How You Can Cut Your Petrol Costs

As the UK economy isn’t too great at the moment we could all welcome some money saving tips which is why here at MegaVaux we have come up with some easy ways you could save money on your petrol costs.

ALWAYS price compare

This may seem like an obvious point but simply driving past a petrol station or two doesn’t count as comparing the market. Now with the use of modern technology it is now even easier to compare different company prices even from your mobile device, which is ideal if you need to fill up on the way home. Simply before you get in your car to drive do a quick comparison to check to see the closet and cheapest petrol station to you.

De-clutter your vehicle

It’s surprising how much unneeded clutter you can carry in your vehicle without you even thinking about it. Have you still got your roof rack attached from your holiday you had earlier on in the year? How many unnecessary mechanical tools do you keep in your vehicle, what is the likely hood you’ll use them? Spare just 5-10 minutes to give your car the once over to see what extra weight you’re carrying – Just think, the lighter the vehicle the less petrol you will use.

Check your tires!

Don’t forget to check your tires! Driving on under inflated tires will make you use more petrol. This is down to your car tires creating more resistance when moving, therefore your car works hard which will result in you using more fuel.

Drive sensibly

Having an erratic driving style can cause you to use excess amounts of petrol, this means if you tend to break sharply or accelerate excessively you may want to reconsider your driving style. We recommend staying alert to the flow of traffic, have travel alerts switched on through your radio so you are more prepared on the road.

These simple tips are easy to follow and could make a big difference when it comes to your driving style and your weekly petrol outgoings. At Megavaux we pride ourselves on providing useful hints and tips which may help you, as well as providing you with all your quality Vauxhall and Opel spare parts.

Carburettors and Home-Made Fuel

As the country has moved deeper and deeper into the recession, car owners have continued to feel the pinch with rising car tax, maintenance costs that cannot be ignored e.g. new tyres, and fuel costs have rocketed up to 110 pence per litre of unleaded in some areas.

Desperate to hold onto their cars, drivers have tried to keep their costs down in a variety of ways, some legal, some illegal. In desperate times when people are fighting to keep their jobs and tightening their belts meaning that some ‘forget’ to renew their insurance policy, others try to drive less or more efficiently. Some drivers take more drastic action and try to make their own fuel, however this is dangerous.

Why is it dangerous to make your own fuel?
The carburettor mixes air and fuel and then injects it into the engine. If, for example, you put petrol into a diesel car, do not start the engine. Petrol burns at a higher temperature to diesel so when the fuel is sprayed into the engine, the petrol could melt some of the engine components. You will know this has happened because once you have turned the engine over, there will be a huge amount of smoke coming from the car. The principle with home-made fuels also applies. By using such fuels, you are contaminating your engine – you might as well put sugar in the tank.

If your car is not modified to run on alternative substances, then putting home-made fuel into your car is a huge mistake and could be fatal for your car. Fuels can vary from brand to brand as different companies add different additives that make the fuel burn more efficiently. This is why you may notice a difference in fuel consumption when you use different brands of fuel. As an unofficial rule, brands refine their fuels for quality whereas supermarkets refine their fuel for price. Home-made fuels have fundamental differences to refined oil that is made into petrol which is what was originally intended for your car to use. 

Can you modify your car to run on these cheaper fuels?
Yes, but your car must be modified by a garage as it is a complicated job. If you have an old car then you may find that the initial expense cannot be justified. After all, you will have to cover a huge distance before the car starts paying for itself. Don’t forget, cars that use LPG fuel are not currently allowed to use the Channel Tunnel so if you drive from the UK to mainland Europe and you have converted your car to use LPG fuel, you will have to book a ferry instead.

So what about my carburettor?
Newer cars don’t always have a carburettor inm a traditional sense as they use a fuel injection system instead. However, there are still a number of cars that use a carburettor in an evolved form. Even with a fuel injection system, you should never add a substance to your fuel tank that wasn’t intended to be put into your vehicle by the manufacturer.

A new carburettor could cost anything from £100 to £600 which might or might not include the fitting by a garage. They can be bought second hand. It is an expensive car part to replace and a frustrating one if you were romanced by the promises of cheaper fuel.

How can I fix my car if I have put the wrong fuel in?
If you haven’t already turned your engine on, DON’T! Get your car to a garage and have the fuel tank and pipes drained by a professional. If you have started the car, be aware that you car may have to be written off as it could work out too expensive to repair.

If you have seen videos posted online and various articles telling you how you can get cheaper fuel, consult with a professional before trying it out on your car.