Top 4 tips to save money on fuel

You don't have to buy a more fuel-efficient car to reduce your fuel bill. You can get more out of your tank by using some simple tips. We’ve pulled the best together to help you start saving now.

Maintaining your tyres is an essential part of making sure you’re getting the most out of your tank.

All tyres are inflated with air, which acts as a buffer between your car and the road. Over time, all tyres slowly deflate, so you really need to check the air pressure at monthly intervals. Incorrect tyre pressure can reduce the life of your tyres, and may make your car less safe to drive. It can also lead to greater fuel consumption.

Also read: Are drivers wasting billions buying premium petrol?

The most common problem with tyres is low pressure. Low pressure causes irregular wear, poor cornering and braking, and in extreme cases, tyre blowouts.

While checking the tyre pressure, also look for tyre wear or damage. Uneven wear and damage is unsafe and means that the tyres are not working efficiently which can also lead to an increase in fuel consumption.

Rotating your tyres is a good way of ensuring they’re worn evenly and you get the most out of them and therefore the most out of your tank.

How you drive a car also have a huge effect on how much fuel you use.

Also read: Oil prices crash, why haven’t Aussie petrol prices followed?

A really great competition I was part of to launch the Mini Cooper Diesel a few years ago saw a group of motoring writers to challenged to drive the Mini in city traffic and in the country using the least amount of fuel.

I’m chuffed to say that it was my partner Chris and I that won, convincingly. Our average fuel consumption over the 180 kilometre journey was only 3.5 litres per 100kms.

I must point out that we did nothing illegal or dangerous. I value my life and the points on my licence too much. But employing some simple techniques that anyone can use really made a difference.

Also read: Aussies can slash their petrol bills with this new app

Here are some principals that are pretty easy to remember if you want to save fuel.

1. The harder you put your foot down on the accelerator, the more fuel you’ll use.

2. The more you stop and start, the more fuel you’ll use.

3. The higher your engine revs in a gear, the more fuel you’ll use.

4. The heavier the load, the more fuel you’ll use.

It was a really interesting exercise to do. I am usually so focused on where I am going and what I need to do for the day, that I rarely focus on how I actually drive a car. If you are like me and enjoy a challenge, I highly recommend that over the course of your next full tank of fuel you try some of the techniques we tried and see how much you can save on your fuel bill. Go on, give it a go, the worst you’ll do is save money!

Melissa Pye is the marketing manager of HelloCars.