The most efficient way to decrease your fuel consumption is by leaving your car at home, and simply take the bus, train, a bike or even walk. Most journeys made in the UK by car are less than 2 miles long. Walking or cycling are a very cheap and extremely clean alternatives, not too forget healthy as well!

Think Ahead

Try to plan your journeys to avoid congestion, road works and getting lost. Also by driving smoothly and anticipating road conditions (i.e. traffic at junctions and when queuing), thereby applying light throttle and avoiding heavy braking, you can reduce both fuel consumption and wear and tear. This not only saves fuel, but also reduces accident rates.

Gears/Speed

Driving in the highest gear possible without labouring the engine is a fuel-efficient way of driving. A vehicle travelling at 37mph in 3rd gear uses 25% more fuel than at the same speed in 5th gear

Make sure to keep an eye on your revs. Try to change up before 2,500rpm for a petrol car and 2,000rpm for diesel.

The most efficient speed of course depends on the make and model of the car, however generally it is around 55 – 65 mph. Driving at faster speeds tends to greatly increase your fuel consumption.

Tyres

If your tyres are under inflated in not only increases the rate of wear, but also wastes fuel and thereby increase your fuel consumption by up to 3%. Our advice is to check you tyre pressure every fortnight.

Also check the tread on a regular basis, as worn tyres will also decrease fuel efficiency. There are new types of tyres available know as ‘eco-tyres’ that are designed to specifically to increase fuel efficiency, so consider purchasing those when replacing your old ones.

Air conditioning/Windows

There is a fine line between what is better for your fuel efficiency; having the air conditioning on or having your windows open. Obviously when you have the air conditioning on it increases the fuel consumption, however driving with your windows open on the motorway reduces fuel efficiency far more than putting on the air conditioning.

So basically you should try to use the air conditioning as little as possible when driving at speeds of up to 50mph.

Car Load

The lighter the load of your car is, the lower the fuel consumption and emissions are. So when going on a journey try too think about what you do and don’t need to take with you.

Remove any accessories that affect your car’s aerodynamics (i.e. roof racks, roof boxes & bike carriers) when you are not using them, as this reduces fuel efficiency.

Drive off promptly

When starting your engine try not to leave it running for a few moments, but drive off straight away of you can. Then gently drive until the engine has reached its normal temperature. Waiting to heat the engine just wasted fuel and causes rapid engine wear. Also doing this means your engine is switched on for less time.

Switch off your engine

Once again there are 2 different ways of looking at this. Switching your engine off for short periods of time can actually increase fuel consumption, as it requires more fuel to get the engine started. Also your catalytic converter will no longer be running at full temperature and so your car will be less efficient, increasing the amount of pollution you cause. However if you plan to stop for more than a few minutes then it would be more efficient to turn of the engine to save on fuel and reduce emissions.

Short Journeys

These should be avoided whenever possible, as a cold engine uses nearly twice as much fuel and catalytic converters can take 5 miles to become effective.

Check your car

It is important that you check (or have it checked) your car on a regular basis to prevent any unnecessary loss in fuel efficiency.

Spark Plugs

Ensure your spark plugs are in good condition. Renew the plugs and wires at intervals specified by the cars’ manual. This will keep all cylinders firing properly resulting in higher efficiency.

Air Filter

Make sure you check the intake filter as a dirty one is a very common reason for a drop in fuel efficiency. It decreases the amount of air entering the cylinders of the engine, which results in an incomplete combustion.

Lube Oil

Try to change the lube oil at intervals specified by the cars’ manual of your car. Also it would be advisable to use the recommended oil only (especially in newer cars). Use of an engine flush before changing the oil will help to get rid of a lot of the dirt that collects in the engine that a normal oil change will not remove.

If you have an older engine it is advisable to use an oil treatment agent. This basically thickens the oil which creates a better seal between the piston and the liner, preventing blow past and consequent loss of combustion pressure, resulting in higher fuel efficiency.

Exhausts

When cars are reasonably old the silences has to be changed. Most cars have special sizes for the exhaust; however it is quite common for a garage to try to fit a size that they have available (instead of the exact recommended size). It may be slightly cheaper to fit on another size, however in the long run it will costs you far more, especially when it comes down to fuel consumption. The wrong size has an impact on the MPG and the HP of the car.

Always put the recommended size of the exhaust that is indicated in your car manual, as the car company knows how to optimize the performance of your car.