Minimise your fuel consumption

For once, a 'serious' post, because like everyone else I think I'm being mugged every time I fill up. At least Dick Turpin wore a soddin' mask. I did some reading and was more than a little sceptical, so I did some experiments. Believe it or not, the following principles could add up to 25% to the distance your average tank will take you. In my two and a half litre diesel Land Rover, I went from 22mpg average to 27, but in the wife's Galaxy (a new 2.0 TDCi), I improved an already impressive 40mpg to a fantastic 49! Yes, I got there slower, and I was more than a bit hot and sweaty, but the smugness was worth it...

Check your tyre pressures AT LEAST weekly - underinflated tyres increase drag and could increase your consumption by as much as 15%!






Boot full of crap? Sling it out - that weight is costing you a small fortune to drag around with you. In fact, sling out the wife too.






Boring, yes, but stick to the speed limits. Did you know the average saloon uses TWENTY per cent more fuel at 80mph than at 70?






Yes its a pain in the dangly bits unbolting it, but that unused roofrack is adding to your drag, reducing economy by as much as 15%






Change up to a higher gear earlier - try and keep below 2,500RPM (even lower on a diesel) and you'll see amazing results






Dont speed away from the lights just to brake heavily for the next set - drive according to the road ahead






Open windows increase drag at speed, so keep 'em shut. And dont even THINK of turning on the air-con, which costs up to 5MPG by itself!







Give it a go. And if it doesn't work, tell it to someone who gives a monkeys :)