Roof boxes are a killer for efficiency

advice, autos, cars, car clinic, driving tips, fuel, fuel consumption, fuel economy, fuel prices, vnex, 7 tips for improving fuel economy amid record high petrol prices

With fuel prices hitting record highs thanks to the ongoing effects of Covid-19 and geopolitical strife, not least Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, many motorists will be looking for ways to reduce their cars’ fuel consumption.

While electrification evangelists may suggest switching to a hybrid or electric car, that isn’t an option for everyone. But by making a few adjustments to the way you drive and look after your petrol or diesel car, you may find you can travel a lot further per tank.

Although electric vehicle owners don’t have to worry about high prices at the pumps, home energy costs are also rising rapidly and the current cost of living crisis affects us all; fortunately, many of the techniques below are also applicable to electric vehicles, so pay attention if you want to increase your miles per kWh.

1. Keep your car well-maintained

advice, autos, cars, car clinic, driving tips, fuel, fuel consumption, fuel economy, fuel prices, vnex, 7 tips for improving fuel economy amid record high petrol prices

A freshly serviced car with clean air filters and oil is going to run more efficiently than one that is struggling to breathe. Regular servicing, including checking of things such as wheel alignment, will ensure the car glides along as smoothly and efficiently as possible.

2. Check your tyres

More important still is the condition of your tyres. It is essential for fuel economy (and safety) to keep a car’s tyres inflated to the correct pressure.

Underinflated tyres will increase rolling resistance and make the engine have to work harder than it should. But don’t try pumping them up beyond what is recommended in the user manual, as that can also impact efficiency and be dangerous.

3. Reduce weight and drag

advice, autos, cars, car clinic, driving tips, fuel, fuel consumption, fuel economy, fuel prices, vnex, 7 tips for improving fuel economy amid record high petrol prices

Carrying around unnecessary weight such as unused buggies, golf clubs or child car seats can reduce a car’s efficiency slightly, though not as much as empty roof racks and roof boxes. Studies have shown that an empty roof rack can increase drag (and thus fuel consumption) by around 16% at 75mph while a roof box adds about 39% more.

Even driving with the windows down prevents a car from cutting through the air as efficiently as it might otherwise.

While there’s technically an advantage to “slipstreaming”, i.e. following closely behind another vehicle (particularly an HGV) to reduce drag through the air, it’s not safe to tailgate other vehicles as it reduces both your forward visibility and the time available to react.

One area where excess weight can massively reduce efficiency is when it comes to plug-in hybrids. The hundreds of kilos of extra weight created by the battery packs mean that when the batteries deplete, the petrol or diesel engine needs to do a lot more work to haul the vehicle along, so it’s important to keep batteries topped up.

4. Conserve momentum

Hypermiling is a term coined in the mid-2000s referring to eking the maximum mileage out of a tank of fuel or a battery charge.

One of the biggest components of hypermiling involves conserving momentum, eliminating as much as possible the need for sharp deceleration and acceleration, given that the latter uses a lot of fuel.

advice, autos, cars, car clinic, driving tips, fuel, fuel consumption, fuel economy, fuel prices, vnex, 7 tips for improving fuel economy amid record high petrol prices

The key to conserving momentum is anticipation, looking as far ahead as possible to react to things such as roundabouts or traffic lights.

In anticipating a traffic light and coming off the accelerator in advance, it reduces the need for braking and, if the traffic light turns green before the car reaches it, it means that there’s less acceleration required to get the car back up to speed. Even a small amount of forward momentum can make picking up speed again a lot easier for the car.

The same is true for hills. Drivers can gain a gravitational advantage on a descent by picking up speed, then reduce the required throttle input on the way up the other side of a dip. It doesn’t need to be a pronounced action to deliver improvements to fuel economy, and of course at all times you must maintain a safe and considerate style of driving, without braking speed limits.

5. Slow down

By reducing your average speed by just 5-10mph, particularly on longer motorway journeys, you can save quite a bit of fuel without losing much in the way of time.

