As petrol and diesel prices skyrocket, I’ve noticed more people recently asking about how they can drive in such a way that reduces their fuel consumption, saving precious pounds out on the road.
It’s not something I think many people gave much thought to before (aside the most frugal amongst us, perhaps), but as prices have risen by over 20% in the last few weeks (even with the 5% cut in taxes) it pays to be mindful of your fuel consumption, especially if you use your car frequently or often take long journeys.
Good driving is also safer and more economical not just in terms of the amount of fuel you use, but also for the health and longevity of your vehicle (and insurance costs, if you have a black box fitted).
So with that in mind, here are my five failsafe tips to help you reduce your fuel consumption. Although it’ll make a relatively small difference each day, the savings can be significant when you add them up. It’s also better for the environment so it’s worth keeping these habits up, even when fuel prices drop.
1/ Keep your car properly maintained
This is number one because it saves you money – full stop. Making sure you properly maintain your car ensures it is running optimally and isn’t causing higher fuel consumption due to a minor fault or malfunction. One area to pay particularly close attention to is your tyre pressure – the lower your tyre pressure, the more fuel your car needs to move it down the road. Check your tyres every month at least to see if the pressure is optimal – it could save you a few pounds each week if you do.
2/ Practice intelligent airflow
Heating and air con in particular use up a lot of fuel, but when it’s hot outside or you’re struggling to see through misted windows, you need them switched on. Be mindful of having the air con on unless you really need it, and keep your windows up when travelling on larger roads and motorways. The aerodynamics of your car are directly connected to its efficiency – so if you’re driving with the windows down and sunroof open at 60mph, the car is having to use a lot more fuel to maintain its speed.
3/ Accelerate smarter
How we accelerate influences a car’s fuel consumption greatly. Whilst you might think that avoiding gear changes saves fuel, if you’re heavy on the accelerator in an effort to avoid changing down gears (especially in alternating densities of traffic) you’re actually using more fuel, not less. Similarly driving erratically or aggressively can use up to 60% more fuel than driving smoothly – so be sure to keep it slow and steady if you want to conserve fuel.
4/ Combine your trips
The more trips you make, the more fuel you use – of course. But did you know that making multiple trips when you could have combined those into one, longer trip also increases fuel consumption? Planning ahead can help you to maximise fuel usage, as a cold engine will use much more fuel for the first five miles you’re on the road. If you tend to go out more than once a day to run errands in different places, have a go at consolidating those several small trips into one bigger one. You could try doing the food shop on the way to the school run or on your way home from work, for example. Combining several small trips into one, even if it’s a rather long trip, could save you a significant amount in fuel costs per week.
5/ Empty your boot
Some people’s cars are dumping grounds, packed to the rafters with bits and bobs which essentially weigh you down and cause you to use more fuel with every trip you make. Now is a good time to grab a storage box and declutter your car, ideally only taking with you the things you need every day such as your spare tyre, warning triangle and logbook. If you do need to transport heavy items from time to time, be sure to drop them off straight away before going elsewhere, and take them out of your car when making other trips.