As petrol and diesel prices continue to fluctuate in the UK and global environmental concerns over fuel consumption rise, it has never been more important to think about the way you drive your car, van or motorbike and how you can avoid wasting fuel.
Whether you have a petrol or diesel vehicle, filling up your tank with fuel is expensive, and we know all too well how quickly you can go through it. Before you know it, it’s time to refill!
If you’re wondering what will reduce fuel consumption or how to master fuel-efficient driving, then you’re in luck. Keep reading to save yourself some pennies and increase your vehicle’s miles per gallon by adopting these tried and tested fuel-saving techniques from the experts at Eurorepar.
Regular maintenance and servicing of your vehicle will improve its efficiency, and consequently will improve fuel consumption. Book your vehicle in for regular services to enable any issues to be spotted and fixed quickly.
For more tips on keeping your vehicle well maintained, check out this handy blog.
Another fuel saving tip is to hold back on excessive speeding and accelerating. The best way to maintain a high mpg is by driving in the highest gear possible, whilst keeping your vehicle within the speed limit. There is no ‘one driving speed’ that is optimal, it will depend on the road you’re on and the vehicle you are driving.
Jumping gears may feel efficient at the time, but all it does is drain your fuel and reduce efficiency. It causes the engine to run outside of its ideal range between each gear, resulting in poor fuel economy.
A fairly simple one is to take any excess weight out of your vehicle, as the heavier it is the more fuel it will use. Think about removing anything from your boot that you know you won’t need on that journey and if you have a roof rack, take it off when you don’t need it. Roof racks increase resistance by increasing your vehicle’s aerodynamic drag, which requires more fuel to compensate – therefore reducing your fuel economy. Give your car a regular clean out to ensure you aren’t travelling with items that you don’t need.
To reduce drag and wind resistance from your vehicle, don’t open your windows or sunroof unless it’s necessary. As a general rule, if driving slowly then opening your windows uses less fuel but when travelling at high speeds, like on the motorway, it’s best to use the aircon.
The lower your tyre pressure, the more fuel your vehicle will need to move it along. The entire weight of your vehicle is supported by your tyres’ air pressure, and naturally they lose a little bit of air each month, so it’s important to check your tyre pressure on a regular basis. You should find the recommended tyre pressure for your car either inside the driver’s door or inside the petrol cap. If your car doesn’t have a sticker, then refer to the owner’s handbook.
Top tip: Find out more about tyre wear, maintenance and care tips.
How you drive can also have a big impact on how much petrol or diesel you use. Driving at an appropriate speed and within the speed limit will allow you to have more time to anticipate traffic ahead, helping you to drive more smoothly - which in turn help you save fuel. When you approach red lights, ease off the accelerator early, as its heavy braking and re-accelerating that wastes fuel. Driving economically works best when you sustain momentum and slow down the vehicle gradually rather than leaving braking to the last minute.
Whenever you use your vehicle’s air conditioning, you are using engine power to work it, which in turn will increase your fuel consumption. All of your vehicle’s accessories from the demister to the radio uses power from the battery, which is charged by fuel in your engine. So, keep this in mind. However, don’t forget that your car’s air con should run for at least five minutes every fortnight to keep the system lubricated and maintained.
Only top up your vehicle with the fuel that you need so that you are not carrying excess weight around. Fuel is really heavy, so you want to avoid having a full tank if possible. Instead, if you top up as needed, then you’ll be carrying a lot less fuel weight around.
Another simple tip is just to use your car less! Instead of making several one-off trips, try to think ahead and combine smaller trips into one for better fuel efficiency. A warm engine is more efficient from a fuel consumption point of view compared to several cold engine starts. Combining trips might not always be possible, but it’s all about being prepared.
Idling is when you keep the engine running even when you’ve stopped. Not only will this be putting excess Co2 into the atmosphere, but you’ll also be burning unnecessary fuel. However, this is situational as we don’t recommend turning your car on and off in stop-and-go traffic, as you need to be reactive to drive safely.
Coasting, another term for driving out of gear, is not only an unsafe driving technique but it also won’t save you any fuel.
If you have a stop-start engine, then definitely use it. Taking your foot off while the car is in neutral will kick-start the stop-start system, saving you fuel and money.
Driving at a constant speed, as previously mentioned, is a great way to save fuel. Cruise control can help with this when you’re driving on flat roads. It’s particularly useful on motorways, but don’t use it on roads with a gradient, as this requires more power to get up any hills.
And those are our top 10 fuel efficient driving tips to help you save fuel. If you want to have your car checked over, book in for a service or MOT online and check out our other services. For more expert advice, take a look at our other blog posts.
