The current fuel crisis is affecting the general public in the UK due to the high fuel prices. As a result, everyone is searching for ways to be more efficient with their fuel to save money. Here are our tips to improve your fuel efficiency to maximise the petrol in your tank.
Drive at a steady speed
A simple tip which is overlooked countlessly is driving at a steady speed. It’s common for drivers to drive at inconsistent speeds throughout their journey, this could be due to traffic, or they’re in a hurry to reach their destination. Standstill traffic is unavoidable, but speeding at various points is, and this is a big reason why you use more fuel.
The quicker you drive the more fuel you will burn, so driving at a steady speed for the entirety of your journey will help decrease the consumption of fuel in your vehicle. A recent study shows that varying your speed up and down between 70-80 km per hour every 20 seconds can increase your fuel use by 20%. This percentage might not appear a lot, but over the course of a year it can account for a hefty saving.
We advise you to not brake harshly either, as this can increase your fuel consumption by 40%, and you will release more carbon emissions as a result of this. These simple things can be avoidable very easily but there are drivers who are unaware of the potential benefits, so we strongly encourage you to act now and consider the potential consequences.
Reduce weight in the vehicle
Removing excess weight from your vehicle can have a more significant impact than you may think. The heavier your vehicle the more fuel you will need to take you to your destination, so remove any unnecessary heavy items to improve your fuel efficiency. Certain situations such as family holidays make it tricky to avoid fuel consumption, but we urge you to try to limit packing large objects – every little helps!
If you have a small car and pack your boot full then you will be more affected by fuel consumption, however, it varies for larger vehicles as they are designed to carry huge loads. Whatever vehicle you may be driving, remove as much weight as possible to help improve your fuel efficiency as it will reduce the amount of time you visit a petrol station to pay more money for fuel.
It can become common to use your car as storage space, it can develop into a bad habit especially if you’re driving constantly. On average, an extra 50kg of weight in the car can increase fuel use by 1-2%, so decluttering your vehicle often can improve your fuel economy quicker than you think.
Keep tyres well inflated
Deflated tyres can have a damaging effect on your fuel efficiency if they’re not kept well inflated. If they don’t have the correct air pressure it can harm the miles per gallon enormously, and could potentially cause an accident on the road. Naturally, tyres lose air each month by up to 2 PSI, so checking what rate they’re at can help you preserve fuel for longer. A fully inflated tyre will lead to less rolling distance on the road which greatly benefits your fuel economy.
Checking your tyre pressure is simple enough, but this isn’t the only way you can help improve your fuel efficiency. Certain tyre manufacturers are producing energy-efficient tyres, and they’re claiming that low resistance tyres can save drivers between £50-£100 per year, thanks to a 2-4% reduction in fuel consumption enabled by their special design.
Fuel-saving tyres are available in a multitude of applications for new and used vehicles, as well as speciality models such as off-road and electric.
Use van gears more efficiently
One tip that is not spoken about often enough which can improve your fuel efficiency is using the gears more efficiently. It’s always best to shift through the gears as quickly as possible because the higher the gear the fewer revs the vehicle will hold onto. Having lower revs will improve your fuel efficiency without having to do much work, and this is because less fuel is being pumped into the engine.
If your van is carrying a heavy load then we suggest you be more cautious when you change gears. Some newer vans have an indicator which shows when to change gear, and this is to avoid piling pressure on the motor. Accelerating at a low rpm will cause issues for the engine, so when you’re changing gear allow revs to rise before shifting gear.
Are you ready to be more fuel efficient and are looking for a cost-effective and reliable vehicle? Look no further than our van rental fleet here at Cool Running. We provide a refrigerated van hire service nationwide, but also offer a wide range of used vans for sale.
All of our vans have been fully serviced and maintained by us throughout their lifetime. We guarantee you will be stress-free after using our services, and our team are available to get in touch with you 24/7 should you face an issue.