Table of Contents
1. Use high-quality fuel
One of the best things you can do to reduce your car’s fuel consumption is to choose only the highest-quality fuel.
Think of it like this: if a professional runner only ever ate junk food, the chances of them being able to run very far are pretty low.
The same applies to your car, although it can survive on ‘junk food’ it would undoubtedly appreciate a healthy gourmet meal now and again.
Superior petrol will help you get better mileage, and it can even be better for the environment than ordinary varieties. Remember, if you put quality in – you get quality out!
2. Check tyre pressure
Ideally, tyre pressure should be checked every month to prevent fuel wastage. Since underinflated tyres have more surface contact with the road, more fuel is required to keep the car moving.
In fact, tyres underinflated by only 10 PSI can increase fuel consumption by 2.5%. Some petrol stations offer free air and water, so you don’t have any excuse not to pop into your local station and check.
3. Drive less frequently
If you want a quick fix solution to a gas-guzzling car, the obvious answer is to drive less!
Of course, this is not always possible, as so much of life seems to be dependent on driving whether it is getting to work or taking the kids to school. But making sure that all the driving you do is necessary is a critical step to consider if you want to reduce your energy consumption and your carbon footprint!
Try to take fewer short car journeys, and instead go for a stroll – this will have a positive impact on your wallet, your health and the natural environment.
4. Keep it steady
Inefficient driving is often to blame for poor gas mileage. Harsh acceleration and braking are two of the main culprits in increasing your car’s fuel economy and makes driving less safe for yourself and other road users. Switching to eco-driving is a great way to get your money’s worth since you will only be accelerating and braking in the highest (safe) gear possible and thereby decreasing fuel consumption.
5. Drive at the speed limit
Generally speaking, the faster you drive, the worse your gas mileage will be. So to reduce your car’s fuel consumption, you should really be driving at the speed limit. Not only will this mean that you aren’t breaking any laws and won’t get a speeding ticket, but it also means that you will be creating the optimal driving conditions for fuel-efficiency.
6. Reduce excess weight
Don’t let your car get dragged down by unnecessary weight. If you have a roof or bike rack that you aren’t using, why don’t you take it off? If you have 50 litres of water in the boot of your car, you should probably think about taking some of them out!
Roof racks make your car less aerodynamic, which creates more friction in the form of wind drag. In order for your vehicle to continue moving at speed, it will have to burn more fuel in order to counteract the increased drag.
The heavier your car is the more energy it requires to move, so remember, if you don’t need it on/in your car – get rid of it!
7. Don’t idle
If you are not moving for more than a minute, turn the engine off. Idling burns at least half-a-gallon per hour, and wastes your hard-earned money, as well as being bad for the environment.
So, whether you are stuck in standstill traffic, or you are waiting to pick the kids up from school, try not to leave the engine running.
8. Get it serviced
Getting your car serviced in between its MOTs or annual health checks is vital if you want your car to be performing to its potential.
If you’re handy around cars, then feel free to do it yourself (as long as you know what you’re doing) or get a quick service while you do some shopping. In particular, replacing spark plugs, air filters and fuel filters will help to make sure that the ideal mixture of air and fuel are used in the combustion process, leading to better fuel efficiency.
