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Fuel Consumption Myths

Fuel is becoming more and more expensive and knowing fuel myths is important to know so you aren't wasting your time. Here are a few myths of fuel consumption that will shock, so be warned!

The heater in the car doesn't use more fuel like the air con does at low speeds. The heater opens the vents to the front of the car and uses the wasted heat energy of the engine to heat the car. However this does mean that your car heaters won't be warm as soon as you turn your car on as your engine has to warm up, and it’s advised not to idle the car to get it warm, as this does in fact use unnecessary fuel. On your driving lessons in Birmingham your car should already be warmed up as your instructor has had to drive to your house.

Motorway driving uses more fuel than driving in a city centre. This is in fact a myth and you will get more motorway miles that you will stop and start city driving, even though you are travelling slower. There is however a tipping point as to when city driving becomes more fuel efficient. Travelling 80 miles per hour on a motorway uses 25% more fuel than travelling 70 and travelling 70 uses more fuel that travelling 65 and so on. You really shouldn't be going any slower than 65 on a motorway, but these facts and statistics are another reason not to speed! To get the best miles per gallon travel at a steady speed and try not to speed up to harshly brake.

A bigger engine doesn't necessarily mean more fuel consumption as there are other factors to consider. A car with a 3 litre twin turbo engine can be more fuel efficient than one with a 1.6 turbo engine because it is not just the engine size that determines the amount of fuel that is consumed. Factors such as the electronics that operate in the car, the tyres and other parts such as the filters can all contribute to the fuel consumption of a vehicle. Don't take this as the rule, a 1.2 litre eco-flex car will most likely be more fuel efficient than a sports model car with a 2 litre engine, but it can't always be presumed and is a myth of fuel consumption.

Over inflated tyres will decrease your fuel consumption in your vehicle. Although in theory this make sense, when your tyres are under inflated it increases fuel consumption, but in practice it isn't the case! Once you reach the recommended pressure per square inch in your tyres you won’t get any better fuel consumption by continuing to inflate them, all the weight of the car will just be placed on the middle of the tyres and will wear the tread down quicker. Pump your tyres up to the correct pressure and check them regularly to make sure they stay at this, avoid any other tips and hints as they are most likely myths!

Know the difference between myths and facts to make sure you aren't wasting your time on any silly fuel saving methods. On your driving lessons Birmingham you are taught some fuel saving techniques and you may not even know it, so ask about these techniques if you’re unsure.

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