If you are clocking up the miles, you will be going through a lot of fuel. With some simple changes to the way you drive, you can save fuel and therefore save money. Here are 9 driving tips to help you save fuel and save money:
- Cut down on hard braking
- Change gears earlier
- Check your tyre pressures regularly
- Switch off the engine
- Drive slower
- Turn off your air conditioning
- Remove the roof box
- Regularly service your vehicle
- Reduce the weight of your vehicle
Cut down on hard braking
Look as far ahead as you can to avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration. The more you accelerate, the more fuel you use.
If you keep a good distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you, you can adapt your speed when necessary, without having to use the brakes and accelerate again.
Change gears earlier
Moving through the gears quicker and driving at lower revs reduces the amount of fuel used so change up a gear at around 2,000 RPM for maximum efficiency.
Check your tyre pressures regularly
Under-inflated tyres will create more friction with the road which will increase your fuel consumption, increase tyre wear, and can be dangerous on the road. So, make sure you check the pressure at least once a month and before any long journeys. You can view our in-depth advice on tyre pressures but if you need any more help, just pop into our Northampton garage and we can help out.
Switch off the engine
A lot of newer cars have an automatic engine cut off and restart feature to save fuel. If your vehicle doesn’t switch itself off, then ensure you turn off your engine when you’ve stopped for a minute or more. Not idling your car will save fuel, as well as lower the amount of pollution that it is producing.
Drive slower
Fuel consumption is linked to revs so generally, driving faster means higher engine revs. Fuel consumption will increase the faster you drive so stick to the speed limit and shift to a higher gear as soon as possible.
Turn off your air conditioning
Air conditioning uses fuel to power the pump which makes the air cooler. If the air conditioning system is not properly maintained with a regular re-gas and service, the system can become less efficient and increase the amount of fuel that is needed to run it.
You can book an air conditioning re-gas or service with us to help keep your fuel bills down.
Remove the roof box
If there is a roof box or roof rack on a vehicle, it will vastly increase drag which means the fuel efficiency will reduce. Any roof racks or boxes should be removed when they are not in use.
Regularly service your vehicle
Regular services and maintenance benefit all parts of your vehicle, keeping it in tip-top condition and reducing extra fuel consumption from poorly maintained parts. Both petrol and diesel cars vehicles need servicing at least once a year.
Reduce the weight of your vehicle
Emptying your car of rubbish and only keeping the essentials in there is much better for fuel economy. The heavier your car, the more fuel you use so keep things tidy and don’t keep unnecessary items in there. This has the added bonus of being less attractive to thieves too.
Following these driving tips will reduce the amount of fuel you use and save you money in the long and short term. If you’re concerned about a particular part of your vehicle not working properly, book in for a petrol or diesel car or van service at our Northampton garage.