Could your car be using more fuel than it needs?
Fuel prices are hitting a lot of household budgets hard, and you can't do much about what the pump charges. What you can do is make sure your car isn't wasting any of what you put in it. Checking your tyre pressures, easing off the accelerator and keeping up with servicing all help. There's one more thing that often gets overlooked: fuel saver treatments.
What is a fuel saver treatment?
It's an additive you pour into your tank, sometimes sold as a fuel system cleaner or engine treatment. Its job is to clear out the deposits that gradually build up around the fuel injectors and other parts that deliver and burn your fuel.
You add it to the tank, and it does its work as you drive.
How does it help?
Your engine relies on the right fuel-to-air mix. The injectors need to spray fuel evenly and accurately, and the engine needs to burn it properly. If deposits get in the way, things can become less efficient.
A good cleaner can help clear that build-up. Depending on your car's condition, you might notice smoother running, a slightly sharper throttle response, and in some cases better fuel economy.
Results will vary, though. If your engine is already in great shape, you may not notice any difference at all. But if the fuel system has been clogging up over time, a clean-out can help the engine get back to how it should be running.
Why do deposits build up in the first place?
Even modern engines work hard. Every journey involves fuel being delivered and burned, and over thousands of miles that leaves residue behind, along with the odd contaminant in the fuel system.
Short trips make it worse. If most of your driving is the school run or a quick trip to the shops, the engine spends a lot of its time not quite at its ideal temperature, and that doesn't do it any favours.
Other ways to use less fuel
As well as using fuel treatments, motorists can adopt these simple habits to help use less fuel:
Check your tyre pressures. Underinflated tyres drag more, so the engine works harder. Your handbook will give the right pressures, and you'll often find them on a sticker inside the driver's door or on the fuel flap. It's worth checking before a long trip, especially if you're carrying extra loads such as additional passengers or luggage.
Lose the extra weight. The more your car weighs, the more energy it takes to get moving. Clear out anything you don't need from the boot, and if you've got a roof box or roof bars you aren't using, take them off.
Drive smoothly. Hard acceleration followed by heavy braking burns more fuel. Look well ahead, read the traffic, and let the car's momentum do some of the work.
Don't idle for long. If you're going to be stationary for a while, switch the engine off. Many newer cars have stop-start systems that do this for you.
Keep up with servicing. An engine has a lot of parts that need to work together. Regular servicing catches problems early, and fresh oil, clean filters and well-kept components all help it run efficiently.
The bottom line
No single trick fixes rising fuel costs. A fuel saver treatment won't transform your MPG, and it doesn't replace proper maintenance. But alongside good tyre pressures, regular servicing and sensible driving, it can help keep your fuel system clean and your engine running well.
Want to get more from every tank?
If you're spending more at the pump than you'd like, it's worth looking at how efficiently your car is running as well as what fuel costs. At IN'n'OUT Autocentres, our technicians can help with everything from routine servicing and tyre checks to engine treatments that keep your fuel system clean.
Book your next service and add a fuel saver treatment, or plan ahead and choose one of our car care bundles, which include a fuel saver treatment as part of the package.