How to Save Fuel

With fuel prices staying high, and edging ever closer to £2 per litre, it’s a worrying time for a lot of drivers out there.

Cars are already costly to operate, and adding the cost of pricey fuel is something none of us like doing, yet it is necessary since we need our cars to get around. However, by modifying and adapting a few driving behaviours, we can increase the longevity of our fuel.

1) Be gentle on the accelerator 
Accelerating harshly or suddenly burns extra fuel as you’re demanding more power from the engine. It’s ideal to maintain a consistent speed, not only to save money on fuel, but also to foresee driving difficulties ahead of time so you don’t have to brake hard and restart, as stop-and-go driving consumes more fuel.

2) Consider where you’re refuelling 
Generally, supermarket own fuel is cheaper than name brand. So for instance, you’d usually see a lower price at Tesco versus an Esso or Shell branded garage. This is because name brands like Esso and Shell usually incorporate extra additives into their fuel to enhance vehicle performance and as a result this makes the price higher.

3) Remove unnecessary weight
The heavier the vehicle, the more fuel will be needed to get it up to speed, and keep it there. Consider not only removing extra items inside your car, but also roof racks or anything like that when you’re not using them. 

4) Check your tyres 
It’s especially important to check your tyre pressure every fortnight as under inflated tyres increase your vehicle’s drag, which consumes more fuel. You can usually find your cars recommended tyre pressure on the sticker in the driver’s side door frame, or you can search it online.

If you’re planning on transporting heavier loads or you’re about to commence on a long trip, check your tyre pressure then too.

5) Close your windows at high speeds
The shape of cars are designed to be as aerodynamic as possible to make sure they meet as little resistance and lower the impacts on daily driving.

However, when you have the windows open and you’re driving at high speeds, this alters the aerodynamics of the car and it increases drag, which as a result increases fuel consumption.

Instead, try to use your air conditioning, but don’t leave this running for too long as this also burns a lot of fuel. 

Why have fuel prices increased? 
Fuel costs have risen as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, seeing as Russia is among one of the world’s largest oil exporters.

Given the uncertainty around when and if fuel prices will fall, many motorists are considering switching to electric vehicles. It’s also a good time to switch because the government is hoping to phase out all petrol and diesel vehicles by 2030.

At LMC we have a selection of hybrid electric, electric diesel and fully electric vehicles for sale. You can get a free finance check with us without impacting your credit score, and buy with confidence knowing all our cars have undergone history, mechanical, cosmetic and protection checks.

Get in contact with a member of our team now if you’d like to discuss our range of electric vehicles and which one would be right for you.