ENGINES
Service your engine:
A well-tuned engine can improve fuel economy, so change the oil and follow the car manufacturer’s recommendation on servicing.
Use the correct oil:
Always use the recommended grade of motor oil. Higher quality motor oils can also help the engine operate more efficiently.

AIR CONDITIONING AND LUGGAGE
Use air conditioning sparingly:
Air conditioning puts added load on the engine and requires fuel to operate, so limit use to particularly hot days.
Avoid carrying excess weight:
You may be surprised, but every extra pound or kilogram matters and affects the fuel efficiency. Take a look in the boot and back seat and get rid of any excess baggage!

DRIVING STYLE
Drive smoothly:
Aggressive driving can use as much as a third more fuel than smooth driving.
Avoid accelerating or braking too hard and try to keep your steering as even as possible.
[Source – US Department of Energy – www.fueleconomy.gov]

Reduce speed:
The faster you go the more wind resistance you’ll encounter and the more fuel your vehicle will consume just to maintain speed.
Easy on the revs:
When you’re pulling away change gear in good time. ‘Redlining’ the rev counter burns extra fuel.
Conserve momentum:
Slow down early to let traffic lights change rather than stopping completely. Leave a sensible distance between yourself and the car ahead to give you ample time to brake evenly.
Avoid excess idling:
Stuck in a jam for longer than 10 seconds? Switch off your engine and avoid using fuel when you don’t have to.
Plan trips carefully:
Cutting down on the time spent in the car is the easiest way to conserve fuel. To reduce driving time, combine all your short trips and errands into a single journey. Plus, if you can travel outside of peak times, you’ll spend less time stuck in traffic and consume less fuel as a result.

GEARS
Use higher gears:
When you drive in a higher gear you’ll use less fuel, so change up whenever you can.
Use cruise control:
Using cruise control on major roads helps you maintain a constant speed and, in many cases, will improve fuel consumption.

TYRES
Keep tyres at the right pressure:
Correctly inflated tyres are safer and last longer. A tyre that is under inflated can reduce fuel economy. An under or over inflated tyre is also more susceptible to failing.

*Tips courtesy of our partner SHELL