Other than shopping around to find the best fuel efficient car to own or looking out for the best deal at the petrol pumps (which can cost more in the long run if the petrol station is several miles away), drivers often feel that their hands are tied when it comes to accepting the high cost of petrol. Besides, finding the best fuel efficient cars isn’t easy nor is it always an option for many people - these vehicles may just be out of your price range. However, there are plenty of changes you can make to driving habits to help your car run more efficiently.
So, how can you get the most from your full tank of petrol?
1. Drive less, walk more
It’s as obvious as it sounds, but the best way to save on petrol costs is to only use your car when you really need to. The best way to start is by leaving the car at home for short trips to the shops or the school run and instead walk, cycle or use public transport. This will of course have the added benefit of helping you to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
2. Check your tyres
Make sure your tyres are inflated to the recommended level – research carried out by a leading tyre manufacturer found that drivers are currently wasting almost £1 billion a year on excess fuel by driving with under-inflated tyres. Under-inflated tyres also affect your pocket in other ways. You will find yourself replacing your tyres much more often because of excessive and uneven premature wear. Driving with under-inflated tyres could also put strain on other parts of your car causing damage that could easily be avoided. If in any doubt as to the correct tyre pressure either check your owners manual or pop into your local independent garage, such as ACC UK Ltd, Volvo & Toyota Independent Specialists of Farnborough, Hampshire who offer free tyre and battery checks.
3. Wear the right shoes
It may seem strange but wearing a pair of thin-soled shoes could allow you to gain better control over how hard you accelerate and how gently you operate your brake pedal – the correct use of both of these pedals will improve your fuel economy and safety whilst driving.By driving in high heels or big, heavy shoes reduces the sensitivity needed to operate the accelerator.
4. Lighten the load
Cut down on excess weight in your car by removing any heavy items from your boot before setting off - the heavier the car the more fuel will be used so it makes sense to ensure your boot is as empty as possible. It is important to remove your bike and roof racks when you’re not using them in order to help reduce wind resistance - another factor in increased fuel consumption.
5. Stick to speed limits
The faster you drive, the greater the fuel consumption and pollution. A leading breakdown organisation recently carried out research which showed that driving at 70mph uses up to 9% more fuel than at 60mph and up to 15% more than at 50mph, whilst zooming around at 80mph can use up to 25% more fuel than at 70mph. We thought they were quite staggering statisitics - less haste folks!
6. …and drive slower and more steadily
Driving fast increases the drag on your car and the amount of petrol you’ll have to use. Avoiding rapid accelerating and braking is also one of the best ways to save petrol – smooth accelerating, steering, and braking reduces energy lost through suspension movement. It will also help save money by ensuring your brake discs and pads last longer and are not subject to excessive wear and tear prematurely - brake discs and pads can be quite expensive - shop around your local independent garage and service centre for the best quotes.
7. Don’t leave the engine running
If it’s safe to do so, turn your engine off when you’re caught in traffic, stopped or parked - some modern vehicles allow you to do this automatically. Many drivers often like to ‘warm up’ the engine before setting off on a cold winter morning – this can waste petrol and can cause damage to the cars engine - we advise that you do not do this!
8. Limit the air-con
Air-conditioning can increase your vehicles' fuel consumption at low speeds, but at higher speeds the effects are less noticeable. Open the windows when it’s hot outside and save the air conditioning for motorway driving – having the windows open all the time increases aerodynamic drag - especially on the motorway, so you’ll waste more petrol. Make sure you use a qualified and authorised garage to re-gas your aircon - there are rules and regulations that require garages and motor vehicle technicians to be qualified to carry out this procedure - so ensure your local independent garage is legally able to carry this out - (Be wary of cheap offers - often too good to be true)- ACC UK Ltd of Farnborough are fully qualified and certified!
9. Care for your car
Take care of your car by making sure it’s well-maintained and serviced regularly according to the manufacturers service schedule to ensure the engine is running as efficiently as possible. Shop around your local independent garages to get competitive quotes. A well maintained and regularly serviced car will attract a better resale value when it comes time for you to sell or upgrade. It also pays to check you’re using the right specification of engine oil. ACC UK Ltd of Farnborough, Independent Volvo & Toyota Service, Repair and MOT specialists hold a wide range of high quality oils - pop in for a chat on how these oils can benefit your engine and your fuel efficiency.
Happy Motoring!
