The quickest way to stop wasting fuel is to slow down on the motorway, check your tyre pressures monthly, remove excess weight from your boot and stop idling your engine in stationary traffic. Those simple changes alone will save you a fortune at the pumps. Petrol & diesel prices bounce around constantly across the UK and getting the most out of every tank is essential for anyone trying to manage their monthly budget. I know how frustrating it is to watch the numbers spin on the petrol pump display.
Many of us unknowingly burn through extra fuel through completely normal daily habits. I think we just get comfortable behind the wheel and stop paying attention to how we drive.
It happens to the best of us.
With around 35 million cars on UK roads mostly running on petrol or diesel we are collectively driving roughly 250 billion miles annually. That is a staggering distance. Let us look at the ten most common mistakes you might be making and how to fix them.
1. Pushing the speed limit on motorways
Driving fast feels productive when you have a long journey ahead. You want to get home after a long day at the office and the fast lane is wide open. Pushing your car past 70mph on the motorway forces the engine to work significantly harder than it needs to.
Aerodynamic drag increases massively at higher speeds. The engine is literally fighting the air to push the heavy metal box forward through the atmosphere.
Research shows that driving at 80mph instead of 70mph can burn up to 25 percent more fuel. That is a MASSIVE penalty just to arrive maybe five minutes earlier. I used to do this all the time on the M1 before I actually sat down and did the maths.
Slow down a fraction.
Sticking to the speed limit keeps you safe and keeps your fuel gauge from plummeting quite so fast. It is a very easy habit to build once you stop rushing everywhere.
2. Heavy feet in stop start traffic
City traffic is miserable. We all know the feeling of crawling through endless red lights and roundabouts on a rainy Tuesday morning. Aggressive acceleration between these stops is a fantastic way to empty your tank.
Heavy braking followed by harsh acceleration wastes a huge amount of kinetic energy. Smooth driving is far more efficient and much less stressful for everyone inside the car.
Pretend there is a full cup of hot coffee resting on your dashboard. You want to pull away gently and anticipate the traffic ahead so you do not have to slam on the brakes suddenly. Coasting to a stop uses almost zero fuel.
My dad always said ‘keep it smooth’ and he was absolutely right about that.
3. Ignoring those deflated tyres
We rarely look at our tyres unless one is completely flat and resting on the tarmac. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance dramatically because more rubber is touching the road surface. The engine has to work much harder just to turn the wheels.
Checking your pressures monthly can easily improve your miles per gallon. It takes two minutes at the petrol station and usually costs about fifty pence.
I forgot to check mine for about six months once. When I finally did they were all under by about 10 PSI which is terrible. My fuel economy shot up the very next day. You should check the sticker inside your driver door for the correct numbers for your specific model.
Properly inflated tyres also last longer so you save money on expensive replacements too.
A definite win all round.
4. Hauling junk in the boot
Boots are basically just extra storage cupboards for a lot of people. Leaving heavy items like golf clubs or bulky prams in the back means your engine has to pull more weight every single time you pull away from a junction.
Every extra kilogram requires energy to move. It seems obvious but we completely ignore it because the items are out of sight.
Clear out the boot this weekend. If you do not need it for the journey take it out of the car. I used to carry a massive heavy toolkit everywhere until I realised it was costing me a few quid extra every week in unleaded.
Lightening the load is free and takes five minutes of effort.
5. Sitting idle with the engine running
Sitting in stationary traffic with the engine running burns fuel unnecessarily. Turn off your engine if you are stopped for more than a minute.
Modern cars often have stop-start technology built in automatically. If yours does not you have to do it manually. People worry that restarting the car uses more fuel than idling but that is a total myth with modern fuel injection systems.
School runs are terrible for this. Rows of cars just sitting there pumping out exhaust fumes while waiting for the kids to finish for the day. Recent data shows 37 percent of businesses actually increased their fuel usage recently and I suspect a lot of that is delivery vans idling on routes.
Just twist the key and enjoy the silence for a minute.
Your bank account will thank you later.
6. Getting the air conditioning wrong
Air conditioning uses engine power to run the mechanical compressor. Using it constantly on maximum cold will definetely drain your tank faster than necessary.
At low speeds around town opening a window is much more efficient. You get fresh air without taxing the engine at all.
The drag factor
Save the air conditioning for motorway journeys. If you open the windows at 70mph the aerodynamic drag creates so much air resistance that it actually uses more fuel than just running the AC system.
It is all about picking the right cooling method for your current speed.
Sometimes I just suffer in the heat if I am running low on petrol and trying to reach the next services.
7. Lazy gear changes
Poor gear management is incredibly common especially for drivers who have been on the road for decades. Holding onto lower gears raises your engine revolutions and burns more petrol than necessary.
Shift up early to keep the engine running smoothly. Most modern cars have a little green indicator on the dashboard telling you exactly when to change up.
You want to keep the revs between 1500 and 2000 for maximum efficiency in a diesel and slightly higher for a standard petrol engine. Revving the engine out to the redline might sound fun but it is terrible for your fuel economy.
Listen to the engine. It will literally tell you when it is working too hard.
Smooth early shifts make for a much more relaxing drive anyway.
8. Leaving empty roof boxes attached
Empty roof boxes and bike racks create massive aerodynamic drag on top of the vehicle. Removing them when not in use will instantly improve your fuel economy.
I see cars driving around in December with bulky roof boxes still attached from their summer holiday in Cornwall. It is absolute madness.
A roof box can increase fuel consumption by up to 20 percent at motorway speeds. That is a huge premium to pay just for being slightly lazy on a Sunday afternoon.
Take it off and store it in the garage or shed.
Your car will look better and drive much better too.
9. Skipping basic car maintainance
Neglecting your vehicle is always a false economy. Clogged air filters and dirty oil make your engine much less efficient at burning fuel.
The average car on UK roads is approaching 10 years old now. Older engines need more care to keep them running sweetly.
Why oil matters
Regular servicing keeps everything running optimally. A clean engine breathes better and burns fuel more efficiently. Spark plugs that are past their best will cause tiny misfires and poor combustion.
You might save a few pounds skipping an annual service but you will pay for it at the pump over the next twelve months.
Look after your car and it looks after you.
10. Buying the first petrol you see
We all get caught out occasionally with the fuel light flashing on the dashboard. Motorway services often charge a massive premium for the convenience of not leaving the main road.
Taking a moment to check fuel prices locally ensures you never overpay at the pump. Supermarkets are generally cheaper but not always depending on where you live.
A difference of 5p per litre adds up to a few quid every single time you fill up. Over a year that is a decent chunk of change that could be spent on better things.
Plan ahead slightly. Fill up when you are near a cheap station rather than waiting until you are completely desperate and forced to pay whatever they ask.
It takes a bit of habit building but it is definetely worth it.
Final Thoughts
Driving efficiently is not about taking all the joy out of motoring. It is just about being slightly more thoughtful behind the wheel.
I started implementing a few of these habits last year and the difference was noticeable almost immediately. You do not have to do all ten perfectly every single day.
Just pick two or three to focus on. Maybe check your tyres this weekend or take that heavy buggy out of the boot when you do not need it. People call it “hypermiling” but I just call it common sense.
Small changes compound over time. With prices fluctuating the way they do every little bit helps.
Drive safe out there.