How to save fuel and money on your vehicle
The way you drive will effect your fuel economy. The tips below can help you to increase your mileage per gallon which in turn saves you money.
Servicing
Although having your car serviced can be expensive, it can save you money in the long run. Here are some of the ways in which having your vehicle serviced can benefit you:-
- Servcing can ensure that your engine is running at peak efficiency, saving you fuel.
- It can identify possible faults, preventing you from breaking down or costly future repairs.
- A car with a full service history normally attracts a higher trade-in price.
Home Maintenance
There are regular checks you can do to help your car run efficiently:-
- Ensure your type pressures are correct. Tyres that are underinflated or overinflated can result in lower miles per gallon.
- Check your engine oil level is in the recommended levels. This will help prevent damage being caused to the engine.
- Check your washer bottle, so that you can keep your windscreen clean and see the road ahead clearly.
Don't carry unnecessary weight
The more weight you have in your car the more fuel it will use. So don't carry items in your boot that aren't necessary. The same applies to roof boxes, which also increase your car's wind resistence, as does driving with a window open.
Driving Technique
The way you drive can influence the amount of fuel you use:-
- Heavy braking and accelerating use more fuel. Anticipate the road ahead and try and drive at a steady even pace.
- The faster you drive the more fuel you are using per mile. The average car is most fuel efficient when going 45-50 mph.
- Avoid accelerating up hills. If you see a hill coming up then increase your speed before you get there and use the momentum to help you.
- On long flat roads and motorways use cruise control to keep you at a steady speed.
- Having the heating or air conditioning on uses fuel. So don't use these unnecessarily.
Below is a chart that shows savings that could be made by changing your driving technique.
Should you need any advice on this topic please contact our Energy Champion, Stephen Hollins (stephenh@mypay.uk.com).
For general information on saving energy and reducing you bills visit Energy Saving Trust.