Smarter Driving tips from Haynes include:
- Don't cruise at 80 to 85mph on motorways. Stick to the legal limit of 70mph and save up to 4p a mile in small cars.
- Turn off the air conditioning system when it's not needed to save 10 per cent at the pumps.
- Service your car regularly to keep the engine operating at maximum efficiency. Use a Haynes manual to save money on servicing and maintenance costs.
- Do not compromise safety but be aware that the use of onboard electrical devices increases fuel consumption.
- Check your fuel consumption - it will help you get the most from the car, changes in overall fuel consumption may indicate a fault. Haynes manuals explain how to do this accurately.
- Most vehicles are inefficient on short journeys so leave your car at home and walk or cycle instead. Use public transport where possible.
To complement a model-specific Haynes manual,
the Haynes Your
Car glovebox guide contains everything you need to know about
owning and maintaining a car, including a troubleshooting guide and a section
on what to do in an emergency.
Smarter driving tips
Pump up to cut down
Under inflated tyres create more resistance when your car is moving, which means your engine has to work harder, so more fuel is used and more CO2 emissions are produced. Simply check and adjust your tyre pressures regularly and also before long journeys. This will also help to increase the life of your tyres. Under inflated tyres increase CO2 but over inflated tyres can be unsafe so check your car manual for the correct tyre pressure. Remember, a car with a heavier load may need different air pressure in the tyres.
Less clutter in your car means less CO2
Clutter in your boot is extra weight your engine has to lug around. By removing it, you could reduce your engine's workload. This will burn less fuel and cut your CO2 emissions so unload any items you won't need for your journey before you set out.
Driving at an appropriate speed reduces CO2
Speed limits are the maximum lawful speeds which may be driven in ideal circumstances. Drivers should never exceed the speed limit. Staying at or within the speed limit increases driver safety. It also reduces CO2 emissions and saves money on your petrol costs. At 70mph you could be using up to 9% more fuel than at 60mph and up to 15% more fuel than at 50mph.
Less stopping and starting means less CO2
Every time you stop then start again in a traffic queue, the engine uses more fuel and therefore produces more CO2. Keep an eye on the traffic ahead and slow down early by gently lifting your foot off the accelerator while keeping the car in gear. In this way, the traffic may have started moving again by the time you approach the vehicle in front, so you can then change gear and be on your way.
Over revving accelerates emissions
Modern car engines are designed to be efficient from
the moment they are switched on, so revving up like a
Formula 1 car in pole position only wastes fuel and increases engine wear.
Using your gears wisely by changing up a gear a little earlier can also reduce revs. If you drive a diesel car try changing up a gear when the rev counter reaches 2000rpm. For a petrol car change up at 2500rpm.
Idling is wasting fuel
When the engine is idling you're wasting fuel and adding to CO2 emissions. If you're likely to be at a standstill for more than 3 minutes, simply switch off the engine.
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