Are you spending more on fuel than you’d like?

1. Keep your Car Maintenance up to date

Do you know how many mpg you’re getting from your car?

Nowadays it’s pretty easy to know with on-board trip computers and so it’s a good idea to check regularly. If you notice a decline, there’s a good chance your car is in need of servicing.

Blocked air filters and old engine oil put more strain on the motor and so reduce fuel efficiency. For optimal fuel consumption, keep to your car manufacturer’s service schedules. And depending on the kind of driving you do, you may need to increase maintenance frequency. Our helpful service teams at Brayleys are on hand to advise you on servicing.

2. Don’t cut corners on tyre quality

Tyres are a major element concerning driving economy. After all, they’re the only part of your car in contact with the road. Good quality tyres may be a little more expensive than the cheapest available, but they do have significant advantages:

• Better performance and road holding
• More comfortable
• Often quieter with lower road noise
• Better grip for shorter stopping distances
• Longer lasting
• Better fuel economy – sometimes up to 2.5mpg

You’ll always be rewarded by spending that bit more for good quality brands such as Michelin, Continental or Goodyear. At Brayleys we won’t be beaten on price for tyres. You’re assured of the lowest prices with our price match guarantee available at our dealerships in locations.

But there’s also another important tyre factor that can save fuel.

3. Check your tyre pressure

Keeping your tyres at the right pressure can easily save you money on fuel. Tyre pressures can change over time depending on the weather and driving conditions. If they are too low it can cost you more than 2mpg more on every journey. You can normally find the recommended pressures on the driver’s door or in your car’s manual.

And if you don’t mount curbs and manage to keep out of potholes, you’ll also avoid damaging your tyres leading to early replacement. At Brayleys, we’re always happy to help if you need advice on tyres.

4. Remove roof racks

Roof racks and bike carriers create a lot of wind resistance which can increase fuel consumption by up to a massive 25%. They shouldn’t take more than a few moments to remove particularly if it is a specifically designed accessory for your car. So it makes sense to take them off if you don’t need them.

If your bike isn’t on top of your car, you could always use it to get to where you want to go instead of taking your car. Reducing your car use by cycling or walking is naturally the best way to make the greatest savings on fuel.

5. Take out unnecessary car contents

You can accumulate a surprising amount of stuff in cars - most of which you’ll probably not need on everyday journeys. Shoes and coats, snow chains, assorted child’s toys and books and general gear add unnecessary weight to your car. By de-cluttering, you’ll reduce that resistance and make it more efficient as well as tidier.

6. Drive gently when starting your journey

Modern cars don’t require warming up, even if starting from cold. But if you floor the gas pedal before the engine has reached optimal temperature, your fuel consumption will skyrocket. By driving carefully over the first few miles until the motor is warm, you’ll put less strain on the motor and conserve your overall mpg.

And if your air conditioning and heating system is well maintained, de-icing or de-fogging your windscreen shouldn’t take more than a couple of moments. We can help if you think your air con needs seeing to.

7. Relax behind the wheel

Some simple driving techniques can help you become more frugal with your fuel:

- Avoid hard accelerating and braking

- Maintain a regular speed

- Anticipate road and traffic conditions

- Keep your distance from the car in front

- Keep revs stable and gear changes smooth

Some cars have a gear shift indicator to assist with changing. You should change gear at around 2000rpm in a diesel car and around 2500rpm with petrol engines.

Do you really need to overtake?

How many times have you been passed by a car only to find yourself right behind them at the next roundabout or junction? Relax in the knowledge that you’ve covered the same distance with far less fuel. You’ll also reduce excess wear of your clutch and brakes as well as being more energy efficient.

Unless you’re Lewis Hamilton, there’s probably not very much to be gained from scorching green traffic light starts and massive accelerations between speed bumps. A racing car would quite possibly get stuck over one in any case.

8. Cut back on constant Air Con

Effective Air conditioning is great in warm weather to keep the inside of your car cool. But using your air con on all the time uses a lot of energy. Especially in town, this can significantly increase your fuel consumption. You could open the windows, but at higher speeds the increased aerodynamic drag makes it a false economy. It’s also noisy and uncomfortable especially for passengers in the back seats.

Our advice is to turn the air con on to cool the car right down and then turn it off. You’ll be surprised how long it stays cool before you need to put it on again. And of course you’ll have saved money in between times.

9. Park in the shade

If it’s a hot day, head for a shady spot when parking your car. And if you’re going to leave your car a while, try to estimate where the shade will be later on and park there. Getting a windscreen reflector for a few pounds is also a good investment to reduce temperatures inside your car when parked.

10. Plan your journey

Did you know your Smartphone can help you save money on fuel?

Plan your trip using your GPS and Sat Nav to indicate the most fuel-efficient route. The fastest way from A to B may not be the most energy efficient. Depending on the time of day and traffic conditions, taking the eco route may be a few minutes slower, but you can make big fuel savings. Many Sat Navs also enable you to avoid traffic jams and accidents too.

11. Use Free Smartphone Apps

• Find the cheapest fuel around you before you go into the red by using one of many free apps. Don’t use premium fuel unless your manufacturer specifies it.
• Parking apps can provide valuable information on available parking spaces in towns. Not only will you avoid wasting time looking you’ll also save on fuel by not having to drive around trying multiple car parks.

Individually these factor may not seem important but together you’ll definitely notice an improvement in mpg over a period. Not only will you be filling up less often, you’ll be seeing your fuel take you further.

Saving natural resources increasing important issue and we all have our part to play. Here at Brayleys, we’re at the forefront of more sustainable motoring in Hertfordshire, Oxfordshire, Middlesex, Essex, Buckinghamshire and North London.