Cutting your fuel cost

The cost of filling your will rise sharply over the coming months following fresh increases in the price of petrol. The price at the pump hit an average of 108p a litre last week - its highest level for a year - beating the previous 2009 high of 107p a litre set in September. Diesel prices have also risen and with crude oil prices heading towards $80 a barrel, the only way prices are heading is up.

What's more, the RAC has warned that if VAT is restored to 17.5% on 1January,  the cost of petrol could reach £1.20 by the end of December.

Here are ways of getting cheaper fuel or making it go further.


Find your cheapest price


Go to www.petrolprices.com to find the cheapest fuel in your area. It covers 9,589 petrol stations and has 8,000 daily updates. The difference between the most expensive and the cheapest price per litre can be more than 15p.


Supermarket promotions are another way of cutting the cost of petrol. Usually they take the form of 'spend £50 in store and get a voucher for 10p off per litre'.


Don't use a pound's worth of fuel to reach a filling station where you can save 50p on a tankful.


Avoid false economy; high-octane brews offer small efficiency gains, cheap rubbish can damage the engine.


Remember the weight issue: the less fuel you carry around the less fuel you'll use, so only buy as much as you need; the low-fuel warning light is sure to make you drive carefully anyway.


Don't be fooled by products that claim to improve economy, be they magnets, magic pellets or snake oil; they don't work.


Aim to fill up at least 50 miles before your tank is dry. That way there is no last minute panic to find cheap fuel.


When the oil price rises or falls, it normally take a few days for the movement to be reflected in petrol prices. So fill up instantly when the oil market rises and try to drag it out when crude takes a tumble.


Car selection


Before you buy, you should consider the car's fuel economy. The difference between a fuel efficient and not-so-efficient £10,000 car can be about £12 a week. You will also save more on car tax under the new car disc rules.


Pump up your tyres.


Think how difficult it is to pedal a bike with a puncture. Keep your tyres at the maximum recommended pressure. and more rolling resistance when your car is moving, which means your engine has to work harder, so more fuel is used. Driving with soft tyres can add up to 2% to your fuel bills.


Go to your local petrol station and use their pump – it is normally free.


Consider low-rolling resistance "eco" tyres when you need new ones. Also have the wheel alignment checked so the car runs easily straight and true.


Lose weight

The heavier your car, the more energy (fuel) is required to move it, so add lightness. Every ounce you lose will save money at the pumps, so throw out anything you wouldn't find on Lewis Hamilton's Formula One car: owner's manual, floor mats, loose change, cuddly toys, lipsticks, old newspapers and magazines, nodding dogs, road atlases, blankets, wellies, "baby on board" signs, tissue boxes, cricket bats, CDs and all the junk in the boot, including the emergency petrol can; replace the jack and spare wheel with a can of emergency tyre foam. Leave the fuel tank as empty as you dare; petrol weighs about 0.74kg (1.6lb) per litre, diesel even more, so a full tank is almost as much of a burden as a hundredweight of coal.


Every extra 50kg increases your petrol consumption by an average of 2 per cent, according to www.save-petrol.co.uk. So keep all your golf clubs – or anything else littering your boot – at home. Remove all excess clutter from your car.


Streamline

• Minimise aerodynamic drag at speed. 
• Keep windows and the sunroof closed and open cabin air vents only to prevent drowsiness.
• Remove roof racks, top boxes, cycle carriers and purely cosmetic body additions with the exception of plastic hubcaps on steel wheels (except in town, where you could lose them to save more weight).

Use Clean Oil


Clean oil reduces the wear caused by friction of moving engine parts, helping to improve fuel consumption. You should change the oil in a petrol car once a year or every 7,500 miles. For a diesel engine it is recommended you change the oil every 6 months or 3,000 miles.


Drive Smoothly


A change in driving habits motorists could save an average of 8% on fuel bills, which equates to £50 to £100 per year on average.

Manufacturers have long claimed that driving more slowly, between 50mph to 60mph, is most efficient - 55mph is industry-wide test speed for best fuel economy on a car. A study for What Car magazine suggested that driving at 40mph was the best speed.

Drivers should also avoid sharp acceleration or breaking when driving. By anticipating traffic flow you can reduce your consumption. Try to slow down gradually at lights, avoid heavy braking and try not to rev too much. Also, if your car has a 'cruise control' setting it can save fuel by using it on longer journeys - it helps iron out unnecessary accelerating and braking.
As soon as you can, accelerate smoothly and gently up to a safe, appropriate (and legal) speed and select as high a gear as possible, keeping the revs down to minimise fuel use without labouring the engine. Between short fuel burns to maintain momentum, lift off the accelerator completely, which shuts off the fuel supply. Never coast in neutral; idling uses more fuel than running in gear on a closed throttle. If you're not moving at all, switch off.

Eco-Driving

If you're likely to be at a standstill for more than three minutes, switch off the engine.

How cool is cool? Air conditioning is less costly than open windows, but it still saps power and can increase the fuel thirst of a small engine by up to 10 per cent. If already fitted you need to run it once a week to keep the system healthy, but this is Britain, not Bermuda - how cold do you need to be? If the cabin gets too hot, fit reflective film to the rear windows/sunroof and take off your hat.


Avoid rough surfaces


Gravel or heavy dirt surfaces can increase your fuel consumption by up to 30 per cent – not to mention the affect on your paintwork. If there is a route involving smooth tarmac, even if it is slightly longer, then take that.


Plan your journey.


It has been estimated that perhaps a third of city traffic is lost or looking for somewhere to park, so plan your journey from A to Z; write a list of directions on a piece of paper (cheaper and lighter than a sat-nav unit) and stick it in an easily visible place on your dashboard or steering wheel boss. Use motorways and free-flowing roads whenever possible; a car is most fuel-efficient at a steady speed.


Don't use the brakes

Brakes turn fuel into waste heat and should be used as little as possible (try never on motorways). Approaching any obstruction, such as traffic lights on red (or green for a long time and likely to change), don't just drive up to it and brake; reduce your speed by lifting off the accelerator, aiming to roll to a stop at the right place. Make driving an enjoyable game of economy and accuracy, like bowls, rather than a test of nerve, like Grand Theft Auto. Advanced tuition will help you drive economically as well as safely.

Use your car less


Combine short trips – such as buying the paper, dropping-off the recycling, or collecting the kids – rather than making multiple short trips.


This article was revised on 8 November 2009.