1. You must ensure that your vehicle runs smoothly
Regular maintenance and servicing can help improve the performance of your car and increase your fuel efficiency.
2. Verify your tyre pressure
Your car’s efficiency will depend on how well your tyres have been inflated. To find the correct pressure, consult the owners manual or the sticker at the door sill.
3. If you have it, use ‘eco mode’
Most modern motors come with an adjustable driving mode. It is possible that your motor has an eco setting. This reduces the car’s acceleration but also helps to lower fuel consumption.
4. Use your throttle gently
Do not try to adjust the driving modes of a car that does not have adjustable settings.
Driving at excessive speeds is the largest fuel-guzzling factor. It is essential to maintain a low right foot and ensure that accelerations are gentle.
Try not to act like you’re starting at Silverstone when you start your journey from a stop, for example at junctions and traffic lights.
5. Make sure you use the best gear
According to the RAC, driving in the best gear possible for your car while maintaining a speed limit is the key to achieving high mpg.
According to it, “The best advice for urban areas is not to rev the engine as fast as you can, at least with 2000rpm,”
6. Make sure to plan ahead
You can reduce fuel economy by accelerating too fast, and braking too hard will also affect fuel economy. However, you’ll be able to use less fuel if your vehicle slows down more slowly.
It requires drivers to be able to see ahead of traffic, but it is an excellent way to limit fuel consumption.
7. Cruise control is not the solution
Many people believe using cruise control will result in the lowest fuel consumption. However, it is not always true.
The most probable benefit of cruise control on motorways that have a steady speed and an even surface is mpg.
If you used your cruise control more often and drove on roads that were flat, fuel consumption would increase.
‘This is because your cruise control would be slower to react to gradient changes, meaning when reaching the brow of a hill – at which point you would normally take your foot off the accelerator to maintain more of a constant speed when descending – your cruise control will keep the power on for a little longer as it’s unable to see the gradient change in front of you. According to the RAC, driving in such a way often would result in higher fuel consumption.
8. The heater and air-con should be avoided
Don’t use your air conditioning unless you really have to as it uses engine power and therefore increases fuel consumption.
However, this shouldn’t cause any problems in cooler months. If you use a car heater, it will also run off your engine’s power, which can lower fuel economy.
It is a good idea to dress appropriately for the weather.
9. Combining journeys with a warm engine will make it more efficient.
An engine will be most efficient when it is warm. However, several cold starts can lead to increased fuel consumption.
Try to accomplish all your errands and trips within a given time frame.
10. Take a lighter load
While this isn’t going to make the biggest difference to your mpg figures, emptying heavy clutter from your car will fractionally improve its fuel economy.
You can also remove roof boxes and roof bars if they are not necessary. This will make the motor more efficient.
Energy Saving Trust says that an empty roof rack can add 16 percent drag to a vehicle traveling at 75 mph. A roof box will add 39 percent to the vehicle’s fuel consumption, at the same speed.
Similar results can also be obtained by using an open window.