As a car drives along a road, power must be equal to or greater than resistive forces, namely aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance in the tyres. Because the power needed to overcome drag is equal to the force of that drag multiplied by the velocity of the vehicle, the faster a vehicle goes, the more power is required and the less efficient it is.

As mentioned, slowing down a little doesn’t make a huge difference to how long it takes to reach your destination, but leaving a few minutes earlier is a small price to pay for saving money on fuel.

6. Use higher gears

advice, autos, cars, car clinic, driving tips, fuel, fuel consumption, fuel economy, fuel prices, vnex, 7 tips for improving fuel economy amid record high petrol prices

In a car with a manual gearbox, changing up the gears as soon as possible helps reduce revs and is beneficial to fuel economy.

Always use the highest gear in which the car can maintain momentum, though try to avoid changing up too early and forcing the engine to labour.

Again, gentle acceleration is the key while keeping the revs low.

7. Turn off the air conditioning

advice, autos, cars, car clinic, driving tips, fuel, fuel consumption, fuel economy, fuel prices, vnex, 7 tips for improving fuel economy amid record high petrol prices

Air conditioning is an extra load on the engine that can mean a power and efficiency reduction.

On hotter days, try opening the windows for a few minutes before you set off to let some of the heat out of the car and reduce the requirement for air conditioning.

Om colder days, the more accessories such as heater fans, demisters and heated rear windows that are turned on, the harder the motor needs to work.

The effect is especially noticeable in electric vehicles, particularly those without efficient heat pump-based heating; the onboard computer might show your predicted range leaping up after switching off the air conditioning. EV experts recommend using heated seats and steering wheels instead, if you have them fitted, as they’re more efficient than heating the entire cabin.

Related articles

  • If you found our top tips for improving fuel economy useful, you will want to read that the fuel duty cut makes road pricing ‘more urgent’
  • Also check out our guide to synthetic e-fuels
  • Huge spike in demand for electric cars and bikes as fuel shortage crisis bites

Latest articles

  • advice, autos, cars, car clinic, driving tips, fuel, fuel consumption, fuel economy, fuel prices, vnex, 7 tips for improving fuel economy amid record high petrol prices
    7 tips for improving fuel economy amid record high petrol prices
  • advice, autos, cars, car clinic, driving tips, fuel, fuel consumption, fuel economy, fuel prices, vnex, 7 tips for improving fuel economy amid record high petrol prices
    Government pledges £500m to increase number of EV charging points tenfold by 2030
  • advice, autos, cars, car clinic, driving tips, fuel, fuel consumption, fuel economy, fuel prices, vnex, 7 tips for improving fuel economy amid record high petrol prices
    Fuel duty cut makes road pricing ‘more urgent’
  • advice, autos, cars, car clinic, driving tips, fuel, fuel consumption, fuel economy, fuel prices, vnex, 7 tips for improving fuel economy amid record high petrol prices
    Motorists face ban, £1,000 fine as law tightens around mobile phone use in cars
  • advice, autos, cars, car clinic, driving tips, fuel, fuel consumption, fuel economy, fuel prices, vnex, 7 tips for improving fuel economy amid record high petrol prices
    Surrey and Sussex police stop 105 drivers using mobile phones in clampdown ahead of law change

Keyword: 7 tips for improving fuel economy amid record high petrol prices

CAR'S NEWS RELATED

Should I Use A Personal Loan Or A Car Loan To Purchase My Next Car?

When purchasing a new car, most buyers would typically waltz into the showroom of a preferred marque, sample what the brand has to offer, then let the dealer process the rest of the loan paperwork for you. The general process is the same when acquiring a used car. Dealers ...

View more: Should I Use A Personal Loan Or A Car Loan To Purchase My Next Car?

Ex-Motability cars – should you buy one?

