The recent reductions in the price of petrol and diesel have brought a smile to the face and a few extra euro to the wallet. But what if we told you that it’s possible to save money on fuel all the time. Yes, you can make real savings right now and you need not rely on global economic shifts and world politics to alter the price of fuel. By putting just a few simple ideas into practise, you can cut anywhere between 10 to 30% on your fuel consumption. Take a quick look at our top tips for fuel efficiency, boost the overall efficiency of your car and ultimately, your own bank balance.
How can you pass this up?
Keep the car in top condition:
Service Regularly: This is a real no-brainer. A badly tuned engine uses twice the amount of fuel, while producing twice the amount of emission, as a smoothly running engine. So it makes sense to have your car serviced regularly. This saves you cash and it saves the planet a little too. Routine maintenance like oil changes and services will reduce fuel consumption considerably.
Oil: The oil should be changed according the manufacturers handbooks, and paying attention to the type of oil recommended for your car. The wrong oil will see the engine struggling, and this generally means a cost to the driver!
Air filters: Clogged air filters can cost up to 10% extra in fuel consumption. Regular visual checks will tell you if it needs to be replaced, or consult the car manual.
Fuel Caps: Faulty, missing or loose fuel caps can cause evaporation. Make sure you hear the last click when you tighten the fuel cap. That is your money heading off into the atmosphere.
Tyres: Check your tyre pressure regularly. This is best done when the vehicle is ‘cold’. Inflate the tyres to the recommended levels, consulting the owner’s manual for the correct pressure. Remember that when you have a heavier load, you will need to adjust the pressure accordingly. Poorly inflated tyres cause more rolling resistance and as a result, use more fuel.
Economically Efficient Driving:
Driving Habits: Changing your expensive driving habits will bring a noticeable level of savings and over time, it will become second nature.
Smooth Operator: Be a smooth operator, No hard braking or jumpy starts. Accelerate gently and smoothly, then get into high gear as quickly as possible. Read the road ahead to avoid unnecessary braking.
Stick to speed limits: The faster you go, the faster you burn fuel. Consider that driving at 70mph can cost almost 10% more than driving at 60mph, while driving at 80mph costs a whopping 25% more than 70mph. You are also at risk of expensive speeding fines, so it is best to cruise along, under the radar, and with the best fuel efficiency possible.
Cruise Control: If you have it, use it on long stretches to maintain a smooth steady speed. Turn it off if the road is hilly as it will labour to adapt.
The Right Gear: Listen to that engine! Change up through the gears to a top gear as soon as possible. That labouring engine is telling you that you are losing money fast! Driving in a gear that is ‘too low’, wastes fuel. Driving in a gear that is too high (on hills, and bends) also wastes fuel. If you drive an automatic, ease back slightly on the accelerator, to allow a smooth shifting of gears, once the car has gathered momentum.
Turn it Off: Think of the car as you would your own home. If every appliance is on, you are burning fuel. Turn off demisters, heaters, heated rear windscreen heaters if they are not really needed. At low speed, the air-con will increase fuel consumption, although this is less noticeable at higher speeds.
Coasting through Life: The practise of ‘coasting’, or rolling down hills or to junctions while not in gear, will cost you your driving test as you lose control, but with modern cars it will NOT save any fuel as once your foot is off the accelerator, the fuel supply is shut off. No coasting.
Good Trip planning.
Planning your Journey: Good planning can save you money and time! Take a few minutes before you set on the road, especially if you are ferrying children, elderly and pets. A quick inventory check of schoolbags, walking sticks, mobile phones etc. can save you the bother and expense of turning back for that important item.
Map Ahead: Make sure you know where you are going. Imagine the fuel that has been burnt while searching for the elusive destinations. AA Road watch provide route planners on their website. Google maps can be helpful and if you fancy these, then an old fashioned map can bring hours of friendly banter between any lost couple.
Lighten Up: Don’t carry extra weight. This is not a personal observation, but a recommendation that you ditch the bags of coal/concrete blocks or anything else weighing down your boot. If the roof rack or roof box is not in use, take it off. They cause wind resistance which increases fuel consumption.
Synchronised Leaving: No studies have been completed about the amount of fuel wasted while the driver sits waiting for passengers, with the engine idling. Do not start until everyone is ready to go.
Happy Economical Driving:
We hope that these simple and easy tips will make your driving experience more economically efficient and if you need any advice on what to spend that extra cash on… well, you know where we are !!