BIKERS CLUB MARCH 2019 ISSUE | Page 27

Don't push the accelerator down too far You can't do much about the design of your car, but you can avoid making it worse by not leaving the windows and sunroof open. It's better to use the air vents for most of the year, and the air- conditioning when it gets too hot. Don't carry round unnecessary weight Just like your body, your car needs more fuel to move around more weight. So just as you wouldn't wear a heavy rucksack unless you had to, don't cart stuff around in the boot of your Remove the roof rack or car unless you need it. ski box Ironically, the heavier the item (the usual culprits are This is just like leaving the golf clubs and trolleys), the windows open, but worse. less likely you are to bother Even if the roof rack is empty, it increases drag and taking it out of the boot and the greater the effect it will makes your car use more have on your fuel fuel, while a big ski box is consumption. like having another car strapped to your roof. The Accelerate smoothly latest roof racks and ski boxes are quick and easy to The perfect way to travel is fit and remove, so make the at a constant (ideally around 50mph), and in the highest effort to stow them away when you're not using them. gear (five or six). So if you're a patient driver, you'll have lower fuel bills, it's as simple as that. This one always surprises people. It's not just to do with what gear you're in. You may be in a high gear and travelling at a sensible speed, but if you're pushing the accelerator down a long way to avoid changing in to lower gear (into third from fourth, for example), then you're actually using more fuel not less. Obviously, if your car has an automatic gearbox (you'll know if it does), then it will probably do a better job than you of choosing which gear to be in, so it's not a problem. Turn the air-conditioning off It's tempting to leave the air-con on the whole year round. It stops the windows misting up in the winter and you don't ever need to think about the temperature inside the car, but it uses quite a bit of fuel, so we'd advise you turn it off when it's not hot (on most cars the button has a snowflake symbol). Stick to the speed limit If you ignored the law, you could save a bit of time off your journey by travelling above the speed limit, particularly on long motorway trips. But, although you might arrive 20 minutes early, it uses much more fuel when it is travelling. Check your tyre pressures regularly The lower the tyre pressure, the more fuel the car needs to move it down the road. This article is provided to us by 5M MILEAGE BOOST company.