Ten ways drivers can Conserve Fuel.........

Hamish from Auto Super Shoppe Rangiora

Save on weight
Extra weight means extra fuel, so if you know you won’t need a certain set of tools for a particular job, for example, leave them at home.

Maintenance
Get your vehicle serviced regularly for best efficiency and always use the right specification of engine oil. You should also check your tyre pressures regularly and before long journeys – under-inflated tyres can cause you to use up to 10% more fuel.

Accelerate gently
The harder you accelerate, the more fuel you consume. To maximise your fuel efficiency, imagine that there’s an egg under your pedal and an open cup of coffee on your dashboard – you don’t want to break the shell or spill the drink!

Be kind to your gears
Don’t labour your vehicle’s engine by holding on to one gear for too long. Instead, try changing up at an engine speed of around 2,000 rpm (diesel) or 2,500 (petrol). Since 2014, most new vehicle models have been fitted with a gear shift indicator to encourage use of the most efficient gear, so keep an eye on that too.

Maintain a steady speed
Unintentional dips in speed and sudden bursts of acceleration to keep pace take a toll on your tank – and your wallet. Consider using cruise control for highway driving, and where traffic patterns permit, allow your speed to drop when you travel uphill, then regain momentum as you roll downhill.

Keep rolling
Stopping then starting again uses a significant amount more fuel than rolling along at a constant, low speed, so try slowing extra early when approaching traffic lights or a queue and you might not have to stop completely.

Use your air-con wisely
At low speeds, air-con can increase fuel consumption by as much as 20%, so try opening the windows when you’re cruising around town. At higher speeds, on the motorway for instance, the effect of air con on your fuel consumption isn’t as noticeable. Don’t leave it on all the time, but running it at least once a week will help to keep the system in good condition.

Stick to the limit
Going faster uses more fuel. For example, driving at 100kph can use up to 8% more than at 90kph, and up to 14% more than at 80kph!

Stay aerodynamic
Wind resistance increases fuel consumption, so try to keep windows closed at high speeds and remove roof racks and boxes when not in use.

Check your air filter
Make sure you have a clean air filter. Replacing a dirty or clogged filter can improve fuel efficiency by up to 10%. Your engine is basically a giant Air Pump and your air filter, if clogged, prevents the “pump” from working properly.