Fuel Saving & Economy
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What increases fuel consumption?
CheckFuelPrices Editorial
Expert Written • 5 industry sources
Speed, aggressive driving style, unnecessary weight, and poor vehicle maintenance are the biggest factors that increase fuel consumption. Understanding what wastes fuel is the first step to spending less at the pump.
Driving Style
Excessive speed:
Driving at 80mph uses up to 25% more fuel than driving at 70mph. Aerodynamic drag increases exponentially with speed, forcing the engine to work much harder.
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Harsh acceleration and braking:
Rapid acceleration burns significantly more fuel than building speed gradually. Anticipating traffic and braking gently allows the car to decelerate using engine braking instead.
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High engine revs:
Keeping the engine in a high rev range consumes more fuel. Changing up a gear earlier — around 2,000 rpm for diesel and 2,500 rpm for petrol — can cut consumption noticeably.
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Vehicle Condition and Load
Under-inflated tyres:
Tyres even slightly under the recommended pressure increase rolling resistance, meaning the engine burns more fuel to maintain speed. Check pressures monthly.
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Excess weight:
Every extra 50kg in the car can increase fuel consumption by around 2%. Removing roof racks, bike carriers, and heavy items from the boot when not in use makes a real difference.
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Roof racks and boxes:
An empty roof rack increases aerodynamic drag and can raise fuel consumption by up to 10% at motorway speeds. Remove any accessories you are not actively using.
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Engine and Ancillary Systems
Prolonged idling:
Leaving the engine running while stationary wastes fuel with zero forward progress. Modern engines are more efficient restarted than left idling for more than a minute.
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Air conditioning:
Running the air conditioning at low speeds can increase fuel consumption by up to 10%. At motorway speeds, closing windows and using air conditioning is more efficient than open windows creating drag.
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Poor vehicle maintenance:
A poorly serviced engine — including a dirty air filter or old spark plugs — works less efficiently and burns more fuel. Following the manufacturer's service schedule keeps consumption in check.
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Reduce the Cost of Every Litre You Do Use
Even efficient drivers pay different prices:
Even with perfect driving habits, paying 5–8p per litre more than necessary at the wrong station adds up quickly over a year of driving.
Find the cheapest station near you:
CheckFuelPrices shows live petrol and diesel prices at 4,000+ UK stations updated every 30 minutes, so you can see exactly where to fill up for the lowest price.
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Sources
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