How can I cut my car's fuel consumption?

Whether petrol or diesel, these tips can help you save money on your car.


Asked by: Frank Wilson, Leeds

Whether eco-minded or not, we're all keen to save on petrol now that it costs so much. The most obvious tip is simply to drive more slowly: dropping from 110km/h (70mph) to 100 km/h (60mph) cuts fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent.

Driving steadily is also important: according to the RAC, a driver's use of the accelerator has more influence on fuel consumption than any other factor.

Keeping the car tyres fully inflated reduces the so-called 'rolling resistance' of the car on the road, and can boost fuel efficiency by around three per cent.

Making the car lighter by removing junk from the interior and boot also helps. For urban drivers, the RAC even recommends driving with no more than half a tank of petrol, further reducing the dead weight you're hauling around.

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