Top Tips To Keep Your Fuel Costs Down
Although fuel prices are at their lowest in five years in the UK, for many fuel is one of the main costly outgoings. There’s no harm in finding ways to continue to reduce these fuel costs and save a few pennies by following our top tips to maximise your fuel efficiency!
- Be gear savvy
Gear changing dramatically affects your efficiency and many often rev their engine higher than necessary before they change gear. Try not to labour the engine, but alter to an engine speed of around 2,500 rpm for petrol vehicles and 2,000 rpm for diesel.
It is recommended to move up to fifth quickly, as experts say that driving at 35mph in third gear guzzles your fuel and can also cause damage to your engine.
- Hold off on the brake
When coming to a stop, whether that’s approaching a roundabout or traffic lights, don’t rely completely on the brake. Try slowing down using the gears and as you get more confident, you may not even need to use the brake in certain circumstances. Remember to check your mirrors before slowing down!
When you do stop, for example, waiting in traffic, put the vehicle into neutral rather than in first. Avoid braking unnecessarily and keep a reasonable amount of distance behind the vehicle in front of you to give yourself more braking time.
- Pump it up!
Check your tyres for pressure and tread depth. Having fully pumped tyres will help save on fuel consumption, reducing it by up to 3%! Tyres can lose around 1 PSI every month, so we recommend topping up once or twice a month depending on your usage.
- Slow it down
You’d be surprised by how many people drive way too fast and wonder why they’re using excessive amounts of fuel. On the motorway, the optimum speed is 56mph and has been proven to be economically better than driving at 70mph or over.
We understand that this isn’t always ideal, so it is advised that you do not exceed over 70mph in order to save fuel and remain legal!
- Get the junk out of your trunk!
It’s quite simple, extra weight equals extra fuel! Have a good clear out of your vehicle for any excess baggage that you could do without! It may seem silly, but it really does make a difference, to your bank account, your fuel consumption and your vehicle! This also applies to trailers and roof racks, if they’re not being used remove them to save on fuel consumption.
- Cool it
Air conditioning guzzles up a fair amount of your fuel, so try not to use it excessively. However, driving on the motorway with your windows down is equally as inefficient, so just try to keep it to a minimum. Although, when you’re out and about it may be more beneficial to your fuel consumption to use your windows rather than air con.
We support the environment and provide eco-friendly vehicles for our clients. If the well being of the environment is important to you, get in contact with us so we can cater to your needs.
