Reduce your fuel costs

With UK fuel costs being one of the highest in Europe, here’s a useful guide to help keep those fuel costs as low as possible.

As obvious as it may sound, when possible leave the car at home.

It’s easy to get into the habit of using your car for every journey – even if it’s to pop to the local shop or visit nearby friends or family. For short journeys, leave the car at home and if distance allows try to walk! The exercise will be good for your health and just think what you could be spending all that saved extra cash on!

Watch your speed

It’s not just the speed your car is travelling at, but the engine speed or rpm which you should watch when trying to save fuel costs. Typically, try changing gear sooner. For petrol engines below 2,500 rpm and diesel run cars no more than 2,000rpm – this puts less strain on your engine and will significantly reduce the amount of fuel used.

Your highest gear, whether its 5^th gear, 6^th gear or higher in some cars, is the overdrive gear, which means your engine will be doing less work to sustain its speed, less work means less fuel used.

Try driving consistently, less heavy braking and less hard acceleration, try to anticipate the road ahead and other motorists. Not only will careless driving use more fuel but it’s dangerous too!

Whatever the case, drive to within the speed limit and to road & weather conditions.

Air-Conditioning

Turning on your cars air conditioning increases your fuel consumption. It’s because your air-con is directly connected to your car engine. Try to use the air-con less and only when it’s really needed. Using your air-con at high speeds is far less fuel consuming than at low speeds.

Keep your car well maintained

Many motorists use their cars without regular maintenance or just wait untill the normal service is due before making any repairs or general maintenance.

By keeping your car maintained and serviced at regular intervals will ensure it’s running at its best.

Put your car on a diet to lose excess weight! Carrying around that suitcase filled with clothes you keep meaning to drop off at the local charity shop or those few bricks for that porch your building has a massive affect on your fuel usage. Try to keep your car as light as possible to save on those fuel costs.

Check your tyre pressures regularly, too low a pressure means higher rolling resistance and therefore your engine will use more fuel. However, don’t be fooled into pumping your tyre pressures too high, reduced cornering stability and safety are at risk. Always follow the manufactures tyre pressure recommendations found within the owners handbook or printed on a label usually found on the inside of the fuel filler flap or door pillar.

Plan your journey

Planning your journey before you head off can be of real benefit in saving fuel. The time and mileage wasted in making wrong turns not only adds time to your overall journey but uses up unnecessary fuel. Using a Sat-Nav is a good way at avoiding getting lost; if one is not available a good old fashioned map is better than nothing.

Fuel costs