Advertisement
UK markets closed
  • FTSE 100

    7,952.62
    +20.64 (+0.26%)
     
  • FTSE 250

    19,884.73
    +74.07 (+0.37%)
     
  • AIM

    743.26
    +1.15 (+0.15%)
     
  • GBP/EUR

    1.1708
    +0.0015 (+0.13%)
     
  • GBP/USD

    1.2640
    +0.0017 (+0.14%)
     
  • Bitcoin GBP

    55,454.75
    -917.97 (-1.63%)
     
  • CMC Crypto 200

    885.54
    0.00 (0.00%)
     
  • S&P 500

    5,254.35
    +5.86 (+0.11%)
     
  • DOW

    39,807.37
    +47.29 (+0.12%)
     
  • CRUDE OIL

    83.11
    -0.06 (-0.07%)
     
  • GOLD FUTURES

    2,254.80
    +16.40 (+0.73%)
     
  • NIKKEI 225

    40,369.44
    +201.37 (+0.50%)
     
  • HANG SENG

    16,541.42
    +148.58 (+0.91%)
     
  • DAX

    18,492.49
    +15.40 (+0.08%)
     
  • CAC 40

    8,205.81
    +1.00 (+0.01%)
     

How to make your petrol last longer

Have you queued to fill your car’s tank this week? Or are you starting to wonder if you’ll be able to fuel up next time you’re running on empty?


The government didn’t mean to cause panic. It just said that if you happen to pass a pump in the next few hours, you should fill up your car… and any jerry cans you happen to have lying around. Then it amended its advice to try and stop the blind panic that resulted - but it was too late.

And now it seems that a strike over the Easter weekend has been ruled out completely, meaning that many people spent hours queuing for no good reason.

But this is a timely reminder that most of us are utterly reliant on fuel, despite ever-climbing prices. In fact, prices have now exceeded 140p a litre and, if you read our article ‘Why am I paying £100 to fill up my tank?’, you’ll see that soon the typical 50-litre petrol refill will cost £1.81 more.

But could you ring more miles out of your tank by becoming a more efficient motorist?

Does it work?

According to the AA, taking steps to drive more efficiently can result in an average 10% saving, with some people saving more than 30% on their fuel costs.

If you spend £50 on fuel a week, then that’s potentially a £260 a year saving. For most cars, that’s well over two tanks full for free and maybe more.

But does it really work? Last year, I spent a week trialling super-efficient driving  and managed to cut my fuel usage by a small amount.

However, that small amount saved every week resulted in 410 extra miles over a year, easily saving me a week of commuting costs.

The vehicle

If you’re ready to save some money then the first thing to do is evaluate your car. Is it ready to run at peak efficiency?

Make sure it’s been serviced regularly as this is essential to maintaining engine efficiency. Also, check your tyre pressure is what the handbook recommends, as under-inflated tyres are more resistant, causing the car to use more fuel.

Your handbook probably also recommends changing the pressure for heavier loads, so always check you have the best tyre pressure possible.

Don’t carry unnecessary weight in the car and ditch the roof-rack if you aren’t using it. Making the car heavier or more wind resistant means it needs more fuel to run.

Of course, some cars are more efficient than others and it’s worth bearing this in mind when you’re next in the market for a new or second-hand vehicle.

There’s a really good Directgov tool that allows you to find the fuel efficiency of any car.

Your driving


Emptying the car of junk and getting it serviced will only go so far; the biggest factor in getting more out of your tank is you.

Perhaps the most important thing is to avoid unnecessary use of the brakes. Speeding towards red lights and then braking, for example, is just a waste of fuel. Aim to accelerate and decelerate more slowly by reading the road ahead. You’ll save money and be a safer driver.


[Related Article: Petrol retailers say UK govt making crisis of fuel trucker strike]



Likewise, slowing down before you reach the lights or holdup may allow you to avoid stopping completely. Stopping and starting burns more fuel than keeping moving.

Don’t be tempted to speed as going more slowly is more efficient. The AA states that driving at 70mph uses as much as 9% more fuel than driving at 60mph.

Air conditioning is the enemy of efficient driving, so if you’re just motoring around town then open a window instead. Use the air con on the motorway, where open windows increase the drag which is less efficient.

Other ways you waste fuel

It’s not just the way you drive and the efficiency of the car that has the potential to waste fuel, there are other things to consider.

For example, leaving the car idling to melt ice, or failing to plan journeys and getting lost on route. Keeping the engine switched on when you’re stuck at a crossing or stationary in a traffic jam. Even making two journeys when you could have combined the trips – all these things add up and cost you money.

The good news is that, once you start keeping fuel use in mind more, you soon become more aware of when you’re wasting petrol.

Finally, there’s a danger that as you become a more efficient driver, you simply use your car more and so consume the same amount of fuel. Keep an eye on your mileage and aim to reduce it week by week.

Did you panic-buy petrol this week? Is the government to blame? Are you already a fuel-efficient driver? Did you try to drive more efficiently and give up? Share your experiences with other readers in the comments below.