How To Reduce Your Fuel Bills

Fuel is a major contributor to your car’s running cost. If you are using your car regularly, even small savings in fuel consumption can go a long way in reducing your monthly fuel bills. Here are some tips to help you save up to 20% of your monthly fuel bills.

Check Your Wheels

When you buy replacement tyres, always buy tyres that conform to the manufacturer’s specifications. Using the wrong tyres can increase rolling resistance and affect the safety of your car.

Keep tyres inflated to the recommended pressures. Low tyre pressures will significantly impact fuel economy and reduce tyre life. You can expect up to 2% fuel savings just by keeping the tyres at the right pressure.

Rotate tyres periodically for even wear. You should also get your wheels balanced and aligned according to the mileage interval specified by the manufacturer.

Take Care While Fuelling Up

Man Fueling Car

Use the fuel specified for your car. It’s a myth that using a fuel that is higher in grade to the one specified cleans your engine or gives you better performance. It will just increase your fuel cost with no added benefits.

Using a fuel that is lower in grade than the one recommended for your car does not lower your fuel costs. Modern cars can detect the quality of fuel and adjust engine settings to compensate for the lower-grade fuel. The engine will consume more fuel and what you save on the price will be lost in fuel economy.

Avoid filling the tank to more than 70% of its capacity unless you are going on a long trip. Excess fuel adds weight and will lower your fuel economy.

Ensure that the cap on the petrol tank is fixed tightly. This will help prevent fuel loss through evaporation.

Use The Air Conditioner Wisely

Your car burns more fuel when you turn on the a/c. That said, turning it off and opening the windows may not always translate into fuel savings.

Keeping the windows or the sunroof open, increases wind resistance and has a negative impact on fuel efficiency. This is not significant at low speeds, for example, in city traffic. But, at highway speeds, the extra drag will make your car burn more fuel. This will offset any gains you make from keeping the a/c off. So, at high speeds, it’s better to close the windows and switch on the a/c.

When you use the a/c, keep the temperature setting at a comfortable level and reduce fan speed when the cabin becomes sufficiently cool.

Driving Habits

Good driving habits can save a lot of fuel. Avoid driving too slowly or too fast. Most cars will give the best fuel economy at a speed of about 55 miles/hour.

Avoid quick acceleration and hard braking. Keep your car at a steady speed according to road and traffic conditions. Anticipate stops and apply the brakes gradually.

Remove unnecessary things from your car. Carrying things that you don’t need adds weight and increases fuel consumption.

Remove unnecessary accessories like the rooftop luggage rack, which increases wind resistance. You will save up to 20% on fuel costs.

Avoid flooring the accelerator for that burst of speed when you pull out from a stop. This makes your car guzzle fuel besides adding extra load on the engine.

Drive in the right gear. In a petrol vehicle, about 2500 RPM is the ideal point to change to a higher gear. It’s about 2000 RPM for diesel vehicles.

A cold engine consumes about four times more fuel than a warm one. However, there’s no point in idling until the engine warms up before you start driving. Instead, go easy on the gas pedal until the engine reaches its operating temperature.

Think twice before using your car for very short distances. A short walk instead will help your fitness and save costs.

Avoid unnecessary idling. If the wait is going to be more than a couple of minutes, switch off the engine.

Don’t go downhill in neutral to save fuel. In most modern cars, there’s no benefit because fuel to the engine is cut as soon as you take your foot off the gas pedal. Coasting is also dangerous because it reduces your control over the vehicle.

Route Selection

Congested routes that require you to stop or crawl along makes your car burn a lot of fuel. The same goes for bad roads requiring you to drive slowly in low gear. Instead, take a route that allows you to drive steadily even if it’s slightly longer. You will reach faster, save fuel and the drive will be more comfortable.

Preventive Maintenance

All vehicles need regular maintenance. The efficiency of a new car is high because everything is new and the engine is well tuned. With age and mileage, efficiency reduces because fluids, filters and other consumables deteriorate. You may not notice the difference, but the car will consume more fuel.

With regular service, mechanics detect problems and inefficiencies, which can then be corrected. They also get a chance to replace consumables like air filters before they start harming the engine and reducing efficiency.

Skipping or delaying periodic maintenance costs more in the long run. Get your car serviced in time and you will save up to 10% in fuel costs. Besides consuming more fuel, a poorly maintained car is at an increased risk of breakdowns, safety issues and costly repairs.

Is your car due for service? Lowton Motor Company is one of the best and most affordable garages in Birchwood. We have over 25 years of experience and we will ensure that you get the best performance from your vehicle. Use the simple form below to book your service. You can also email us or call on 01925 330468 during working hours.

 

 

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