Eco Driving: Save Petrol & The Environment

Eco Driving is an approach to driving that strives to maximise efficiency while minimising harmful greenhouse gas emissions. As fuel prices continue to rise and drivers need to become more environmentally aware – Eco Driving tips have become all the more in demand.

Firstly, it’s wise to keep in mind that, in essence, Eco Driving is “Good Driving”. Smart, smooth and safe driving are the central ideas of an eco friendly approach to motoring. Adopting Eco Driving is not only beneficial to the environment – you’ll feel it in your wallet too. These petrol saving Eco Driving tips could save you up to 5-10% on your future fuel outlay.

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Eco Driving Tips for Saving Petrol:

Everyone wants to know how to save petrol when driving. These quick and easy changes to your driving approach go a long way.

Consider Traffic Flow and Give Yourself Some Space:

One of the most effective tips for Eco Driving simply requires a change in your mindset when behind the wheel. If you begin to focus on anticipating traffic flow – you afford yourself a greater opportunity to maximise on your car’s momentum. Leave a larger safety distance between yourself and other vehicles. Not only will this lower your chance of an accident but also provide the space required to maintain momentum and decelerate by easing off your accelerator. Keeping your accelerating and braking to a minimum is the golden rule of Eco Driving. The more rolling and less stopping and starting you do, the better.

Though an over-eagerness to lean on your accelerator is never a good thing – you should still avoid “coasting”. Coasting is the act of allowing your car to roll down hill or approach a junction while not in gear. In the past, coasting was often recommended as an easy means of saving fuel. With modern cars, coasting is much less effective. In most modern engines, both petrol and diesel, ignition and fuel systems are both linked by an Electronic Control Unit (ECU). When you take your foot off your accelerator, your ECU will automatically cut the fuel supply to your engine’s injectors. This means that taking your car out of gear and coasting will yield no greater Eco Driving results. As well as offering negligible savings, coasting is also a dangerous habit, as rolling with your car out of gear compromises your ability to accelerate at short notice.

Think About your RPM:

An awareness of your engine’s rev-per-minute is essential to effective Eco Driving. In order to save petrol while driving – you should always strive to maintain a smooth and even pace. In order to maximise efficiency and minimise emissions – you should aim to drive at the highest possible gear when at a low RPM. It’s also always beneficial to shift-up gear as early as you can. As a rule of thumb: In most vehicles, it’s best to switch-up to a higher gear when you reach approximately 2000 RPM in a diesel car or around 2500 RPM in a petrol car.

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Tyre Pressure:

A well-maintained car is always going to be more efficient. When it comes to basic car maintenance, you might be surprised that tyre-pressure has a huge effect on your car’s fuel consumption, and thus, it’s emissions. A tyre with low-pressure creates a greater degree of rolling resistance. A high level of rolling resistance means that your car will use a greater amount of fuel unnecessarily.

Top Tip:

Always check your car’s owner’s handbook when adjusting your tyre pressure. The optimal pressure for your tyres will be clearly stated inside. Many car’s tyre pressures have to be adjusted in accordance to the weight of the load they are transporting – this information should also be readily available in your owner’s manual.

Lose Excess Weight:

Having your car burdened with unnecessary weight has a markedly adverse effect on your fuel efficiency and emissions. Always remove any roof or bike racks that are not in use. Also, check that you’re not unnecessarily transporting any heavy items in your boot.

Top Tip:

Open windows are, obviously, less of a concern during the winter months. That said, when driving on motorways – it’s always advisable to avoid having your windows rolled down. Open windows when driving on motorways can create quite a bit of drag. Rolling up your windows when driving at motorway speeds helps increase your fuel economy which, in turn, will lower your emissions.

In Conclusion

As we have seen, ecologically responsible and fuel-efficient driving go hand in hand. The most effective way to lower your emissions and outlay on fuel is to make a change in your mindset. Take your time, give yourself some space and don’t go wild with the accelerator or the brake. Not only will the environment thank you, but your bank balance will too.

We hope this Eco Driving guide was helpful. Be sure to check the Autoglass® blog regularly for more guides and tips just like this one.