How much you spend on fuel depends of course on the following simple calculation: pounds per litre x litres of fuel. While you cannot influence the price per litre, except by shopping around for the cheapest price, you CAN influence the number of litres of fuel you use, keeping costs down.
Thanks to our resident eco-driving expert, we’re here to tell you exactly how. All you need to do is follow as many of the simple tips below as possible and enjoy the additional money it can save!
- Don’t over-rev the engine. Doing so is generally just a waste of fuel. Of course there will be times when firm acceleration is necessary, but generally try to be in an appropriate gear. Similarly, don’t labour the engine by using a gear which is too high. If you regularly find the rev needle near the ‘red line’, it’s too much.
- Avoid breaking the speed limit. Driving on the motorway at 90mph is not only illegal, but normally wastes fuel too. Stick at a maximum of 70mph if circumstances permit, but cruising at 60-65mph can save plenty of fuel and also be easier on the driver, especially if driving a long distance.
- Don’t brake sharply. Obviously there will be times when you have to do this, but habitually braking firmly at say traffic lights will just waste fuel. Use deceleration and acceleration sense – anticipate traffic conditions ahead and ease off the gas before braking. Keeping a good distance from the car ahead will help to achieve this.
- Turn off the ignition. If you are stopped for long periods, say in roadworks or in a traffic jam, switch off your engine. This sounds like common sense, and it is, but next time you’re in a jam, look ahead and notice all the drivers with their brake lights on, waiting possibly several minutes or more with fuel just being wasted.
- Stay cool efficiently. Think twice about whether to use air conditioning or opening the windows. Depending on the speed you are travelling at, one may be more efficient than the other. For example, at lower speeds and a mild breeze you are likely to be better to wind the windows down. However, on a motorway or faster road, having the windows down can equal poor aerodynamics, resulting in more wasted fuel.
Start putting the above tips into practice today and start noticing the changes next time you are at the pump. If you read the above and think ‘forget it!’, then you can’t complain too much about petrol or diesel prices, can you?
