Vehicle Tips

There are many small changes you can make to the way you drive everyday, which will save you money and help save the environment.

Vehicle preparation and maintenance are an essential part of eco-driving. Leaving roof racks attached, carrying excess weight and under-inflated tyres increases fuel consumption dramatically. Follow our vehicle preparation and maintenance guide below and you will find that small changes can make a very big difference.

Preparation

• Get rid of excess weight
  • Clutter in your boot and back seat is extra weight that your engine must carry around. You can reduce the engines workload and therefore save fuel by removing all excess weight from your vehicle. Remove things such as buggies, golf clubs, tools, footwear, paperwork etc. and this will also cut your CO₂ emissions dramatically.
• Reduce aerodynamic drag
  • Did you know that approximately 50% of the energy required to operate at motorway speeds is devoted to overcoming wind resistance? This becomes even greater when roof racks and similar items are attached to your car. Make sure that these are always removed when not in use as the resistance dramatically increases fuel consumption.

Maintenance

Having a well-maintained vehicle is key to reducing emissions. Regular maintenance and vehicle checks also have a highly positive effect on fuel use.

• Tyre Pressure
  • Ensure that all tyres (including the spare) are at the correct pressure, as every 6psi (pounds per square inch) a tyre is under-inflated the fuel consumption increases by 1%. Under inflated tyres create more resistance when the vehicle is moving, therefore your engine uses more fuel to deal with the increased pressure created. You should check tyre pressures regularly in accordance with manufacturer guidelines, especially when setting off on a long journey.
• Keep your engine clean
  • You should always follow and carry out the recommended maintenance checks as per the schedule laid out in your owner’s guide. Where possible use energy-conserving motor oils, fuels with good detergent additives and maintain appropriate levels of oil, transmission fluid and coolant levels to ensure the engine is clean and running efficiently.

Refuelling

• Where possible refuel at night
  • Fuel generates fewer hydrocarbon vapours during the fuelling process when it is cool and dark, namely during the evening.
• Make sure you fully tighten your fuel cap
  • Up to 30 gallons of fuel can be lost annually due to evaporation when the fuel cap is not fully tightened. In addition to the unnecessary cost to the driver/ company, this pollutes the atmosphere with unburned hydrocarbons!
• Try to find a competitive price in a forecourt
  • Although it is easy to let your petrol light come on and dash to the nearest petrol station at the last minute, this is not an economical practice. Refuelling should be a planned process and one that involves searching for the most competitively priced fuel in your local area.
  • Although it may seem insignificant, you would be surprised at the difference charged between some refuelling stations. For example, try using www.petrolprices.com to find the most competitively priced fuel near you. Motorway services are probably the worst place to stop and refuel as their prices far exceed that charged at supermarkets. Also look out for certain fuel providers whose loyalty cards give you money back on fuel or even pay a certain amount to an environmental charity, small changes like this can make a big difference.

Before setting off

• Get plenty of rest before a journey
  • A well-rested driver is much more alert and in better control over themselves and their vehicle. Ensuring you get enough rest means you are likely to be much calmer behind the wheel and less prone to instances of road rage, erratic driving and heavy breaking.
• Plan your journey
  • Try to plan your journey so you complete as many jobs in one trip as possible. Completing three jobs in one trip is much more economical than three separate trips.
• Consider if the journey is necessary
  • If you are only travelling a short distance, try walking or cycling. This will not only benefit the environment but also your health.
• Avoid areas of serious congestion
  • Check traffic and travel news before you set out, as it may be advisable to avoid a certain route. This will not only save you time but will also reduce the level of emissions expelled. Only travel in rush hour when absolutely necessary, if possible set off an hour early or later to avoid being stuck in long queues and adding to the congestion on our roads.