A few tips

While reading another blog today the price of fuel was mentioned, we in the UK pay about £5 per gallon or more - that’s just under $10 US, so if you have lots of cash or are not bothered then that’s ok but if you want to save money here are a few tips.

· Don’t use the car for short journeys, walk instead, the car uses more fuel when its warming up to correct temperature and that is about 2 to 3 miles, more in winter.

· Pull away smoothly, avoid harsh acceleration and harsh braking as this wastes fuel.

· Try to change through the gears quickly, you shouldn’t have to be in first gear more than a cars length, get into the highest gear possible as soon as possible to suit the road conditions you are on.

· If you are traffic lights next to a boy racer let him go, it’s his fuel he is wasting.

· Keep your distance from the car in front this will give you more time to think and brake smoother.

· Do not slow down using the gears this will shorten the life of the clutch, it is easier and cheaper to change the brakes - remember to slow down first then select the gear not the other way round.

· If you are facing down hill it is ok to set off in second gear.

· On a motorway or fast road it’s no good putting your foot all the way down to the boards as they say, you will get better economy if you build your speed up gently and keep a constant speed and keep your distance from the car in front.

· At 70 miles an hour you are going to be travelling at around 100 feet per second, so keep a good distance from the car in front you will need at least 4 seconds to stop safely and that is in a car with good brakes, not old and worn out ones.

· Do not go into neutral going down hill this does not save fuel if your foot is not on the accelerator it is only using the same amount of fuel as when it’s ticking over or idling. Plus this is dangerous as you can easily lose control of the vehicle, the wheels lock up and skid much easier when not in gear or when the clutch is disengaged if you have to brake.

· Push the clutch down only just before you have to stop don’t worry about stalling it’s easy to start the car again

I could go on and on but I hope these tips are helpful. I am not trying to be patronising, we all have our own way of driving but if you are not doing the above you are wasting fuel and throwing money away.

My own car is an 1800cc fuel injection model Vauxhall and on a run I get 100 miles for 2 gallons and local driving about 70 miles.
So go on give it a try.