Fuel prices have shot up in the last few weeks. The average price of unleaded petrol is now reaching more than 155p per litre, so it’s no wonder so many people are looking for ways to make their full tank last as long as they can.
We understand your struggle here at RAW2K. Our online car auctions feature a wide range of vehicles including cars, vans, motorcycles and scooters, and even cars with light damage need fuel to get them moving, so if you plan on purchasing one of our vehicles, we’ve devised a list of tips to help you make your fuel go further this spring.
Avoid using your electrics where possible
Many people are under the impression that the electrical features in their cars are powered solely by the car battery. This is half right - your car battery gets its charge from the engine whenever it’s activated, and this uses fuel. So by using the electrical features in your car, you're technically using up a certain amount of fuel.
Here’s a concerning fact - air conditioning in a car can use up to 1 litre of fuel for every 60 miles of distance travelled with it on. That’s an extra £1.67 in petrol for every 60 miles you travel, so it’s important to ensure you’re only using these extra features when you actually need them. If you can roll down your window over turning on your AC, we’d definitely advise it since these small costs do add up in the long run!
Be a smooth operator
Your car uses the most fuel when it’s braking and accelerating. How so? Well it’s more down to the way in which you brake that makes the difference.
We’ll explain - say you’re cruising down the road at 40mph for example, and you spot a traffic light up ahead that’s just turned yellow, and it’s about to turn red. Instead of slamming on your brakes at the last possible moment, try easing your foot down onto your brake pedal gradually, slowing down the braking process.
Keep in mind that slamming on your brakes isn’t just damaging to your rotors and brakes, it also puts you in a position where you’ll have to accelerate from a static position, which requires more fuel than accelerating from second gear for example. By slowing down your braking process, you increase the chances that you might not have to come to a complete stop. As a result, you won’t have to accelerate as much, saving you more fuel in the long run.
Correct your tyre pressure
Over or under-inflated tyres aren’t just a health and safety hazard, they can also have a massive effect on your fuel consumption. Recent research has shown that under-inflated tyres can use up to 10% more fuel than tyres of ample pressure. That’s an extra cost of £1.05 for every 50 miles you drive. Why? Flat tyres create more friction on the road when in use, which makes it more of a challenge to keep your car moving smoothly, and as a result you waste more fuel.
To avoid this, check your tyres on a regular basis (every two weeks or so should do it) and keep them pumped up to the specification laid out in your vehicle’s user manual. Keeping them pumped up properly can save you up to £200 a year on fuel. That’s a heck of a lot of cash, and it’ll probably be more if prices continue to rise the way they have been.
Gentlemen, start your engines… just before setting off
We understand, on cold mornings when your car is frozen solid, you’ll need to stick the heating on for a bit to melt the ice and warm up the engine. Besides that though, there’s no other reason why you would need to start your engine before you actually intend on setting off. Leaving your vehicle to idle can use up to two litres of fuel per hour. Obviously you wouldn’t leave it idle for that long but all those short intervals add up!
On top of this, in that two hour period, your car will expel over 5.26kg of CO2, and cost you north of £3 an hour in fuel for every hour it’s left. Some cars come equipped with a stop/start system which is extremely helpful in ensuring that you save fuel whilst you’re stationary. As a bonus tip, always be mindful to check your phone and set your sat nav before you switch on the engine.
However much the fuel prices rise though - you can always count on us to provide you with brilliant savings when you buy a new car. You can find amazing deals on thousands of used, salvage and seized vehicles in our daily and weekly online auctions here at RAW2K. So whether you’re a mechanic or a private driver, why not take a look around and see what you can find?
