What can you do to reduce you mpg?
What can you do to reduce you mpg?
While the future may be electric, the reality for most drivers is that we’re still filling up at the pumps. Driving is expensive and it seems that fuel prices are always on the rise. However, the good news is that by changing a few habits, there are several things you can do to enjoy an efficient drive and get more miles for your money.
Are you constantly lugging about extra weight in your car? Chances are that you don’t need your winter survival kit in June and there’s really no need to have your golf clubs in the boot all the time. Have a look in your storage compartments and unload any excess items. Roof racks and boxes also add extra weight and add to the drag, although a number of roof boxes are now aerodynamically designed. Reducing the weight in your car by around 45 grams can improve your fuel efficiency by up to 2%.
Everyone wants to get away from the lights quickly, get up to speed and get on with the day, but hard acceleration is not efficient. Instead, drive away slowly and use your gears to get up to speed at a reasonable pace. Revving your engine just means wasting fuel and if you want to make the most of your precious petrol, that means using your accelerator in a far more conservative way.
It’s commonly reported that air conditioning burns more fuel and can add extra strain to the engine. A study by Auto Express confirmed that driving with the air conditioning switched on has a big impact on your mileage. However, it also found that this is most significant at low speeds and the impact was massively reduced when driving on the motorway. The study also found that driving with the window down has an effect due to the change in aerodynamics, but this is so minimal that you might as well enjoy the cool breeze if you get to enjoy a rare sunny day.
Braking is essentially converting all of your kinetic energy into heat. The more you have to brake, the more energy you are wasting. The best way to avoid overuse of brakes is to stay aware of your surroundings and drive at the appropriate speed. If you are coming up to a junction, don’t accelerate and then brake at the last possible moment. Instead, use your gears, slow down and anticipate any hazards.
This perhaps goes without saying, but the faster you go, the more fuel you burn. If your priority is ensuring that you save on fuel, then you probably don’t want to go much faster than 65mph. Once you get above that speed, you’re going to need more power to overcome the added drag, and that means burning more fuel, drastically reducing your mpg.
Twenty per cent of your fuel consumption is used to overcome the tyre rolling resistance. If your tyres are under-inflated, this figure will increase. This problem has been greatly reduced with the advent of tyre pressure monitors that alert drivers to any changes, but it always pays to give your tyres a regular check to ensure that they are inflated in line with your manufacturer guidelines. The correct levels are usually found on the inside of your fuel cap.
If you are committed to saving on fuel and considering a new car, then a hybrid could be the answer to all of your mileage prayers. With a combination of battery-powered motor and conventional powertrain, your mileage potential will increase significantly. If you’re just using the car for short trips around the city then a fully charged battery should be everything you need. For those longer journeys, it’s great to have the back-up to ensure you always get where you want to go.
