WREXHAM SERVICE CENTRE GUIDE TO SAVING FUEL
There are many ways to save fuel, and in this blog post, we will discuss some of the best.
Petrol and diesel prices continue to rise, so it’s more important than ever to find ways to reduce your vehicle’s fuel consumption. Some of the tips we will cover include turning off your air conditioning, avoiding excessive braking, and using cruise control on the motorway. We’ll also talk about how you can improve your car’s aerodynamics and make other small changes that can add up to big savings at the pump!
So without further ado, here are ten ways to save petrol:
CAR SERVICING
Car servicing is something we all like to avoid if possible.
As that oil gets constantly churned around inside a hot engine, it degrades
over time providing less lubrication to the engine parts. Less lubrication
means more friction and again more petrol used due to the engine working
harder.
As engines work, they also produce small particles of metal.
Over time, more and more of these particles are generated causing more friction
to the engine parts. The engine filter gathers these small particles but lack
of frequent servicing means the filter can no longer work efficiently.
A basic service, carried out by Wrexham Service Centre, will provide the engine with clean oil and filter allowing it to run smoother and be much more fuel-efficient. Call us on 01978 265 660
AVOID EXCESSIVE BRAKING
Avoid excessive braking by anticipating traffic and slowing down in advance of stops or turns. This will not only save petrol but also help your brakes last longer and reduce wear on their components.
MOVING OFF
Modern cars don’t need to warm up for long periods of time when you start them in the morning. After 30 seconds or so, move off. Colder engines are, however, less efficient than warm engines. It can take several miles before your engine is at its most fuel-efficient. When the engine is cold, don’t push your engine too hard so as to save on petrol.
USE CRUISE CONTROL AND REDUCE YOUR SPEED
Use cruise control when driving on motorways. Cruise control can help you maintain a steady speed, which in turn saves petrol. This will help you maintain a constant speed and reduce fuel consumption by up to 20%.
Air resistance is a significant factor when driving at speed. The faster you go, the higher the resistance meaning more energy is needed. The energy needed to accelerate your car from 10 mph to 20 mph is minimal as the only energy required is to move the weight of the car with slight air resistance.
An example, let’s say you have a 60-mile trip to make on a 70 mph dual carriageway or motorway. Travelling over the speed limit of 80 mph will save you only around 6 minutes compared to driving at 70 mph. Considering you can use 25% more petrol at 80 mph, it really doesn’t seem worth it.
CHECK YOUR TYRE PRESSURE
Check tyre pressure regularly because underinflated tyres can cause a car to use more fuel than normal. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance which leads to higher fuel consumption. You should check once per week or whenever you fill up with fuel!
REDUCE THE WEIGHT OF YOUR VEHICLE
Keep your car clean and free of excess weight. Extra weight requires more fuel to move, so keeping your car clean and light will help save petrol. Remove roof racks when not in use. Roof racks add wind resistance and drag to the car, which uses more fuel.
CHOOSE THE CORRECT GEAR BUT DON'T COAST IN NEUTRAL!
Drive in the highest gear possible without straining the engine. This will help reduce fuel consumption and save you money.
Coasting is a method believed to save petrol by free-wheeling by the use of keeping the clutch depressed for long periods or keeping the gears in neutral whilst the car is still moving. Coasting is, in fact, dangerous as you lose the ability to accelerate if a potentially dangerous situation arises. Coasting also reduces the effect of braking, which is again dangerous but also increases brake wear.
When you release your foot from the accelerator, modern cars don’t use any petrol. The ECU or Electronic Control Unit cuts fuel to the engine when your foot is removed off the accelerator. Depressing the clutch or putting the gears into neutral puts the engine in a ‘tick-over’ state as though you were stationary with the engine running. Therefore coasting uses more petrol in modern cars.
IMPROVE THE VEHICLE'S AERODYNAMICS
Improve your car’s aerodynamics. Car manufacturers are always looking for ways to improve a car’s aerodynamics, and you can do the same thing by making small changes to your vehicle. Some things you can do include removing spoilers and fitting deflectors.
TURN THE ENGINE OFF
If it looks like you will be stuck in a queue of traffic for more than a minute or two, switch off the engine. However, starting a car consumes a certain amount of fuel, approximately the same amount as though you were idling for 1 minute. Turning the car off for a shortstop of under 1 minute may consume more petrol than if you were to leave it running. Modern cars that utilise start/stop technology employ a system that uses less fuel on start-up.
TURN OFF YOUR AIR CONDITIONING
Air conditioning can use a lot of fuel, so if you don’t need it, turn it off. If you are driving at slow speeds, then you can open the window to reduce the temperature, but…
Keep your windows closed at higher speeds. This may seem like an obvious one, but keeping your windows closed will improve your car’s aerodynamics and reduce drag. This will help save petrol while also making driving easier on windy days.
Following the ways to save fuel and by simply changing the way you drive can save a significant amount of petrol, adding up to great savings over a relatively short period of time.
Simple changes to your driving techniques allows smarter Eco-driving to save not only fuel but the environment with no loss of time in reaching your destination. Stay safe on the road from everyone at Wrexham Service Centre.