Fuel Saving & Safer Driving Tips
Saving money on fuel is easier than you think - take a look at our tips below for tried and tested methods of reducing your bill:
1. Service your vehicle properly
It’s tempting to miss vital services,
especially when finances become tighter. Failure to change filters and
fluids is not only reducing the life of your engine and risking damage,
it will also cause you to use more fuel. Dirty filters can cost you money.
If dealer prices are a problem, then find a good alternative local garage.
2. Air Conditioning
Air conditioning is not just for the summer. It will quickly de-mist your windows when you’re in a rush to drive of on cold winter mornings, and keep them clear and safe on your journey. Most garages will offer a re-charge for your air conditioning system, so shop around your local area if your system has lost effectiveness or needs checking.
3. Check your tyres
Check tyre pressures, preferably weekly. Incorrect tyre pressures will
worsen your fuel economy significantly. Consult your handbook for correct
pressures. Abnormally worn or misshapen tyres are just as bad. Replace
these as soon as economically possible.
4. Improve your driving style
Smoother driving with even gear changes and sensible speeds may sound
a little boring, but better driving gives better fuel economy every time
by up to 10 per cent. If your vehicle has a trip computer showing constant
mpg, then use this to train you. You may also want to consider driver training
called SAFED offered by many training schools. SAFED (Safe and Fuel Efficient
Driving) is an established programme shown to improve fuel savings by 10
per cent.
5. Reduce drag to improve efficiency.
If
you have any add-on extras such as roof racks or extended
mirrors, then remove these when they are not being used.
Windows being open will cause a tremendous amount of drag as well.
6. Switch off electrics
The more electrical gadgets such as air conditioning, back seat TVs, telephone chargers and satellite navigation you use, the more fuel you will use.
A lot of these items we leave on permanently when not being used and they
place a drain on the electrical system which in turn uses more fuel. Air
conditioning, particularly on many modern cars with climate control, is
permanently on as standard even in cold weather. Disabling this is as easy
as pushing a button.
7. Plan ahead
Reading the road ahead is something done naturally but with a bit more
thought you can use this to ease off the throttle or change down gear when
approaching lights and junctions. This will save excessive changes of the
gears and accelerator.
8. Be Prepared
The weather in the UK is some of the most variable in the world according, and is subject to drastic changes, so make sure you’re prepared for all eventualities. At the very least carry a de-icer, ice scraper and de-mist pad so you can drive with clear vision. But also think a little further
than this. Carry some spare bulbs, a tow rope, a hazard triangle and jump leads on longer journeys. Above all keep safe if you have trouble by the roadside.
9. Check the weather forecasts regularly
Anyone who does check our forecasts knows the Met Office changes the weather forecast several times a day. Forecasts are available on your mobile phone, the TV, radio and the Internet. Your journey can be impeded or may not even be worthwhile once you check!
10. First Ice Is Worst Ice
Every year in November and December the first freezes catch us all out. Modern tyres and suspension are incredible but patches of ice do not know this, and they will still do their best to catch those not prepared. Slowing down will save you being one of the 1,000’s bumped on that first day of ice! Particularly watch the black ice which comes on those damp November mornings.
11. Always have your sunglasses to hand
The sun spends more time lower in the sky in the Autumn and Winter months, causing glare. Your sun visor in most cases will not block the sun due to the angle and quite often sun glasses are not strong enough either. Drive more carefully and keep your distance between cars.
12. Change to a smaller engine?
This is not always necessarily the right thing to do. A smaller engine and car is generally more economical, however if always fully loaded and
driven hard this will not be the case. A large engine does not have to
mean poor fuel economy. It can mean that you can drive it without having
to overstrain the engine or use too much fuel. Many higher powered versions
of cars give better fuel economy than their smaller engine versions. The
message is just drive carefully and use the right size car for the job.
13. Avoid short journeys
These use the most fuel because they involve many gear changes. Starting the vehicle is a large drain on energy. Driving with a cold engine will
use more fuel because all engines are designed to work most efficiently
at normal operating temperature. Plan to stop many repeat and stop-start
journeys.
14. Install a performance air filter
A
specialist air filter will provide a better air flow rate to the engine.
Clean, plentiful air will help the engine run more efficiently and
greener. Some long life air filters such as K&N will also last the
life of the car, meaning no need to keep spending on filters at every
service.
15. Performance tune your vehicle
Performance
tuning your car may seem odd if trying to save fuel, however
it is shown that efficiency and power run hand in hand with
fuel economy. In a recent university study the Tunit product
was shown to not only improve fuel efficiency, but also reduce
the smoke particle emissions of diesel engines by 27 per
cent. Click here to see what performance tuning can do for you.