Drivers are being urged to remove a common item from their cars this September to help cut petrol and diesel costs. As colder weather approaches, motoring expert Dale Gillespie from Iron Offroad has shared tips to start saving money on fuel.
Remove bike racks and roof racks
According to Gillespie, fully emptying a car after a holiday is never a priority, but every bit of extra clutter reduces fuel economy. Items such as camping equipment and bike racks can boost fuel costs or reduce electric vehicle range because they create aerodynamic drag and add weight.
"Camping equipment, bike racks, they all add up and impact your fuel," he explained. At times of the year when they are not needed, it is best to remove them completely.
Roof rack weight adds to costs
Gillespie also noted that it is worth taking off the roof rack. "Something else no one ever thinks about is the weight added by empty roof racks," he said. "It can increase your fuel consumption by 1% to 2.6%." That is a cost of around £30 a year.
If a roof box is kept loaded, a typical saloon will use around 10% to 12% more fuel each journey, and that shoots up to 20.8% on the motorway.
Tyre pressure affects fuel use
Temperature impacts tyre pressure more than many drivers realise. Gillespie said: "Tyre pressure falls by around 1-2psi for every 10°C drop in temperature. So, as the weather cools, your pressure could start running low."
The lower the tyre pressure, the more fuel a car will use. It is predicted that more than half of tyres on UK roads are underinflated, and being just 6psi below the recommended pressure can add around 3% to a fuel bill.
"Look for a sticker inside the driver's door frame or on the inside of your fuel filler flap," added Gillespie. "That will tell you the ideal tyre pressure for your make and model." Underinflation can also reduce tyre life by around 10%.
Making a few simple checks and changes this September can help save money on fuel costs.
