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By Tia Harrison-North
A roof box left on after a holiday could be adding to a driver’s fuel bill. At 62mph, a roof box typically increases fuel consumption by around 22%, even when it’s empty.
Our research reveals seven habits that could cost you at the pump. From choosing the wrong tyres to leaving on the heated seats, there are some simply mistakes that are hurting your fuel efficiency
Ben Welham, our motoring expert, said: “A lot of these things are easy to forget because the car still feels the same to drive.
“You might leave a roof box on between long trips or choose a tyre based on its price without looking at the label, but when you realise how much fuel you could save, it makes you think twice.”
You can also find plenty of efficient new cars and used cars to get you the best starting point.
A roof box doesn’t have to be full to affect fuel consumption. Both boxes and bars increase wind resistance, particularly at higher speeds.
Roof boxes increase fuel consumption by 22%, but even just roof bars without a roof box can add around 7% to fuel consumption at motorway speeds.
Ben said: “If the roof box has stayed on since your last holiday, think about whether you need it for your normal journeys. The same goes for removable roof bars.
“Keep the fitting instructions so taking them off and putting them back on safely is straightforward when you need them again.”
Under-inflated tyres can increase fuel consumption by up to 6% as there’s more resistance between them and the road. They can also wear more quickly, making regular checks worthwhile for more than just fuel costs.
It’s also important to remember that, even if your tyres don’t look or feel low, they still could be below the recommended pressure.
Benadded: “Don’t wait until a tyre looks completely flat. Check the pressure with a gauge when the tyres are cold against the recommended figure for your car.
“And, if you’re loading the car with passengers and luggage, check whether the manufacturer recommends a different pressure for that journey.”
The cheapest suitable tyre may cost less upfront, but its fuel-efficiency rating is worth checking too. Tyres with higher rolling resistance mean your car needs to use more energy to move.
For an average car, there’s a 7.5% difference in fuel economy between a full set of tyres in the highest and lowest efficiency classes.
Ben said: “It’s not just about choosing the cheapest tyre for your car. Fuel efficiency, wet grip and even noise ratings also come into consideration.
“Since tyres are the only part of your car touching the road, it’s best to find the highest performing tyre within your budget.
“Making sure your tyres match – even if just across each axle (front and back) is also key to the proper performance, longevity and safety of your tyres.”
Air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by as much as 5%, although the effect depends on the car, the weather and how the system is used.
That doesn’t mean drivers should avoid it when they need to cool the car or clear misted windows, it’s just worth thinking about if you want to save some fuel.
Ben said: “Air conditioning can be great when you first get into a hot car or need to clear the windscreen. Once the car is comfortable and you can see clearly, check whether you still need it running.
“Your view of the road and your comfort behind the wheel should always come first, but if you can do without the AC, you might save some fuel.”
A few minutes of idling while the car warms up may not seem like much, but leaving it running for five minutes on 12 mornings adds up to an hour. That could mean 2.3 litres or more of fuel used while idling in less than two weeks.
You need to be able to see before setting off and shouldclear snow and ice from all windows. By the time they are clear, the engine should be warmedup enough to set off.
Ben said: “There’s no need to wait until the engine is completely warm before you set off on your journey, just drive gently and keep acceleration below about 3,000rpm to start with.
“Some people like to wait until the revs drop to below 1,000rpm before setting off – this usually takes less than 30 seconds – which will likely happen before your windows are cleared anyway.
“Your engine will warm quicker on the move, so there’s no need to idle while waiting for it.”
A cold engine can use almost twice as much fuel.So, several short trips where your car doesn’t warm up properly is going to be more expensive than you might think.
Ben said: “A cold engine uses more fuel, and regularly driving before it warms up can increase wear and tear to your car.
"If you can, why not combine a few errands into one journey? Your car will thank you.”
Driving at 70mph uses around 10% more fuel than driving at 60mph,although the difference will depend on the car and driving conditions.
Depending on traffic conditions, you might save about one minute and 30 seconds over 10 miles driving at 70mph compared to 60mph.
Looking ahead, keeping a steady speed where conditions allow and avoiding unnecessary acceleration and braking can also help reduce fuel use.
Ben added: “You don’t need to change everything about how you drive. Leave enough space to respond smoothly to traffic ahead and choose a speed that’s safe for the road and conditions.