Ex-Motability cars are commonplace on the UK used car market but what are the pros and cons when it comes to buying one? As Europe’s largest car fleet operator, Motability accounts for one in ten of all new cars bought in Britain. That means it’s also a major supplier of ...

View more: Ex-Motability cars – should you buy one?

Stop-Start Myths And Misconceptions

Start-stop systems can be bothersome to live with. And with ever-tightening emissions regulations, it’s not something that you can actively avoid too. Progressively fitted to even mass-market cars towards the tail end of the 2010s, these systems help to reduce fuel consumption, and thus carbon emissions, by shutting your ...

View more: Stop-Start Myths And Misconceptions

mRecap: Week of 18th April 2022 - COE Price Significantly Drops Across All Categories, Ultimate Guide To Driving Into Malaysia And Citroën e-Berlingo mReview!

In this edition, we check out the ultimate guide to driving into Malaysia, April’s 2nd COE bidding significantly drops COE prices and we take the Citroën e-Berlingo for a ride! In short, if you’re looking for a condensed list of our weekly round-up, we have: The Ultimate Guide to Driving ...

View more: mRecap: Week of 18th April 2022 - COE Price Significantly Drops Across All Categories, Ultimate Guide To Driving Into Malaysia And Citroën e-Berlingo mReview!

The CUPRA Leon SP Is Your Best Companion For Work And Play!

CUPRA’s Leon SportsTourer would quite literally change the way you look at station wagons. This isn’t merely a large, practical estate that solely exists to excite the hypothalamus of the aged family man. It is much more than that. With a feisty powerplant under the bonnet, and sticky tyres ...

View more: The CUPRA Leon SP Is Your Best Companion For Work And Play!

Which car should I buy? Ford Falcon XR8 Ute v Holden Crewman SS

Ash T writes: “Having a bit of trouble here deciding my first car. It will be used for everyday things and also for work purposes such as carrying tools and equipment to work sites. I’ve narrowed it down to an ’04 Holden Crewman SS and an ’04 Ford Falon XR8 ...

View more: Which car should I buy? Ford Falcon XR8 Ute v Holden Crewman SS

Car suspension explained

Your car’s suspension is generally out of sight and out of mind, but it plays a crucial role – doing everything from ensuring the wheels stay connected with the road to stopping the car from shaking to pieces over rough surfaces. As well as smoothing a bumpy ride, it also ...

View more: Car suspension explained

Top things to consider when buying a family car

There are a few things one must sacrifice when one becomes a parent: Sunday sleep-ins, sleeping in general, date nights — and, most reluctantly of all, the two-door sports convertible. Yep, it’s time to consider the best family car for your growing brood. Here are a few things to consider ...

View more: Top things to consider when buying a family car

AA BUYER'S GUIDE: The best used rideshare vehicles

DRIVEN EXPLAINS PART 5: Can a hybrid tow?

Car leasing with insurance: what is it and how does it work?

Driving Assists And How They Work: Part II

The Highway Code: What is it and how do I learn it?

Why Is Petrol So Expensive In Singapore?

What's the best thing to do at the end of a car PCP finance deal?

Most Bang-For-Your-Buck SUVs That You Can Buy Today | Motorist Recommends

The top 5 facts about hybrid cars and myths debunked

Vehicle weights explained | tare, kerb, GVM, payload and trailer figures

5 dangerous driving habits to watch out for

EV motors and batteries: How long do they last?

