Motorists have found limited supplies at some garages however the government says petrol stations are ‘well stocked nationally’
Motorists have seen the price of fuel rocket over recent weeks as a result of conflict in the Middle East. The RAC said the average cost of a litre of diesel at UK forecourts has hit 181.2p, up 27% from 142.4p on February 28, the day the war in the Middle East began while average petrol prices have reached 152.0p per litre, a rise of 14% from 132.8p over the same period.
Some motorists have found petrol stations out of service across the country over recent days, however, the government says while it plans for “all eventualities”, petrol stations are “well stocked” nationally. According to a Downing Street spokesman, when asked whether the Government was planning for any shortages, they replied: “We’ll always plan for all eventualities.”
He added: “To be very clear, as the PM (Sir Keir Starmer ) has said and as the Government have said, and indeed industry have said, fuel production and imports are continuing. The UK benefits from diverse and resilient supply. Petrol stations in the UK are well-stocked nationally and any suggestion otherwise is incorrect.”
But whether fuel is available or not, one pressing problem is the increased cost. RAC Fuel Watch monitors the price daily and has now come up with 10 ways to save fuel.
It said: “Although the ever-increasing price of petrol or diesel is something beyond our control, there are some surprisingly simple ways to save fuel – rewarding your wallet and the environment. Buying a more fuel-efficient car is one way, but not everybody has the money for a new car.
“To help drivers save money at the pumps, we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to making your current car more economical.” Here’s their 10 top tips:
Maintain your vehicle
Making sure you keep on top of maintenance and regular servicing improves the efficiency of your vehicle, which then can impact fuel consumption. Getting your car serviced regularly is advised.
The RAC says it is important to check your tyre pressures and make sure they are inflated correctly, as indicated in your owner’s manual, as underinflated and overinflated tyres both adversely affect fuel economy.
Know when to accelerate
The higher your speed and the more you accelerate, the more fuel your car uses. Excessive speed is by far and away the biggest factor reducing your car’s fuel economy.
Stick to the speed limits, but don’t be afraid to sit below the limit as the RAC explains “it’s not a target”. It adds: “Drive to the conditions, too. If a 60mph speed limit road is narrow and full of potential hazards, it makes sense to keep your speed at a controlled level rather than accelerating and braking constantly.”
The most efficient fuel economy speed is different for every car, but when the RAC completed its Record Road Trip in the Audi A6 ultra, that particular car’s optimum fuel economy speed was 52mph in seventh gear on the flat.
The RAC advises: “While there is an ideal speed, road conditions and gradients don’t often allow you to do that speed so you have to improvise and learn to adjust your driving according to the road ahead, a technique often referred to as hypermiling. Generally speaking, there is no one driving speed which is optimum for fuel economy.”
It also explained an old rule many still go by. it said: “Over the years the speed of 56mph has often been talked about as being the optimum speed. This was due to the old fuel consumption test being run at three speeds: urban, 56mph and 75mph – and 56mph was always, unsurprisingly, the most efficient of these. Typically, cars are most efficient at 45-50mph.”
Highest gear possible within speed limit
Accelerating gently is good for economical driving, but there is a balance and most experts agree constantly accelerating gradually isn’t the best way to save fuel. It advises drivers to “get up through the gears to your desired speed relatively quickly”.
However it warns: “That doesn’t mean floor it and use all the revs, but a decent rate of acceleration allows you to reach a set cruising speed and high gear where your engine can be at its most efficient. That doesn’t always apply in urban environments, though, because you’ll likely have to slow down again quite quickly.
“Probably the biggest secret to achieving high mpg is driving in the highest possible gear for your vehicle while keeping within the speed limit. Remember: the faster an engine spins, the more fuel it uses. With that in mind, find the balance between letting revs climb too high and letting them drop too low, where your engine starts to labour and could stall.”
Anticipate
Keeping moving at the right speed is essential to fuel economy. It says: “The best advice is to drive as smoothly as possible, gently using the steering, accelerator and brakes.
“When slowing down, it’s important to remain in gear as the fuel cut-off switch in a fuel injection engine is then activated, meaning virtually no fuel is used while braking. Try to anticipate what’s going to happen in front of you by looking well ahead.”
It adds this means you can slow down naturally when you see something such as a red traffic light or a tight bend. Driving uphill also uses more fuel so “accelerate a little” before you reach it, while sticking to the speed limit then ease off as you drive up as the momentum can minimise additional fuel consumption.
What about cruise control?
Cruise control only aids fuel economy when driving on a constant flat surface which means it is usually best reserved for motorway driving. The RAC explains: “One of the keys to saving fuel is driving at a constant speed, cruise control can do this effectively on flat surfaces, making your driving as fuel efficient as possible by negating unnecessary acceleration.”
But it warns regular use of cruise control not on flat roads means you can actually increase your fuel consumption as it would not be able to react quickly to gradient changes. It adds: “Interestingly, the most fuel-efficient roads in the country are not quiet extra-urban dual carriageways or 20mph city streets, they are motorways. This is where you can leave the car in top gear and gently cruise along, using minimal fuel.”
Roof bars and roof box
Never leave your roof bars and roof box on when not in use as they create wind resistance and increase fuel consumption through the ‘drag’ effect which increases 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%, which makes your vehicle much less fuel efficient.
The RAC adds: “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.” Driving with an open window also has a similar effect.
Air conditioning and heater
Both air conditioning and heating use engine power and therefore increase fuel consumption, however the RAC explains this is more of an issue in older cars rather than newer vehicle with the most efficient air-con systems.
This goes for heat as well as cooling, so try to dress for the weather, even inside your car, if fuel efficiency is a big concern.
Combine journeys
Putting your errands together into one round trip rather than several short trips can also save as a warm engine will operate at its most efficient. Repeatedly using a cold engine will be more costly even to cover the same distance.
Don’t carry unnecessary weight
This won’t make a massive difference to the fuel economy however, the heavier a vehicle is, the more fuel it will use. The RAC says: “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.”
Use technology
Stop-start is a feature found in almost every petrol and diesel car made in the last few years. While many drivers switch this off, if used correctly, it can save fuel.
The RAC explains: “Most experts agree that if you are going to be stationary for 10 seconds or more, then letting your engine shut off and restart is more fuel efficient than leaving it idling. The average family car can use up to half a gallon of fuel per hour when left idling – enough to travel around 25 miles.”
