Keeping car fuel costs low

The ever-rising cost of fuel causes a headache for nearly every driver, with the situation only set to get worse. In December 2005, petrol prices were 10% higher than the previous year, and prices are predicted to be over £1 per litre by summer 2006.

Currently fuel is estimated to cost drivers £1,154 a year, but every time the price per litre is raised by a penny, the average family will pay £46 more over a year.

What with motor insurance, fuel costs, and tax, running a car is a huge expenditure for private motorists and companies that have a fleet of cars, so reducing the amountof money spent on fuel is something every driver should be thinking about. The good news is that there are plenty of easy waysin which fuel bills can be reduced dramatically.

The key to spending less on fuel is to use less fuel, and this can be done in lots of ways, including:

• Driving fewer miles

• Proper car maintenance

• Good driving habits

Driving fewer miles
The simplest way to use less fuel is to reduce the number of miles driven a year, which has the added bonuses of cheaper car insurance, lower car maintenance costs and keeping a car's odometer low so it will be worth more when the time comes to sell it. Here are some of the ways to cut the number of miles driven:

• Choose to walk if it is only a short journey. There is no worry about finding a car parking space, it is good for the health, and it is absolutely free

• Choose public transport if it is too far to walk. There won’t be any car parking costs, and getting the bus can be a quick and handy way of getting about town

• Start car sharing. When two people making a journey in one car, both car sharers halve the amount of fuel used, emissions released, and wear and tear done to their cars

• Merge journeys. Why make two journeys when one will do?

• Choose the best route to work. If the normal route to work is a fast road that is often congested, it might turn out cheaper to choose a slower but clearer route to work

Proper car maintenance
By not carrying out car maintenance, a driver risks spending much more than necessary on fuel, as well as reducing the lifespan of their car. Here are some easy ways to keep a car in tiptop condition:

• Keep the tyres properly inflated, as if they become under-inflated the amount of fuel used is increased by up to 8%

• Ensure the engine is tuned regularly. A maintained engine is much more fuel efficient and emits less dangerous gas

• Ensure the petrol cap is a good fit. A poorly fitting petrol cap can mean petrol fumes evaporate, and your money with them

Good driving habits
The way we drive has a huge impact on how much fuel is consumed. Follow these driving tips and use less fuel:

• Drive smoothly. Braking sharply and accelerating hard will burn up to 30% more fuel

• Don’t drive over the speed limit. The higher the speed, the more fuel is being burnt

• Be in the right gear. As a general rule, being in 3rd gear at 20mph, 4th gear at 30mph, and 5th gear at 40mph and over will help maintain good fuel efficiency. Try to get into 5 th gear as soon as possible

• Turn the engine off when in a queue that doesn’t look like it is going to be moving shortly, such as at a level crossing

• Keep windows, the sunroof closed, and take the roof rack off, as the increased resistance they create can put up the amount of fuel used by 10%. Also try not to use the air conditioning, as this also uses up more fuel. The best option on a hot day is to use the cold air ventilation

• Drive with as little weight as possible in the car. For every 45kg removed from the car, fuel efficiency increases by 1%

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