5 Ways to Improve Fuel Economy

How to drive economically

With petrol and diesel prices constantly on the rise, it’s super important that you make the most out of every drop of fuel so that you can improve economy and save yourself some money.

There are lots of different techniques and habits you can incorporate into everyday driving that will have a positive impact on your vehicle’s fuel economy.

Try following a few of the fuel saving tips and tricks below; you may be very pleasantly surprised just how much difference a change in driving style can make.

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Tyres & Tyre Pressures

One of the biggest factors in terms of fuel economy is the performance of your tyres. They are, after all, the only thing that connects your vehicle to the road.

Having your vehicle’s tyres inflated to the correct pressures has a significant impact on your vehicle’s fuel economy. Under-inflated tyres can have a detrimental effect on your mpg by as much as 2.5 percent.

Another way that tyres can have an impact is with their fuel efficiency rating. The European Commission categorises each tyre from A to G based on their fuel efficiency. An A-rated tyre can improve fuel economy by as much as 7.5 percent compared with a G-rated tyre, meaning, with the correct tyre pressure, we’ve already improved economy by 10 percent and we’re only on the first tip!

This is another big one. Simply anticipating what is likely to happen in front of you when driving will greatly improve your efficiency, as well as reduce wear and tear on your car’s brakes.

Here’s how to do it:

While maintaining your focus on the vehicle directly in front of you, take the time to look further ahead and see what’s going on. If there’s a red light, try to lift off the gas a little earlier than you might normally, without taking it to extremes, of course. If the lights change, you’ll still be rolling and you’ll spend less time getting up to speed, using less fuel in the process.

Simply put, the less time you spend braking and accelerating, the less fuel you’ll use.

Accelerate and decelerate smoothly

When the lights turn green, don’t stamp on the accelerator and get up to speed as fast as physically possible.

Accelerate briskly but smoothly, reaching the desired speed in a reasonable time frame so as not to frustrate your fellow road users behind you. Don’t wait until the last minute to come to a standstill either, lift off the gas nice and early and brake gently until you come to a stop.

When it comes to speed bumps, don’t accelerate quickly and then slam on the brakes to go over the bump. Try to maintain a constant speed of between 15 to 20mph unless your car is particularly low or the bumps are exceptionally high.

Remove Excess Weight

The heavier your car is, the more fuel it will use trying to get from A to B, so anything you can do to make it lighter will save you money.

Roof boxes and bike racks are the main culprits, but simply having a good clear out of what’s in the backseat and the boot can have a positive impact as well.

Use your gears properly

It’s not part of the driving test to learn how to use your gears efficiently; you simply have to be able to use them to get the car to move at various speeds.

However, to get the most mileage out of every drop of fuel and maintain maximum efficiency, it’s vital that you’re always using the right gear at the right time. Be careful not to over-rev, and make sure you don’t labour the engine by being in a gear that’s too low for the speed and terrain.

Generally, petrol cars are at their most economical between 1500 and 2500 rpm, so you should aim to change up to the next gear whenever you exceed the higher end of that range. For diesels, it’s between 1300 and 2000 rpm.

Service & maintain your car

Ensuring that your vehicle is in tip-top mechanical shape is vital when making sure that fuel economy is as good as it can be.

A car that has its engine serviced regularly and in line with manufacturer schedules, using the correct parts, fluids, and lubricants, will work better and be more efficient than one that isn’t. It’ll be more reliable, too.

Wheel alignment (also known as tracking) also affects fuel economy, and it can be knocked out by something as simple as a pothole in the road, so make sure you get it checked regularly.