How can I reduce the amount I’m paying for fuel?
How can I reduce the amount I’m paying for fuel?
Everyone is being affected by rising fuel prices. In fact, with countries like Saudi Arabia cutting back on production, the price of crude oil has risen and, as a result, so has the cost that drivers will pay at the pumps.
As a result, it’s never been so important to make your fuel go as far as possible. Here, we’re going to take a look through some of the ways that you can help make your car - and your driving - as efficient as possible.
Reduce weight
Weight is the enemy of efficiency. Though, of course, we’re not advocating ripping out your car’s seats to save a little bit of bulk, you can make sure that you’re not carrying around any extras that you really don’t need. Things like shoes, bags and coats can all add up to add more weight, so leave them at home if you don’t need them.
It’s all about incremental changes. Even removing a few loose items from your car will help it to move along as efficiently as possible.
Keep tyres properly inflated
Under-inflated tyres can have one of the biggest impacts on fuel economy. Tyres which aren’t properly inflated don’t roll as efficiently, so you need to make sure that they’re topped up to the right levels.
You can find the correct levels for your car in the vehicle’s handbook or inside the fuel filler cap. You can inflate them at a petrol station - where you’ll often find the air compressors required - or you could buy a home compressor which would allow you to keep them topped up whenever you’re at the house.
Take off roof boxes when you’re not using them
A roof box can really harm fuel consumption
Though a roof box or bike rack is great for when you’re travelling and need extra space, they really hurt your fuel economy and have one of the biggest impacts on your car’s efficiency. So, if you’re not using them, then take them off and let your car cut through the air as cleanly as possible.
Don’t be tempted to leave the cross ‘bars’ on either as these can also create extra drag which will cause your car to use more fuel.
Think about swapping to a more efficient vehicle
It might sound counter-intuitive, but sometimes spending a little more money to swap into a more efficient vehicle can help save money in the long run and also have a real impact on your weekly fuel bills.
If you’re in an older car, then moving to a newer model - perhaps with a clean petrol, hybrid or electric motor - can really make the difference when it comes to fuel costs.
Drive in a smoother fashion
Though it can be quite exciting to drive a car in a more exuberant fashion, it’s not a good idea when it comes to efficiency. Shifting gears early - and without revving the engine out - can have a positive impact on your fuel economy, while being easy with the brakes can help out too.
Not only will these measures reduce your fuel bill, but they’ll also reduce the wear and tear on your vehicle so you’ll pay less for maintenance too.
Go electric
Of course, switching to an electric vehicle comes with its large adaptations. You need to make sure you’re able to charge easily and shopping between charging locations will ensure that you’re not spending too much money on topping up.
But as a way to reduce your fuel bills electric cars are hard to beat. With an average-sized EV costing around £17 to fully charge at home on a low-priced tariff, it’s not hard to see where the savings can be made.
