Little-known tip can help drivers save hundreds on their fuel bills

Even though fuel prices have continued to fall in recent months, the cost-of-living crisis continues to make some motorists fear that they could be priced off the road.

With the AA reporting that the average cost for a litre of petrol was 143.6p and diesel at 145.3p per litre during June 2023, there are many ways you can get extra miles from each tank of fuel.

First, and perhaps most obvious, drivers should be mindful when accelerating and braking, trying to be as smooth as possible.

Whilst many motorists are tempted to step on the accelerator, it is important to accelerate gently and consistently to preserve fuel economy.

In addition, when coming to a stop, drivers should take their foot off the accelerator well in advance and brake gently.

Those who drive a vehicle with a manual gearbox should also make sure that they are shifting gears correctly, avoiding both over-revving and labouring in the engine with a gear that is too high or low.

This is easy to achieve if the vehicle has a rev counter, with petrol cars the most economical between 1500 and 2500rpm, whilst diesels are best between 1300 and 2000rpm.

On longer journeys, cruise control can also help to lower fuel consumption, as this feature makes the engine run at a near constant speed. 

Motorists should also regularly check their vehicle’s tyres to make sure that the pressures are all at the level as stated in the handbook.

Driving in a car with wrongly inflated tyres can not only wear out their treads at a quicker rate, the extra rolling resistance will increase fuel consumption. 

All cars made after 2015 are fitted with a warning system that will alert the driver if the pressures fall below a certain level.

However, fuel economy can be improved before setting off, with significant savings possible by turning off some of the cars functions such as heated seats and air conditioning.

Since these features use up lots of energy, they often lead to the vehicle’s alternator, which is driven off the engine, running for longer periods of time.

Finally, drivers should always remove any unnecessary weight from the boot, along with anything fitted to the roof such as a roofbox or bikes.