By Tia Harrison-North
A roof box left on after a holiday could be adding to a driver’s fuel bill. At 62mph, a roof box typically increases fuel consumption by around 22%, even when it’s empty.
Our research reveals seven habits that could cost you at the pump. From choosing the wrong tyres to leaving on the heated seats, there are some simply mistakes that are hurting your fuel efficiency
Ben Welham, our motoring expert, said: “A lot of these things are easy to forget because the car still feels the same to drive.
“You might leave a roof box on between long trips or choose a tyre based on its price without looking at the label, but when you realise how much fuel you could save, it makes you think twice.”
You can also find plenty of efficient new cars and used cars to get you the best starting point.
A roof box doesn’t have to be full to affect fuel consumption. Both boxes and bars increase wind resistance, particularly at higher speeds.
Roof boxes increase fuel consumption by 22%, but even just roof bars without a roof box can add around 7% to fuel consumption at motorway speeds.
Ben said: “If the roof box has stayed on since your last holiday, think about whether you need it for your normal journeys. The same goes for removable roof bars.
“Keep the fitting instructions so taking them off and putting them back on safely is straightforward when you need them again.”
Under-inflated tyres can increase fuel consumption by up to 6% as there’s more resistance between them and the road. They can also wear more quickly, making regular checks worthwhile for more than just fuel costs.
It’s also important to remember that, even if your tyres don’t look or feel low, they still could be below the recommended pressure.
Benadded: “Don’t wait until a tyre looks completely flat. Check the pressure with a gauge when the tyres are cold against the recommended figure for your car.
“And, if you’re loading the car with passengers and luggage, check whether the manufacturer recommends a different pressure for that journey.”
The cheapest suitable tyre may cost less upfront, but its fuel-efficiency rating is worth checking too. Tyres with higher rolling resistance mean your car needs to use more energy to move.
For an average car, there’s a 7.5% difference in fuel economy between a full set of tyres in the highest and lowest efficiency classes.
Ben said: “It’s not just about choosing the cheapest tyre for your car. Fuel efficiency, wet grip and even noise ratings also come into consideration.
“Since tyres are the only part of your car touching the road, it’s best to find the highest performing tyre within your budget.
“Making sure your tyres match – even if just across each axle (front and back) is also key to the proper performance, longevity and safety of your tyres.”
Air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by as much as 5%, although the effect depends on the car, the weather and how the system is used.
That doesn’t mean drivers should avoid it when they need to cool the car or clear misted windows, it’s just worth thinking about if you want to save some fuel.
Ben said: “Air conditioning can be great when you first get into a hot car or need to clear the windscreen. Once the car is comfortable and you can see clearly, check whether you still need it running.
“Your view of the road and your comfort behind the wheel should always come first, but if you can do without the AC, you might save some fuel.”
A few minutes of idling while the car warms up may not seem like much, but leaving it running for five minutes on 12 mornings adds up to an hour. That could mean 2.3 litres or more of fuel used while idling in less than two weeks.
You need to be able to see before setting off and shouldclear snow and ice from all windows. By the time they are clear, the engine should be warmedup enough to set off.
Ben said: “There’s no need to wait until the engine is completely warm before you set off on your journey, just drive gently and keep acceleration below about 3,000rpm to start with.
“Some people like to wait until the revs drop to below 1,000rpm before setting off – this usually takes less than 30 seconds – which will likely happen before your windows are cleared anyway.
“Your engine will warm quicker on the move, so there’s no need to idle while waiting for it.”
A cold engine can use almost twice as much fuel.So, several short trips where your car doesn’t warm up properly is going to be more expensive than you might think.
Ben said: “A cold engine uses more fuel, and regularly driving before it warms up can increase wear and tear to your car.
"If you can, why not combine a few errands into one journey? Your car will thank you.”
Driving at 70mph uses around 10% more fuel than driving at 60mph,although the difference will depend on the car and driving conditions.
Depending on traffic conditions, you might save about one minute and 30 seconds over 10 miles driving at 70mph compared to 60mph.
Looking ahead, keeping a steady speed where conditions allow and avoiding unnecessary acceleration and braking can also help reduce fuel use.
Ben added: “You don’t need to change everything about how you drive. Leave enough space to respond smoothly to traffic ahead and choose a speed that’s safe for the road and conditions.
