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There\u2019s not much you can do to influence the cost of fuel, but you can certainly squeeze a bit more distance out of every litre, which can really add up at today\u2019s fuel prices.<\/p>\n
Whether you drive a zippy hatchback or a fuel-guzzling SUV, these ten fuel saving tips can help you improve your car’s fuel economy and take some of the sting out of high fuel prices.<\/p>\n
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1. Take it slowly <\/strong><\/p>\n One of the best ways to save fuel is to simply reduce your speed. As speed increases, fuel economy decreases exponentially. If you are one of those heavy-footed drivers, try driving the speed limit for a few days. You’ll save a lot of fuel and your journey really won’t take that much longer.<\/p>\n 2. Check that pressure <\/strong><\/p>\n Under-inflated tyres are one of the most commonly ignored causes of high fuel consumption. Why? Because under-inflated tyres have more rolling resistance, which means you need to burn more gas to keep your car moving. So, make sure you have your tyre pressure checked at least once a month. Check them when they are cold, because driving the car warms up the tyres along with the air inside them, which increases pressure and gives a falsely high reading. Use the inflation pressures shown in the owner’s manual or on the data plate on the inside of the driver\u2019s door.<\/p>\n 3. Service with a smile <\/strong><\/p>\n A dirty air filter restricts the flow of air into the engine, which harms performance and economy. By having your car serviced regularly, you will save on fuel.<\/p>\n 4. Hold back on the revs <\/strong><\/p>\n Jack-rabbit starts are an obvious fuel-waster – but that doesn’t mean you should crawl away from every traffic light. If you drive an automatic, accelerate moderately so the transmission can shift up into the higher gears. Manual drivers should shift early to keep the revs down, but don’t lug the engine – downshift if you need to accelerate. Keep an eye well down the road for potential slowdowns. If you accelerate to speed then have to brake right away, it wastes fuel.<\/p>\n 5. Keep trucking <\/strong><\/p>\n Ever notice how, in bad traffic jams, cars seem to constantly speed up and slow down, while trucks tend to roll along at the same leisurely pace? A constant speed keeps changing gears to a minimum – important to those who have to wrangle with those ten-speed truck transmissions – but it also aids economy, as it takes much more fuel to get a vehicle moving than it does to keep it moving.<\/p>\n