Ten Top Tips for Better Fuel Economy

Have you been gas prices rise recently? Scary isn’t it? Well, it’s unlikely to get any better soon. In developing countries people are getting wealthier and they all want to buy cars. There isn’t that much new oil to be found, so prices will likely stay high and will probably go up. Many of us would like to get a mega economy hybrid or high-tech diesel car, but at the moment buying a new car is out of the question.

So here are some tips on how to get the best economy from your existing car.

1. Pump up the volume. Less pressure means tyres squish onto the road more, squishy tyres create more friction and more friction equals worse mpg. Read your car’s handbook to find the correct tyre pressures and keep to them. (Northants Driver believes forecourt airlines should be free. The only free air pump we know of locally is at Tesco Wellingborough but if you know of others tell us so we can tell the county).

2. Oils well. Low oil is bad for the engine, but over-filling is bad for economy. More oil slooshing around inside means more drag on the engines internal parts, and so worse mpg. On way of overfilling with oil is to check the level after the engine’s been running. Some of the oil will be at the top of the engine and will not show on the dipstick. Check your oil after the car has been stopped for a few hours, and make sure it’s on a level surface as well.

3. Want to brake free. Your car turns fuel into heat, then turns that heat into motion. Using the brakes turns that motion back into heat again, effectively using more fuel. Concentrate on reading the road. If you are approached a lower speed limit, a set of lights or anything else that will mean slowing down, ease off the gas well before rather than using so much brake.

4. Don’t tailgate. Tied in with the above. Ever been in the middle lane of a busy motorway and seen a ‘wave’ of brake lights from the cars in the outside lane? It’s because they’re driving too close and having to brake when the car in front slows. Hang back, drive at a steady speed and let the others do the rocking horse driving. It’s also far safer and less stressful.

5. Lose your cool. All of the electrical devices in your car sap a bit of energy, but the air conditioning is by far the worse. Tolerate a bit of warmth come summer and you’l have saved more than enough to buy the family an ice-cream.

6. Service with a smile. Old engine and gearbox oil, loose timing belts, old spark plugs, binding brakes. They can all mean extra cost at the pumps. Keep your car in tip-top condition by following the manufacturers service intervals. It will be good for your pocket when you come to sell it as well; buyers love a good service history.



7. Drag race. Roof racks, cycle racks, fluttering George cross’s and even open windows can all hit your wallet. Manufacturers spend millions to make a modern car aerodynamic, any accessories that stick into the breeze will muck that up. Take off the bits when you don’t need them.

8. Walk. Huh? What’s this site called again? Don’t worry, Northants Driver hasn’t turned eco-warrior and we aren’t advocating making the family hike to Dorset to see granny. It’s just that for some very short journeys it might be worth taking a stroll instead of reaching for the car keys. Lots of short journeys are also inordinately bad for your car’s engine, because it doesn’t have chance to warm up.

9. Weight on your mind. It’s sometimes tempting to use your car’s boot as a bit of extra storage space, but those tools or that bag you left in the car need energy to move them. It won’t make much difference, but by the end of a year it could well cost a few quid.

10. The need for speed? Northants Driver always tries to make reasonably good progress, but do ask yourself if you really need to be hammering along. Maybe try this; imagine that your a accelerator pedal is connected to a coin dispenser under the car. Every time you press the pedal, the coins fall out onto the road. Now how fast you going to drive?

Now, three things NOT to do;

1. Dawdle. Don’t grind away from the lights at painfully low speed. Your car will be more economical in higher gears. So pull away smoothly and smartly, going up through the gears quickly.

2. Fold your mirrors back, like a certain ’Top’ UK TV programme did a while back to save fuel. Mirrors are there for a reason. Besides, modern cars’ mirrors are designed in a wind-tunnel so folding them back could actually make things worse.

3. Slipstream. Your not at Rockingham raceway, so give yourself some space. Sticking to the tail-lights of that truck will save you fuel, right up to the point where he stomps on the air brakes. Following in his wake could lead to yours.

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