How to Save Fuel while Driving
We all like to save money, especially in the realm of car
maintenance. Saving fuel is an easy way to reduce the monthly spend on your
car, and it’s not just about how far we drive every day. The way we drive will
affect how much fuel we use; in fact, by making a few changes you could be saving up to 10% on your fuel costs!
Let’s take a look at how to save fuel while driving:
Preparation
Before setting off on your journey, take a few minutes to prepare
your car. There is little point trying to reduce fuel consumption on the road
when you have unnecessary weight dragging you down. Would you stroll to the
corner shop carrying a rucksack full of random junk when all you need to do is
buy a newspaper? Treat your car in the same way – if you don’t need it, don’t
bring it, because more fuel is required to carry around these extra items.
Here are some changes to make to your car to reduce fuel
consumption:
·
If you don’t need your roof rack or box for the
journey, remove it.
·
Take a look underneath seats and in footwells
and tidy up
·
Check the boot and remove anything you don’t
need for the journey (the spare wheel, jack, wrench etc. are still important!)
Driving Style
Once you have set off, there are plenty of ways to reduce
fuel by the way you drive:
·
Cool,
calm and collected - It’s not always easy, but staying calm on the road
will help you to save fuel. Try to avoid unnecessary braking by staying aware
of hazards, and accelerate gently rather than pushing hard on the pedal. If you
are prone to a little “road rage”, consider setting off 5 minutes earlier for
your journey so that you are not driving in a rush.
·
Keep
rolling – When approaching a traffic light or a queue of traffic, rather
than breaking to a halt, decrease your speed slowly and keep the car rolling
until you can speed up again. Stopping and starting uses more fuel, so try to
avoid this as much as possible.
·
Take it
steady – We all know how easy it is to break the speed limit on the
motorway, but despite the fact that it is breaking the law, exceeding 70pmh for
long periods will cost you in fuel. Stay within the speed limit and stick to a
similar speed on the motorway, and your fuel will go further.
Other Fuel Saving
Tips
·
Keeping the windows open on the motorway will
create “drag”. Close them while driving at higher speeds to reduce fuel
consumption.
·
If your car has air conditioning, it’s best to
only use it during hot weather, as it is known to use a lot of fuel.
·
Keep your tyres at the correct pressure. If they
are under-inflated, your car needs to use more fuel, so check your vehicle
handbook for the figures and pump them up regularly.
Why not follow these tips and see how much money you could
save on your fuel? We’d love to know your progress. Or for more information,
please get in touch with the experts here at Express Service.
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Published: 16/05/2016
Author:
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