Fuel economy
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Simple tips to help you cut those fuel costs
Drive efficiently
- Don’t keep the engine running unnecessarily. Don’t start the engine until you’re ready to go. If you are queuing in heavy traffic or just waiting, turn the engine off, and this will save using fuel.
- Drive at an appropriate speed. The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. Keep to the speed limits, and it does reduce your fuel costs.
- Easy acceleration. Acceleration should be smooth and gentle.
- Change up in gear, and don’t labour. Change up gear correctly when accelerating, and don’t stay in the wrong gear because it uses more fuel.
- Slow down in good time. Will not only conserve fuel but prolong the life of your tyres and brakes.
(Statistics shows that driving at 50 miles per hour instead of 70 miles per hour can improve fuel economy by 25%).
Don’t carry unnecessary weight in the boot
Extra weight in your car will make the engine work harder and as a result, use more fuel. Don’t drive around with unnecessary items in your boot.
Check your tyre pressure
Checking tyre pressure improves the safety and performance of your tyres. Underinflated tyres result in wear around the outer edge and reduced fuel efficiency.
Check the engine oil
Maintain the correct levels of engine oil. If the oil needs topping up too often, this can be a sign engine problems.
Use good quality, energy efficient oil which matches the specification in your car manual, to increase the miles per litre you achieve.
Tuning your car
Have your car’s engine optimised at a reputable local garage to ensure it is running at the optimum fuel usage level.