How to improve your fuel economy

As the price of filling up our vehicles remains unpredictable, we’re all looking for ways to reduce our fuel usage and save some pennies where possible.

If you’re buying a new vehicle, look for fuel efficient models with a high miles per gallon (MPG) rating.

Alternatively, you can look at switching to an electric vehicle (EV).

If you're not able to switch to EV yet, below are some tips to help squeeze maximum miles from your fuel tank.

Maintain your vehicle

Keeping your vehicle in good condition will help it run more efficiently.

A full service is recommended every year to keep your vehicle running smoothly and spotting any potential issues early on. Many garages offer services at a reduced rate when booked with your MOT.

A full service history also adds value to your car when you sell it. 

Avoid premium unleaded

Premium or ‘super’ unleaded is generally only beneficial for high-performance vehicles or imported cars that need a higher octane rating.

Your average run-around isn’t going to utilise the premium option enough to justify the 10-15p price difference.

Shop around 

The cost of fuel varies widely between petrol stations, so your local might not be the cheapest.

In general, supermarkets charge less for fuel than petrol stations run by oil companies or those on the motorway.

Keep it smooth 

Breaking suddenly and speeding up quickly puts stress on your vehicle’s parts and burns more fuel.

Instead, keep your inputs smooth, changing gears as quickly as possible to improve your vehicle’s MPG.

Cut your speed 

Generally, cars are most efficient at 45-50mph, so stick to the speed limit because faster driving wastes fuel.

It’s not only illegal, but hitting 80mph on motorways and dual carriage ways can use up to 25% more fuel than keeping a steady 70mph.

Avoid idling 

Unless you have a modern car with an automatic start-stop system, you should consider turning off your engine if you’re unlikely to move for a minute or two. 

It's estimated that idling for just 10 seconds wastes more fuel than restarting the engine.

You should also never leave your car running unattended as it increases the risk of theft and insurers are likely to refuse a claim.

Check your tyres 

Checking your tyres are correctly inflated prolongs the life of the tread and improves fuel efficiency due to reduced rolling resistance with the road. You can find your pressure information in your vehicles handbook or sometimes printed inside the driver’s door.

You should regularly check your tyres for damage and tread depth. Legally, the tread depth must be at least 1.6mm but, but 2-3mm is recommended.

If you have defective, damaged or bald tyres you could be fined up to £10,000 (£2,500 per tyre) and get 12 penalty points on your licence.

Avoid air conditioning 

Using your vehicle’s air conditioning can increase your fuel consumption by as much as 10%. 

In slow moving traffic, rolling down the windows is more sensible as your engine is already being overworked and your air conditioning adds to this strain.

When you need to use your air conditioning, opt for the more efficient re-circulate option. It’s the button with a C-shaped arrow in a car.

Lighten the load 

It’s estimated that 50kg of extra weight increases fuel consumption by 1-2%. Declutter and remove any unnecessary items in your vehicle, leaving only the emergency items you need.

We’d also recommend removing roof bars and cycle racks when they’re not in use. They weigh as much as 5kg and enhance aerodynamic drag which increases fuel consumption by about 10%.