As the price of petrol and diesel is sky high, there are lots of ways drivers can save fuel and, therefore, money.
Weight Watching: The more a car weighs, the more fuel it’ll use to move. Take out the tool box that you never use and those golf clubs that only come out at the weekend and you might be surprised how much weight it’ll save.
Keep Cool: Which uses more fuel: having the windows open or the air-conditioning switched on? Actually it depends how fast you’re going. The Society of Automotive Engineers in the US studied the impact on economy of driving with the windows open and air-conditioning on. It found that below 45mph, having the windows open uses less fuel than air-con. Exceed that speed and the extra drag through the air caused by the open windows outweighs the fuel that air-con uses.
Accelerate Gently: The more you press the accelerator pedal, the more fuel – whether petrol, diesel or electricity – will flow, just like opening a tap. So the harder you accelerate, the more fuel you’ll use. And, similarly, experts recommend changing up through the gears earlier than you normally would if you want to save fuel.
Slow Down: The faster you drive, the more fuel you’ll use. For example, experts say that if you drive at 80mph rather than 70, you’ll burn about 25 percent more fuel because of the car’s wind resistance.
Inflation: The softer a tyre is, the more fuel the car will need to keep its wheels rolling. Car makers work with tyre manufacturer partners to come up with the optimum tyre pressures to maximise cars’ handling and economy. Some even specify a set of higher inflation pressures for better fuel economy. The ride won’t be as comfortable but you’ll definitely save money.
Hypermiling: This is when drivers use a variety of skills to eke the maximum miles per gallon out of a car. It's about reading the road ahead so you don't have to stop or accelerate suddenly; it's all about gentle driving and judging your surroundings. It requires concentration because you’re looking a long way ahead and attempting to anticipate what other road users are doing.
Fewer Trips: Obviously, the less you drive your car, the less fuel you’ll use!
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