OTHER CAR NEWS

; Top List in the World https://www.pinterest.com/newstopcar/pins/
Top Best Sushi Restaurants in SeoulTop Best Caribbean HoneymoonsTop Most Beautiful Islands in PeruTop Best Outdoor Grill BrandsTop Best Global Seafood RestaurantsTop Foods to Boost Your Immune SystemTop Best Foods to Fight HemorrhoidsTop Foods That Pack More Potassium Than a BananaTop Best Healthy Foods to Gain Weight FastTop Best Cosmetic Brands in the U.STop Best Destinations for Food Lovers in EuropeTop Best Foods High in Vitamin ATop Best Foods to Lower Your Blood SugarTop Best Things to Do in LouisianaTop Best Cities to Visit in New YorkTop Best Makeup Addresses In PennsylvaniaTop Reasons to Visit NorwayTop Most Beautiful Islands In The WorldTop Best Law Universities in the WorldTop Richest Sportsmen In The WorldTop Biggest Aquariums In The WorldTop Best Peruvian Restaurants In MiamiTop Best Road Trips From MiamiTop Best Places to Visit in MarylandTop Best Places to Visit in North CarolinaTop Best Electric Cars For KidsTop Best Swedish Brands in The USTop Best Skincare Brands in AmericaTop Best American Lipstick BrandsTop Michelin-starred Restaurants in MiamiTop Best Secluded Getaways From MiamiTop Best Things To Do On A Rainy Day In MiamiTop Most Instagrammable Places In MiamiTop Interesting Facts about FlorenceTop Facts About The First Roman Emperor - AugustusTop Best Japanese FoodsTop Most Beautiful Historical Sites in IsraelTop Best Places To Visit In Holy SeeTop Best Hawaiian IslandsTop Reasons to Visit PortugalTop Best Hotels In L.A. With Free Wi-FiTop Best Scenic Drives in MiamiTop Best Vegan Restaurants in BerlinTop Most Interesting Attractions In WalesTop Health Benefits of a Vegan DietTop Best Thai Restaurant in Las VegasTop Most Beautiful Forests in SwitzerlandTop Best Global Universities in GermanyTop Most Beautiful Lakes in GuyanaTop Best Things To Do in IdahoTop Things to Know Before Traveling to North MacedoniaTop Best German Sunglasses BrandsTop Highest Mountains In FranceTop Biggest Hydroelectric Plants in AmericaTop Best Spa Hotels in NYCTop The World's Scariest BridgeTop Largest Hotels In AmericaTop Most Famous Festivals in JordanTop Best European Restaurants in MunichTop Best Japanese Hiking Boot BrandsTop Best Universities in PolandTop Best Tips for Surfing the Web Safely and AnonymouslyTop Most Valuable Football Clubs in EuropeTop Highest Mountains In ColombiaTop Real-Life Characters of Texas RisingTop Best Beaches in GuatelamaTop Things About DR Congo You Should KnowTop Best Korean Reality & Variety ShowsTop Best RockstarsTop Most Beautiful Waterfalls in GermanyTop Best Fountain Pen Ink BrandsTop Best European Restaurants in ChicagoTop Best Fighter Jets in the WorldTop Best Three-Wheel MotorcyclesTop Most Beautiful Lakes in ManitobaTop Best Dive Sites in VenezuelaTop Best Websites For Art StudentsTop Best Japanese Instant Noodle BrandsTop Best Comedy Manhwa (Webtoons)Top Best Japanese Sunglasses BrandsTop Most Expensive Air Jordan SneakersTop Health Benefits of CucumberTop Famous Universities in SwedenTop Most Popular Films Starring Jo Jung-sukTop Interesting Facts about CougarsTop Best Hospitals for Hip Replacement in the USATop Most Expensive DefendersTop Health Benefits of GooseberriesTop Health Benefits of ParsnipsTop Best Foods and Drinks in LondonTop Health Benefits of Rosehip TeaTop Best Air Fryers for Low-fat CookingTop Most Asked Teacher Interview Questions with AnswersTop Best Shopping Malls in ZurichTop The Most Beautiful Botanical Gardens In L.A.Top Best Mexican Restaurants in Miami for Carb-loading rightTop Best Energy Companies in GermanyTop Best Garage HeatersTop Largest Banks in IrelandTop Leading Provider - Audit and Assurance In The USTop Best Jewelry Brands in IndiaTop Prettiest Streets in the UKTop Best Lakes to Visit in TunisiaTop Highest Mountains in Israel