles, have the mechanic check your cooling system, too. Even cars with computer-controlled engines, which need fewer tune-ups, require these chores.

Take a load off. Extra weight in the car can hurt mileage. Reduce the clutter in your trunk by removing tools, golf clubs, and other weighty and hardly used items.

ON THE ROAD
Drive the thriftier car. If your family owns both a sport utility and a sedan, get into the habit of taking the smaller vehicle whenever you can. By driving the Toyota Camry instead of the Ford Expedition to the mall, you are saving about nine miles per gallon in suburban driving. After 20 10-mile trips, you'll have saved about $11.

Steer away from rush hours. Idling in bumper-to-bumper traffic uses precious gas unnecessarily, and it pollutes more, too. Don't waste time in lines at the fast-food drive-through; go inside for your Extra Value Meal — and get extra value from your gas.

Avoid fast starts and high speeds. Jackrabbit starts — quick acceleration from a standstill — are hard on mileage. Try to move smoothly through traffic. Speeding also cuts mileage. For example, driving 75 miles per hour on the highway uses 25 percent more gas than cruising at 65.