MOTORISTS are always looking for tips and tricks to save their hard-earned cash wherever they can as petrol prices remain high.
The cost of fuel has seen many drivers try and find ingenious ways to maximise how far their fuel can take them.
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But there is one method that can save you thousands of pounds on petrol and it’s completely free.
The way people drive can have a huge impact on fuel consumption and driving smoothly will help you reach maximum fuel efficiency.
If you have a car that doesn’t have adjustable driving modes, take it easy on the throttle where possible.
Having a light right foot and ensuring all acceleration is gentle is very important to fuel-efficient driving.
When you set off from a standstill, such as at traffic lights and junctions, try not to race ahead like Lewis Hamilton.
More gentle driving also means unnecessary use of the brakes can be avoided and thus reduce the need for more acceleration.
You should combine this practice by taking it easy with your top speed as excessive speed is among the biggest fuel-guzzling factors.
Statistics from the Department for Transport (DfT) show that driving on the motorway at 80mph uses around 25 per cent more fuel than driving at 70mph.
While travelling at 70mph uses nine per cent more fuel than driving at 60mph, and 14 per cent more than at 50mph.
Many modern motors can also help you save on guzzling fuel as they are now fitted with adjustable driving modes.
If yours does, it likely has a a free “eco” setting which restricts how quickly the car accelerates as well as authorising other fuel saving measures.
Another method to ensure your vehicle is running at peak efficiency is to regularly check your tyres are at optimum pressure levels.
Underinflated tyres are estimated to impact a car’s fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent.
Check your car’s owner’s manual to find out the best pressure for your motor so you can save as much cash as possible.
It is important to note that driving fast results in higher fuel consumption but so does taking your motor for a spin in the wrong gear.
Motorists will ideally want to be in the highest gear possible as this reduces your cars revs per minute and means the engine isn’t working as hard.
Driving around at 60mph in fifth gear will use less fuel than driving around at the same speed in third gear.
The RAC says enabling cruise control regularly when not on flat roads will result in an increase in fuel consumption increase.
It says: “This is because your cruise control would be slower to react to gradient changes, meaning when reaching the brow of a hill – at which point you would normally take your foot off the accelerator to maintain more of a constant speed when descending – your cruise control will keep the power on for a little longer as it’s unable to see the gradient change in front of you.
“Driving in this way regularly would lead to worse fuel consumption.”
Switching gears directly from first to third can also help to reduce fuel consumption.
