With the price of fuel being as high as it is, improving your fuel efficiency has never been more important.
It is not only a priority for motorists looking to protect their wallets, but also for anyone who cares about protecting the planet by reducing the amount of c02 that they are emitting.
Luckily, there are a number of cheap and even free changes that you can make to your driving style that will significantly improve the mpg that you are able to get from your vehicle, no matter what number it says on the specifications.
Most people find that they get a bit less mpg from their car than it says in the vehicle handbook. This is to be expected as the vehicle ages and its not running quite as smoothly as it once did. However, if you find that you are getting far less than you should be, the tips in this blog will hopefully help to remedy the situation to some extent.
Check or replace your tyres
If you tyres or over or under inflated, this can have a dramatic negative effect on your fuel consumption.
Lower tyre pressure in particular are a big no go as they energy required per rotation will be much higher than is necessary, using far more fuel as a result.
If your tyres are overly worn, this can also impact on fuel efficiency, but the major problem here is safety. If you find that your tyres do indeed need to be replaced, arrange for a visit to your local garage or call a respected mobile tyre assistance company in your area.
Avoid overusing the air con
Having your air conditioning system on constantly will put unnecessary strain on your engine and result in a noticeable decrease in fuel economy.
However, as higher speeds during the summer months, air con is preferable to opening the windows of your vehicle as this will impact on your aerodynamics and create drag.
Remove unneeded weight
The less weight you are carrying, the easier it is for your engine to move your car. It is basic physics so take any unnecessary items out of your boot when your not using them.
You should also remove bike racks or roof boxes when they are not in use as they not only add unnecessary weight but they can also create a great deal of drag.
Avoid filling the fuel tank up completely
The more fuel in your tank the more weight is added and the more fuel that will be used. However, avoid driving on low fuel as well if you can as this can damage the engine and impact on fuel efficiency as a result. A half full tank is the perfect compromise.
Get your car serviced
If you have tried all of the above and are still struggling with your fuel economy there may well be an underlying issue and a visit to your local garage for a full service to diagnose these issues is probably in order