Fuel saving tips - before you leave

Introduction

We all care about the cost of fuel, and the quality of our environment, and your new car has been designed to meet stringent standards for efficiency and environmental protection.
 
The fuel consumption of new cars is measured on a standard test cycle set out by EU regulations. This allows a like-for-like comparison between different vehicles. However, most people’s driving patterns are different from the test cycle. This means that their fuel economy and carbon emissions will also be different.
 
You can make important fuel savings by changing the way you drive.

Fuel saving tips - Tips before you leave

​Avoid short trips

 

  • Cold engines are thirsty. In cold weather, fuel consumption for the first few miles can be far higher than normal. Even in summer, until your engine has reached normal temperature it will use more fuel.
  • Try to avoid making short journeys. See if you can plan to combine several short journeys into a bundle, to keep your engine warm and efficient.
  • Don’t leave the engine running to warm it up. Set off as soon as you have started up.

 

Check your tyre pressures

 

  • Flat tyres waste energy. Even being just 3 psi under the ideal pressure can add 1% to your fuel bill. Refer to your Owners’ Manual and check your tyre pressures weekly.
  • The original tyres for your car were selected to provide the optimum economy, safety and comfort. If you have to replace them make sure you use the same specification.
  • For more savings, you can use the higher tyre pressure recommended for full load, even if you're on your own and without luggage. It may reduce comfort slightly, but the difference should be minor.

 

Use fuel-saving oil

 

  • The right engine oil reduces friction in the engine, and gets to work better and faster especially after a cold start – especially important for short trips.
  • It can cut fuel consumption by up to 5% compared with cheaper products.
  • If you’re topping up, check with your retailer to make sure you use the right oil, especially if your engine is using long-life oil.
 
Avoid unnecessary weight
 
  • Remember cycling with a heavy pack on your back? Hard work, wasn’t it? It’s the same for your car - less weight means less fuel consumption
  • It also means less impact on the environment.
  • Whether it’s the bottles and papers you meant to take to the recycling point or a heavy toolbox, remember that every kilogram costs you fuel.
  • An extra 100 kilos will increase your fuel consumption by up to an extra gallon every thousand miles. So only carry what you need!
    If you have the chance, sharing a car is the ultimate weight-saving trick – it saves the weight of a whole car!
 
Think aerodynamic
 
  • Your car is designed to be aerodynamically efficient, but things like roof racks and roof boxes change this.
  • The same is true of speed. If you double your speed, the aerodynamic drag will increase four times over.
  • For example, at 60mph a car with three bikes on the roof will use over a third of a gallon of extra fuel every 50 miles. Speed up to 70mph and this could be nearly half a gallon.
  • Even empty roof racks increase fuel consumption, so if you’re not using them, take them off – especially if your heading for the motorway or other high-speed roads.