CUTTING COSTS :TRAINING The myth that freewheeling down a hill in neutral will save you petrol is exactly that – a myth. Coasting can not only be dangerous, but due to changes in vehicle fuel systems, it will not save you any money on petrol. Try to carefully look ahead beyond your normal range of vision, you can prepare for junctions, roundabouts and hills, which can save you petrol by adjusting your speed in plenty of time, carrying on your momentum. However, bear in mind that safety must never be compromised. Speed can cost you just as much Many drivers on the road wrongly assume that it is the distance we travel that is burning a hole in our wallets, when in reality, speed is just as important. You can drive at a slower speed on a longer journey and possibly save more money, than driving quickly on a quick journey. Figures from the AA indicate that driving at 70mph uses up to 9% more fuel than at 60mph, and up to 15% more than at 50mph. Cruising at 80mph can use up to a massive 25% more fuel than at 70mph. So don’t think you need to get to your destination in a hurry, because chances are – you won’t get there much faster, but you will use alot more petrol in doing so! Change gears quickly The higher the gear, the lower the engine speed, which can improve fuel efficiency. The saver here is to change up a gear whenever you can, without labouring the engine – especially important when you pull away or when accelerating. Experts suggest that changing up at an engine speed of around 2,000rpm in a diesel car or around 2,500rpm in a petrol car is most efficient. A good rule of thumb is, the lower the gear, the less time you should be in it. Measure your fuel consumption Most new cars have a fuel consumption indicator, but you can also work this out the old fashioned way. To calculate your average fuel consumption over any period, the AA recommends you follow these steps: 1. Fill your car with petrol and record the mileage. 2. Keep a record of any subsequent fuel purchases and bear in mind that you needn’t completely fill the tank again until you are ready to work out your miles per gallon. 3. Ideally, go back to the same pump at the same garage at which you first filled the car and fill the tank again to the same level. 4. Divide the total mileage since the first fill by the total number of litres used and then multiply by 4.546 to get miles per gallon (for example, if you’ve covered 1,000 miles and used 101 litres of fuel, your average mpg = (1000/101) x 4.546 = 45mpg). www.ukdic.co.uk l THE INSTRUCTOR