Petrol Saving Tips...

The world cannot exist without petrol (at least for now), yet we continue to waste what we have at an alarming rate. If the high level of consumption keeps up, fuel resources will run out in the very near future (i.e. decades, not centuries). The car plays a vital role in affecting the environment, however, there are some simple things you can do to conserve petrol, reduce pollution and cut emissions of carbon dioxide.

Checking your car by keeping a vigilant eye on your MPG is a great start, as you can easily detect problems such as slow punctures or engine problems earlier before they turn out to become a critical problem. If your average MPG suddenly starts dropping, it’s time to start checking around the car to ensure you don’t have a slow puncture or under inflated tyres.

Driving smoothly by anticipating the road ahead and avoiding frequent braking will ensure a smoother journey for yourself and your passengers. Turning on the air conditioning when it is not really necessary can save you a lot of petrol, sometimes by up to 5mpg. Opening the windows and turning the blowers on is an effective alternative (depending on how hot it is) if you don’t fancy turning on your AC.

Maintaining a regular speed is a great petrol saving tip, as your car running at 75mph consumes a lot more fuel than a car running 65mph (obviously). However, you may be surprised by how much. If you do long motorway journeys regularly, try doing the whole way at 70mph (conditions permitting) and you may be surprised how much you will save over driving at 80mph (of course you don’t drive that fast do you?).

Hotter engines are far more efficient than colder engines so take it easy while the car is warming up. Keeping the car well serviced by changing the plugs, bearings, filters, oil and ensuring the brakes are not dragging are great petrol saving tips.

Keeping the engine idle for a long period is best avoided, you often don’t need to sit there with the engine idling.