What Methods Should I Use To Drive Economically And Improve Fuel Consumption?

The key to driving economically is to drive smoothly and gently, avoid harsh inputs and anticipate what is happening around you. For your driving style will be a major factor in determining fuel consumption. Wherever possible avoid:

* hard acceleration
* racing the engine in the wrong gear
* frequent gear changes
* short trips with a cold engine
* towing trailers or caravans
* driving with a roof rack
* carrying around unnecessary load in your vehicle

A number of factors dictate fuel consumption some of which are not within your control such as the state of the roads, the weather and the temperature.

In winter, fuel consumption can be as high as 10 percent more than in summer due to the extra time and fuel it takes for the engine to reach normal working temperature and for the transmission and wheel bearings to warm up.

The things you can influence are your style of driving, the condition of the vehicle and the speed at which it is driven. In addition, have your vehicle regularly serviced in line with the manufacturer's recommended guidelines.