How to Make Fuel Last Longer

Posted by Simon R 23/06/2022 0 Comment(s)

As petrol prices rocket to £2 a litre at pumps around the UK, motorists are trying to make the most of the fuel in their tanks.

The average cost of petrol is currently 187.5 pence per litre. Diesel is even more costly at 194.1 pence per litre. The price hikes are showing no signs of slowing down. On 7th June, petrol's biggest daily increase in 17 years saw it go up overnight from 178.5 pence to 180.7 pence a litre.

 

Fuel gauge

© kckate16 / Shutterstock.com

 

Why are fuel prices so high?


Experts predict petrol prices are unlikely to start going down until oil producers find a way of increasing supplies - they need to compensate for the loss of Russian oil as a result of the invasion of Ukraine.

They had also increased significantly before the conflict, due to the price increase of crude oil, which is used to make petrol and diesel. At the start of the Covid pandemic, crude oil was cheaper, as the demand plummeted due to many businesses being closed.

Once life went back to normal, the demand for fuel increased again, but suppliers struggled to meet the requirement, so prices rose. The conflict in Ukraine has worsened the existing problem.

 

 

Drive more slowly


When you drive fast, it uses more fuel. The RAC says there's no perfect driving speed for fuel economy. In the past, the speed of 56 mph was believed to be the optimum, but today, research has shown vehicles are most efficient when driven at 45 mph to 50 mph, which is below the national speed limit on open roads, where it's 60 mph, and on the motorway, where it's 70 mph.

 

Many motorists speed down the motorway at 80 mph. Not only is this illegal, but it will also cost more in petrol or diesel. The Department of Transport says driving at this speed can drink up to 25% more fuel. Use your right foot lightly to ensure you accelerate gently and avoid excessive revving.

 

 

Change gear early


The RAC says you'll travel farther on each gallon of petrol if you change gear as soon as you can. Both the RAC and the Energy Saving Trust recommend changing up early - usually at around 2,000 rpm. Keep in the highest possible gear for your car while remaining within the speed limit.

Keeping the car moving smoothly at the right consistent speed is essential to save fuel. Of course, this is dictated by traffic conditions and what’s ahead on the road, but slowing down and speeding up all the time uses more petrol. Be aware of what's ahead and try to keep your speed steady as much as possible.

 

 

Brake less


Aim to brake less and more smoothly by anticipating stops and taking your foot off the accelerator well in advance. According to motorist Kevin Booker (a world record-holder for energy-efficient driving), you should read the road in advance for roundabouts and traffic lights to keep moving at the best speed. Try to avoid stopping and starting continually.

If the traffic lights in the distance are on green, there's a strong likelihood they will be on red by the time you arrive if you're travelling quite quickly. Pace yourself, so the lights are likely to have turned green again by the time you get there, enabling you to drive through smoothly at a constant speed.

 

 

Reduce the weight in the car


The heavier your vehicle, the more fuel you will use. Take off your roof box if you don't use it and remove any unnecessary clutter that may have accumulated in the boot. Road conditions and the shape of your roof box can play a part in fuel consumption.

Research shows having a roof box can add 10% to 25% to your fuel costs. This is not only because of the extra weight but also because it is detrimental to the car's aerodynamics. It increases the front area of the car, so even if it's empty, it can still make you use extra petrol.

 

 

Plan journeys carefully


Find the shortest routes, or the most economical, by using a sat nav for every journey. Google Maps has recently launched eco-friendly route planners. This means as well as calculating the fastest route, it displays the most cost-effective one too.

Use your sat nav to help you stick to the most cost-effective route. In addition, if you have two trips to make on different days, always see if you can combine them into one journey to further cut costs.

 

 

Monitor your petrol use


There are various apps available to help keep track of how much petrol you're using to determine when you use the most. You input details of the date you've filled up and log your mileage for all journeys. It then provides you with statistics on your fuel economy, so you can see if you're wasting petrol anywhere.

 

 

Inflate tyres properly


Keep your tyres pumped up to the correct pressure. If you let the pressure fall, you will use more petrol. According to the RAC, inflating car tyres to the correct pressure can improve your miles per litre by 3%. It may not sound a lot, but over time, it can really help.

 

 

What not to do


In the past, some motorists believed in taking their car out of gear to roll down hills to conserve fuel. Today, motoring organisations warn against this, as it can be dangerous. You can't react as quickly to other road-users and also, today's vehicles aren't like their older counterparts, so it can actually cause you to use more fuel, rather than save it.

Describing the current fuel situation as a "national crisis", the RAC is urging the government to take "drastic action" to bring costs down, including a cut in VAT or a fuel duty reduction. However, to date, the government says it won't be taking any specific action to tackle fuel costs, as it has already launched a £37 billion package to help people cope with the wider cost of living crisis.