Some Eco Driving Tips To Help You Save Money

The blog this week is about some Eco driving tips that will help you save fuel and ultimately money whilst driving your Volvo or Toyota. Everyone is trying to save money at the moment, interest rates are rising, fuel bills are rising, food costs are soaring, insurance costs are rising etc so when it comes to owning a car, we need all the help we can get to keep costs down. Read on to find out more:

1. Inflate your tyres

Under-inflated tyres can increase a car’s fuel consumption by as much as 6%. With the average tank of fuel costing around £100, ensuring your tyres are at the correct inflation levels could save you around £6 per full tank. Great savings across the year! Not to mention the savings you will have as you will get maximum longevity from your tyres if they are correctly inflated ensuring even tread wear.

2. Regular Servicing & Maintenance

A well-serviced and maintained car is likely to be much more economical than one that is poorly maintained. Not to mention helping to retain its resale value when it comes to selling in the future. Ensuring your oil levels are maintained means the internal components stay lubricated helping to reduce wear and tear prematurely. Always keep up with the recommended service schedule and consider the winter/summer checks as an investment not a cost. Preventative maintenance as opposed to reactive repairs will always be cheaper. Little problems can become much bigger and more costly problems if you don’t address them immediately. Don’t ignore those warning lights when they come on, on your dash, they are there
for a reason! Using an independent garage such as ACC UK LTD of Farnborough, Hampshire for your Volvo Servicing can be extremely cost effective – Dealership service at a fraction of the price! Shop around and get a quote from the dealership and then from a reputable independent garage – you will be surprised at the difference in costs!

3. Drive Smoothly

Maintain a good distance from the car in front to avoid last-minute braking and get up to speed as smoothly as possible. There is absolutely no need to be someone who stomps on their brakes constantly. You will find that your brake discs and pads last longer when you learn to drive more smoothly. Use the brake pedal and keep the gear engaged to achieve fuel reduction. Change to a lower gear when the engine speed drops below 1500 rpm.

4. Ease Off Your Throttle

The Energy Saving Trust advises drivers to take your foot off the throttle when you travel downhill. In most modern cars, this stops fuel being sent to the engine, keeping fuel consumption to a minimum. Remain in gear, however, as coasting in neutral reduces driver control.

5. One, two – skip a few

Another tip from the Energy Saving Trust is to skip gears when conditions allow. By shifting straight from third to fifth, you’ll reduce wear and
tear on your car’s transmission and save on fuel. Similarly, when slowing down, avoid shifting through each gear in turn. Drive in the highest gear
possible that is suitable for the road and conditions.

6. Air conditioning Use

Air conditioning uses fuel to keep you cool. Switch it off when you’ve achieved the right temperature, Driving with your windows open, especially at speed on the motorway will affect your drag and cause you to use more fuel so be mindful of both options.

7. Reduce Drag

Remember to take the roof bars off your Volvo or Toyota once you have finished using them. You’ll be amazed at the difference it has on fuel economy.

8. Switch Off When In Traffic

If you’re at a standstill for more than a couple of minutes, turn off the engine or engage the start/stop function. Even 15 seconds will save fuel. And over time this can really add up. Happy Safe Motoring Folks!

Here at ACC UK Ltd, Winners of The Motor Trader Independent Garage of The Year 2015, 2019 & 2020, The IGA Big Awards 2022, The Inspire Customer Service Excellence 2016 Award, The Eagle Radio Customer Focus 2017 Business Award, The Workshop Magazine Workshop Manager of the Year 2017 Award, The LiveWire Excellence In Vehicle Servicing 2019 Award and The Aftermarket Excellence Award for Best Website 2019, The Eagle Radio Biz Award – Entrepreneur of the Year 2020 & the SME News Magazine Most Trusted Car Servicing Provider 2020, we pride ourselves on offering an outstanding customer experience for a fraction of the cost of a dealership. Give us a call and let us quote you for your next service or repair on your Volvo or Toyota. We service all areas around Farnborough, Fleet, Aldershot, Farnham, Guildford, Frimley, Camberley, Hook, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Yateley, Hampshire and Surrey. We offer free collection and drop off services. We also have a fleet of courtesy cars to allow you to get on with your schedule whilst your Volvo or Toyota is with us. Happy Motoring from all at ACC UK Ltd – Independent Volvo & Toyota servicing, repair and MOT specialists based in the heart of Farnborough, Hampshire