Maximising Fuel Economy

With oil prices on the rise, fuel prices are once again creeping up, putting even more pressure on household budgets. With that said, few drivers really understand how to get the best efficiency out of their vehicles, so here are a few tips to help you – it really could save you money!

First off, check your tyre pressures regularly; both under and over inflated tyres will wear more quickly, which will cost you money, but under-inflated tyres create more friction and thus use more fuel. Ensure your tyres are appropriately inflated for the load.

Consider your load – the heavier your vehicle is, the harder it has to work to move, so the more fuel it uses. Keep the load in your vehicle to a minimum, and don’t drive around with a load of stuff you don’t need in the boot.

Next up is driving style – and this is a biggie. Accelerating hard uses a lot of petrol, and is often totally unnecessary. To drive as efficiently as possible, accelerate gently, using hills to assist where possible, and work up the gears as quickly as you can. Look ahead – you want to try to avoid stopping, so the same applies to braking – gently, and in plenty of time.