Driving to make fuel go further

Make fuel go further

Lose weight!

For a start, clear out the car; get shot of anything but essentials and take off roof racks when not in use.  Extra weight uses more fuel and that includes golf clubs as well as those ‘just in case’ things we all keep in the boot! Make sure your car’s regularly serviced. It’s a false economy not to as a poorly tuned engine can use as much as 50 per cent more fuel, and always use the right engine oil.

Switch off

Lots of short trips and sitting in jams are a daft way to use fuel; stop-start driving can use up to 40 per cent more so it’s best to avoid unnecessary trips and steer clear of rush hour if possible.If you do get stuck in stationary traffic,it’s better to switch off the engine as you’ll use more fuel with the engine idling for 60 seconds than if you switched off and restarted 60 seconds later.

If you’ve got a manual car,use the highest gear you can without the car ‘labouring' and try to change gear as early as possible,ideally between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm which can save up to almost a third of fuel.

Not so fast

Easy does it on the accelerator.The more exertion on the pedal,the more fuel’s used.Think about the route and use traffic and gravity to regulate speed but NEVER be tempted to ‘coast’ by letting the car roll in neutral - you’re not in control of the vehicle.

Under pressure

Check your tyre pressure – ideally once a week and always before setting out on long journeys.Tyres that are under inflated by 7psi will waste half a gallon of fuel in every tank and remember the vehicle manufacturer’s guidelines are based on cold tyres,so use the petrol station nearest your start point so that tyres aren’t inflated to the wrong pressure.

Don’t get lost

Sounds silly but motorists waste 350,000 tonnes of fuel a year doing just that.Check your route and use a map or a sat nav as you never know when traffic problems might mean diversions,even on the most familiar journeys.