Tips To Save Fuel

The blog this week is about how to save fuel when 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:

We have always advocated that if you look after the pennies the pounds will look after themselves. By making little differences to the way you drive and how you maintain your vehicle these savings will soon add up and make a difference in your wallet. Two things that will immediately make a difference is to buy the cheapest petrol and diesel, in your local area – plan ahead – motorway service stations will not have the cheapest fuel so try and make sure you fill up before you start your journey. The second way of immediately making a difference is to car share. By splitting the driving between you and work colleagues who live in the same area – you will both benefit by making significant savings. This could potentially save you 50% if you split the driving – that’s a massive saving in one foul swoop! Please see below other ways you can save money and make your tank of fuel last that little bit longer.

Close Windows & Remove Roof Racks & Roof Boxes

Wind resistance increases your fuel consumption because it increases the drag meaning your engine will have to work harder so try to keep windows closed at high speeds and remove roof racks and boxes when not in use. Removing a roof-top cargo box can save as much as 20% on fuel over a year. Taking your roof rack off will result in a Fuel efficiency improvement of Up to 2%.

De-Clutter

The lighter your car is, the less effort it needs to accelerate. By clearing out junk from the boot and back seats you can save fuel. Decluttering your car will result in a Fuel efficiency improvement of Up to 2%. Ensuring that your engine is not working harder to move a heavier car will also help the longevity of moving parts resulting in helping keep your wallet healthy.

Slow Down

According to the AA, driving at 70mph instead of 80mph could save you up to 25% in fuel. And cutting your speed from 70mph to 60mph could save a further 10%. If you are doing a lot of motorway driving this could give you significant savings over the year!

Car Maintenance

We cannot stress enough the importance of regular car servicing to maintain engine efficiency. It really is a false economy to skip a service. When filters etc need replacing during the service schedule and oil needs replacing it is because it has come to the end of its life and is no longer doing the job it’s required to do. It’s better and cheaper to maintain than to repair. Preventative maintenance is always going to be cheaper than reactive repairs…..always!

Drive Sensibly

Every time you put your foot on the accelerator, remember the harder you press, the more fuel you spend. Adapt a smooth driving style and you will get more miles from a tank of petrol. Less Haste!

Gear Choice

It’s way more efficient to move up a gear at 2,500 (petrol) and 2,000 (diesel). Drive in the correct gear and move up in gear much earlier than normal – you will see a difference in your fuel efficiency.

Supermarket Petrol Promotions

The leading Supermarkets often run petrol promotions – double points on fuel etc. Be aware of your vouchers at the checkout and use them when you fill up – it’s usually a double whammy, as you earn points when using your loyalty cards in store and at the petrol station.

Keep Tyres Inflated

Well maintained tyres are essential for safe and economical driving. Low tyre pressure increases drag which means more fuel. Check tyre pressures regularly because incorrectly inflated tyres will need replacing more often, meaning additional costs to you. Correctly inflated tyres can improve fuel consumption. Keeping your tyres inflated could result in an improvement in your Fuel efficiency by up to 3%

Use Your Air Con or Open The Windows?

Air-conditioning increases fuel consumption, especially at low speeds. The general consensus is it will be more efficient to drive with windows down and air con off at lower speeds and windows up an air con on at higher speeds. By turning off your air con at lower speeds it will result in a Fuel efficiency improvement of up to 8%

All these % savings can make a difference of hundreds of pounds a year. Adopting them can make a significant cost saving to your household – maybe you can put it towards a tip away! 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