With living costs spiralling exponentially, it is worth considering how you can make the most of your fuel tank. Although prices have come back down from the earlier crisis in the year, fuel is still more expensive than it used to be, so let's have a look at some of the things you can do to make your tank go further.
1. Excess Weight
Carrying anything in the car that you don't need will use more fuel. A roof rack is a practical solution for going on holiday and carrying a roof box; however, when empty, it just becomes extra weight you don't need to. Take off the roof rack between uses, look through the car and boot at the amount of stuff you have accumulated; we all do it, especially when we have children. It's also convenient to leave things like pushchairs and bags in the car; however, the more weight you carry, the more fuel you will use.
2. Check Your Tyres Regularly
You may think that having under-inflated tyres is just going to cause them to wear quicker, but actually, they impact your fuel consumption as well. It's all to do with the amount of surface area that comes into contact with the road surface. If a tyre is under-inflated, this goes up, giving a larger drag on the wheel, which uses more fuel. If you don't have a gauge at home, most petrol forecourts have a tire inflation machine, and you can immediately get them set to the correct pressure for around 50p.
3. Good Maintenance
Ensuring your vehicle is well maintained is an excellent way to save money. Not only can you prevent any problems from getting worse if you are regularly checking the wear and tear, but you can also help your fuel economy. Booking your car in for regular service is always a good idea.
4. Use Cruise Control Wisely
If you have cruise control on the vehicle, it's essential to learn the best time to use it. If you use your cruise control up and down hills, you will negatively impact your fuel consumption. However, you can save fuel by using it correctly on continuous flat surfaces such as motorways because this is where it was designed to work best.
5. Coasting Costs!
Not only is coasting considered very bad driving, but it is also unsafe. Coasting is when you take the car out of gear, for example, by keeping your foot on the clutch. People believe this will save them fuel; however, it doesn't. So, avoid coasting, as all it costs you is your safety and good driving.
6. Don’t Idle
Leaving the engine running when the car is stopped is known as idling. This practice consumes around half a gallon of fuel in an hour. So, if you encounter a breakdown that has stopped traffic flow or waiting for a friend to come out of the house, turn the engine off. It is more fuel efficient to do this and then restart when ready to move. It's also illegal to leave your engine idling for long periods.