With the UK experiencing temperatures up to 38°C this week, motorists should avoid this simple air-con mistake to prevent wasting fuel. Making some simple changes to your habits can help make your fuel last longer this summer on road trips.
Tim Rodie, Motorpoint’s resident driving expert, said: “While you might be planning on setting your air conditioning to full blast when driving in warm weather, it can really be a drain on your fuel. Motorists looking to go longer between filling up might think just opening the windows is an obvious alternative but, at higher speeds, this can make your car less aerodynamic – meaning you’ll be using more fuel.
"As a rule, opening your windows is best when driving around at lower speeds around town and air conditioning is more efficient if you’re on the motorway. So, keep this in mind and be sure to mix it up on long car rides."
While getting in your car on a hot day can be uncomfortable, Tim says not to leave your air conditioning running to cool down your car before you get inside. He said: "Idling is terrible for fuel efficiency but there’s an even more important reason why you shouldn’t be leaving your car unattended with the engine running when cooling down - the risk of it being stolen.
“Modern air-conditioning will cool your vehicle down quickly, so there isn’t really a need to let your car cool down before starting your journey. Not to mention that most car insurance policies have ‘keys in car’ or ‘vehicle left unattended’ clauses that mean motorists aren’t able to make a claim if their vehicle was stolen while unattended with the keys inside."
People who notice that the air-conditioning feels "less powerful than normal" should get it checked out as the car is still using up fuel to power the system - even if it isn’t working properly.
Pack light:
Avoid overloading your boot as the lighter your car is, the less fuel you’ll need to drive it. Tim said this rule applies to things like bike racks and roof boxes as well.
He said: "Unless you need the extra storage space, it’s worth travelling without them. They might be a pain to remove but the increased drag and extra weight means your car needs to work harder to get you where you need to go.”
Plan your routes carefully:
Cars can burn through a lot of fuel when stuck in traffic, so it’s worth mapping your route before setting off. If you do get stuck in standstill traffic, and it’s safe to do so, consider switching your engine off or using your car’s stop-start function so you don’t waste fuel while idling.
Know where to fill up:
One of the easiest ways to avoid spending more than you need to on fuel is to only pull up at stations that offer competitive pricing. You’ll always pay a premium to fill up on motorways, so it’s worth planning your route in advance so you have a rough idea of where you might need to fill up.
Stick to the speed limit and avoid flooring it:
Speeding won’t just leave you at risk of a fine and points on your licence, but it’s terrible for fuel. This is because speed directly impacts fuel consumption, so the faster you drive, the fewer miles you’ll get between fill-ups.
No matter how desperate you are to get to your destination, accelerating like you’re at a drag strip isn’t going to do anything but waste fuel. Accelerating too quickly uses much more fuel than regular driving.
Check your tyres
Checking your tyres isn’t just important for your safety, it also helps ensure your vehicle is as efficient as possible. Underinflated tyres increase friction, requiring more fuel to drive smoothly.
At a minimum, you should check your tyre pressure at least once a month. The easiest way to do this is by using a pressure gauge to check that your tyre pressure is within the range outlined in your owner's manual.
