Petrol prices have jumped in the past two weeks, but drivers can make simple changes to improve fuel economy and save themselves some money at the pump
The price of petrol and diesel have soared over the last few weeks since the US and Israel attacked Iran
Motorists worries about the cost of petrol are being advised to make a change and remove one item from their vehicles in order to improve their fuel economy.
Petrol prices have surged in the past fortnight, with AA Ireland’s latest monthly fuel price survey reporting an average 18 cents jump in recent weeks. It said average diesel prices are €1.90 per litre in March, up from €1.72 in February, while the cost of diesel has been reported at between €2 and nearly €2.20 per litre at some locations.
But motorists already feeling the pinch from the price hike can turn to some expert guidance to help extract a few more miles per gallon.
The RAC, in its online guidance on saving fuel, has various tips on how to enhance your miles per gallon.
One tip includes removing certain, heavy items from your vehicle – namely roof racks, roof bars and roof boxes, reports the Express.
These add a considerable amount of weight, and will reduce your fuel economy by as much as 16%, according to The Energy Saving Trust guidance shared by the RAC.
Drivers are being urged to remove one item from their cars(Image: Getty)
It explains: “Don’t leave your roof bars and roof box on because they create wind resistance and cause your car to use more fuel through the ‘drag’ effect. This is increased the faster you drive.
“According to the Energy Saving Trust an empty roof rack adds 16% drag when driving at 75mph. At the same speed a roof box adds 39%, making your vehicle much less fuel efficient.
“Even those little flags you can affix to your vehicle to show support for your football team during the world cup can decrease your mpg.”
Alongside these larger items, even removing other smaller objects can make a difference.
It continues: “Whilst this isn’t going to make the biggest difference to your mpg figures it stands to reason that the heavier a vehicle is, the more fuel it will use.
For that reason, don’t keep unnecessary items in your boot as they all add weight to your vehicle, which is not going to help your fuel economy in the long run.”
As well as monitoring your car’s weight, you should also combine journeys, as warmer engines are more efficient on fuel.
The RAC guidance adds: “Consider making one round trip rather than several short trips. Once the engine is warm it will operate at its most efficient whereas several cold starts will increase fuel consumption even though the total mileage could be the same
“This is why the RAC’s Record Road Trip team kept going almost continuously, only stopping for 20 minutes at a time on the way to setting a world record of driving through 14 countries on one tank of fuel. That was 1,158.9 miles, driving at an average speed of 45mph and achieving an incredible 75.9mpg.”
Additional tips include remaining in higher gears, accelerating less aggressively and driving as smoothly as possible. Another tool drivers can utilise to cut costs is the new Fuel Finder app. The website now requires that petrol stations upload their live prices onto it, enabling motorists to check the most affordable fuel in their postcode.
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