Fuel fright: How to save money with your motoring

Fuel Fright! Tips to help your fuel go further

The price of everything is soaring right now and petrol and diesel fuel are still at astronomical levels. Who hasn’t inwardly winced (or openly wept) when they’ve filled their fuel tank recently? So, it makes financial sense to conserve as much of the liquid gold as possible. Try our five fuel-saving tips. Don’t floor it! Hard acceleration dramatically increases fuel consumption. Accelerate gently and even larger cars will use much less petrol or diesel. Don’t speed. Fuel consumption increases substantially once you drive at speeds above 60mph. This is partly due to increased engne speed but mainly due to air resistance. put your hand outside the window (if safe to do so!) at varying speeds shows this. Tyre pressures. Correct tyre pressures provide optimum road traction and more economical fuel use. Under-inflated tyres ratchet up fuel costs (and are also dangerous) so know your pressures and check them regularly. Servicing makes sense. Skipping a service is false economy. A serviced engine will run more efficiently, saving more fuel (and avoiding major mechanical problems) in the long run. Lose Weight! Well not you exactly, though saving money might be a good incentive to start that diet if you’re a little on the hefty side. Remove all extra weight from your car. Don’t leave golf clubs or large tool kits in the boot if they’re not being used. Remove roof racks and top boxes too, as they cause drag and increase fuel consumption.

Try driving normally for a month, keeping a note of how much fuel you use. Then follow our tips for a month and compare the difference. Andy Harrison