Want To Plan a Staycation? 7 Ways To Keep Your Fuel Costs Down

When petrol prices rise, people drive less, right? Not always, it turns out. With so many depending on their vehicles, drivers can do nothing to escape the high petrol prices. Our best advice is to drive as economically as possible to make each fill-up go further, and check out these seven money-saving tips below.

1. Keep Your Tyres in Check

Driving with under-inflated tyres wastes almost £1bn a year on excess fuel, according to Kwik Fit research. These should always be checked regularly to help save you money.

• Always check tyre pressure when going on a long journey – check for the correct pressure within your car manual, or you can also check online.
• They don’t just help save petrol but help you drive safely.

2. Don’t Over-Rev Your Car

If you’re taking the country route to your destination, it might be easy to over-rev your vehicle when stopping and starting continuously. But this adds excess use on your engine and wastes fuel.

• Don’t let your revs per minute run too high (2,500 for petrol and 2,000 for diesel as a rule of thumb)
• Always opt for a higher gear, and keep your foot light on the pedal.

3. Remove the Junk From Your Trunk

Wind resistance increases fuel consumption, and a lighter load means less fuel use. So remove any unnecessary items in the boot and avoid added weight to your vehicle.

• Roof and bike racks can add at least 10% to your petrol costs.
• Keep windows closed (especially on the motorway) as this will help create less wind resistance.
• Don’t feel the need to drive around with a full tank of fuel unless on a long journey.

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4. Stick To Speed Limits

Driving faster might help you move quicker, but it also uses more fuel as you are using your engine more.

• A research shows that driving at 80mph can mean you use up to 25% more fuel than moving at 70mph.
• If it’s safe to do so, turning your engine off when you’re stuck in traffic can also help lower petrol waste.
• Driving smoothly on the road also limits your use of the brake.

5. Maintain Your Vehicle

Making sure your engine is running at its most efficient will help keep costs down and avoid any unnecessary stops while on your journey to check over your vehicle.

• Use the right specification of engine oil and that it’s at the right level by using the dipstick.
• Check the coolant level and ensure it’s topped up.
• Check that your brake fluid is at the maximum mark, or get it checked by a mechanic if you are unsure.

6. Avoid Using Your Air-Con

It might be a big ask when the weather is hot, but using your air conditioning uses lots of engine power and will increase fuel consumption.

• Heating and cooling both use fuel, so avoid using either if you can
• If it does get too hot to avoid, stick to air con for the motorway and windows for shorter trips

7. Shop Around for the Best Petrol Prices

To avoid the pesky price increase from motorway service stations, try to top up before starting your journey.

• If you’re on the go, then while it is safe to do so, check on your mobile for petrol stations near you that can offer you lower prices for your fuel.
• Supermarkets tend to have cheaper petrol, while fuel on the motorway is a captive market, meaning prices are often higher.

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