Experts have provided drivers with a money-saving tip that could lead to wasting less fuel and keeping the engine in a better, healthier condition. Motorists have been told to drive gently when the car is cold in order to see those benefits.
The motoring experts at RAC have revealed that cars are at their least efficient when they are cold.
They said: “If you drive quickly straight from start-up, you are redoubling the wasted fuel, and also wearing out the engine more quickly in the process.
“Show some mechanical sympathy and you’ll immediately start saving money.”
On a related matter, RAC added that motorists should not allow the engine to idle for too long.
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“When you spot a hill coming try to accelerate a little before you reach it, then ease off as you drive up.
“The extra momentum should be enough to minimise additional fuel consumption,” they commented.
Rebecca Jackson, a professional racing driver who broke the world record for the most countries visited on a single tank of fuel, added to RAC’s comments: “To set any kind of fuel efficiency world record you have to be looking ahead as much as possible to pre-empt oncoming hazards.
“This is a good general driving habit but it was absolutely crucial for us.”
She continued: “It’s all about keeping moving and not losing momentum.
“Accelerating from being stopped is very costly in fuel consumption terms and so is going up any steep incline.
“We tried not to use the brakes as much by easing off the throttle to reduce speed.“
Ms Jackson added: “If you can keep moving slowly rather than stopping in traffic that’s good, but you do have to be conscious of not being a pain to other drivers by leaving too much of a gap behind the car in front.
“You need to listen to the engine to make sure you don’t use excessive revs but you need to use enough, so it’s a fine balance as you don’t want the car to be labouring too much either.”
