Published on: 08/03/2022

As of March 2022, BBC News revealed the price of fuel across the UK has risen to £1.50 per litre as the cost of oil rises. With the increasing cost of filling up your tank, Trust My Garage has some top tips on how to drive economically and make your MPG go further – check them out below!

Check your tyres

Find out what pressure your tyre pressures need to be by either check in your owner’s manual or locating your tyre information label, like this one,

which could be located inside you fuel flap or inside your door aperture. Checking your tyres regularly and ensuring that they are at the correct pressures is a simple and effective way of reducing your fuel consumption. Under-inflated tyres cause your car to burn more fuel due to a greater amount of the tyre in contact with the road, which increases your vehicle’s drag and therefore your fuel consumption.

One of the best ways to improve your fuel consumption is to keep your car well maintained and serviced regularly. If you think your car could need a service, your local Trust My Garage member can advise you on the type of service your car may need. Pop your postcode into the TMG’s ‘Find a Garage’ service and we can tell you who is nearby!

Don’t be idle

If you’re waiting for someone, rather than leaving your car running, it may be worth switching the engine off. Whilst you are not moving, leaving the car engine running can still use a substantial amount of fuel, not to mention the emissions that can harm the environment.

All in one

Did you know that when you drive a car that has been parked for a few hours, the engine is cold and therefore uses more fuel to power the engine for the first five miles or so? Combining errands that you have throughout the day into one journey may be more beneficial, as your car engine will already be warm, helping you to save fuel.

Cruise control – Friend or foe?

Using cruise control can be both your friend and foe for saving fuel. As you know, driving at a constant speed helps to save fuel and cruise control can do this effectively when you are wanting to maintain a constant speed on a flat road such as a motorway. However, if you were to use cruise control on roads where you were to stop and start, or where you would be encountering a hill, cruise control could potentially use more fuel; the car cannot see a hill approaching and therefore it is slower to adjust the accelerator to the situation, which means your car will use more power and therefore more fuel.

Unload unnecessary weight

Your car uses more fuel the heavier it gets, which means you should not carry around items in your car that you do not need. This also applies to roof racks – if you do not use them regularly, consider taking them off to relieve your car of that extra weight. Roof racks, even empty, add drag to your car and this too increase fuel consumption.

Think ahead

If you know your route to work can sometimes get congested, it may be worth checking your route on your phone or satnav in the morning before you set off, to see if there is heavy traffic. This could potentially allow you to look for an alternative route or maybe leave a little earlier or later to help avoid the heaviest traffic, stop start traffic is a fuel burner and therefore costs you money.

AC and heat

In general, car heaters do not use up much fuel as they recycle the heat from the car’s engine. Air conditioning, however, is very different and does use fuel. Using air conditioning in your car is a good thing as it helps keep the cabin air fresh and can stop you feeling drowsy when driving. Air conditioning isn’t just for summer, air conditioning dries out the air in your car and helps prevent your car from steaming on those damp days.

Modern cars are designed to be streamlined for fuel efficiency, so even driving with the window open can have an adverse effect you’re your cars economy, especially at higher speeds!

What is Trust My Garage?

Trust My Garage is a collection of Britain’s best local garages – each one different and each one dedicated to the highest standards of skill and personal service. All garages in Trust My Garage are members of the Independent Garage Association – which is part of the RMI, one of Britain’s oldest motor trade organisations. IGA members are true professionals who have to comply with a strict code of practice.

Whether you need help with car maintenance to improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency or require an MOT, service or repair, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) approved code of conduct that our members follow, means that you and your motor both get the best possible service – no matter the problem!

For more information about Trust My Garage or to locate your nearest TMG member visit www.trustmygarage.co.uk.