How to Reduce Fuel Consumption

How to reduce fuel consumption

With the price of petrol and diesel soaring, it’s a good time to cut down on your fuel consumption. So, how can you make sure you’re not burning through the juice? Here are Veygo’s top tips for reducing your fuel consumption, and saving money into the bargain.

Why is reducing fuel consumption important?

The eye-watering cost of fuel is a big factor here. GOV.UK figures show that, in October 2021, the average price of unleaded petrol in the UK was 137.66p/litre[1]. By the start of April 2022, this had jumped to 161.91p/litre[2]. So using less fuel should put less of a strain on your finances. Burning less fuel also means less pollution, which is ultimately better for everyone’s health, and for the environment. Win-win!

Plan your journeys

It sounds simple… And it is! Spending a bit of time planning your journeys before you set off is a great way to save on fuel, time and stress. Working out the most efficient route and avoiding rush-hour traffic is the most fuel-efficient way to get from A to B.

To take your planning to a pro level, try to avoid roadworks, routes with excessive stop-start driving (such as streets with lots of traffic lights), and passing schools at pick-up and drop-off times. Make sure you always set off in plenty of time, to avoid being in a rush and getting flustered. It’s easier to make mistakes when you’re stressed, so make sure you’re nice and relaxed.

Keep on top of your car maintenance

Keeping your car in tip-top condition is a good idea for a number of reasons… And fuel consumption is high up the list.

Keeping your tyres pumped up to the optimum pressure is the best tip we have in this regard. According to car repair website Protyre, it’s estimated that tyres lose pressure at a rate of about 1-3 PSI (pound per square inch) each month. This happens naturally due to permeation of air.. But this could be more if you have a slow puncture.

If tyres aren’t at their recommended PSI, they become misshapen, leading to more friction from the road. In addition to being bad for the tyres, this means you’re using more fuel to keep the wheels running smoothly.

You can find your ideal tyre pressure in the car’s manual. And most cars have a sticker with the optimum PSI, which can usually be found inside the driver’s side door.

To find out how to keep your car in good shape, check out our essential car maintenance checklist.

Get your car serviced regularly 

Another way of keeping your car well maintained is to make sure it’s serviced regularly. Making sure your engine oil and spark plugs are well looked after will keep your engine in good working order, and maximise your miles per gallon (MPG).The rule of thumb here is to get your car serviced annually, or every 12,000 miles – whichever comes first. This is what’s recommended by most car manufacturers.

To save money on getting your car serviced, check out what local deals are available on sites like Groupon. This way you’re making sure your money goes even further.

Lighten your load

The more weight you’re carrying in your car, the more fuel you’ll burn. While it’s advisable to keep a few essentials in there – such as screenwash and a bottle of water – carrying around all of your kit at all times will mean you’re paying more regularly at the pump.

With this in mind, declutter your car regularly, and only take what you need for the journey you’re making

Keep your driving smooth

Your driving style has a surprising effect on your fuel economy. Speeding and accelerating sharply means revving your engine excessively, which is a drain on your fuel. On the other hand, harsh braking also has a detrimental effect on your car’s MPG. To avoid this, try to drive smoothly, and keep a good distance between yourself and other road users to minimise any evasive action.

Both in terms of safety and fuel consumption, it’s a good idea to practise defensive driving. Find out about the principles of defensive driving here.

Share car journeys

If one of your main journeys is driving to work and back, or maybe even the school run, try and set up a lift sharing group. The idea of lift sharing is people take it in turns to drive a regular route, it may mean adding a few extra minutes to your journey each time to pick up participants, but could potentially save you driving up to 4 times a week.

In the context of driving lessons, perhaps get some learner driver insurance and perhaps use the morning or evening commute as extra practice, so you’re not going out of your way to take a lesson or get some valued experience behind the wheel.

On the other hand, temporary car insurance is a great way to share the load driving, if you and a friend, or a family member want to go to two different places but don’t want to have to drive to both, pick up some short term cover and take the same car to both destinations!