CHECK YOUR ENGINES
How three-second engine check could save drivers £100s on petrol as bills skyrocket
Check out other ways to save on your monthly vehicle costs
CAR experts have revealed a three-second engine check that could save drivers £100s on petrol.
With fuel prices skyrocketing, drivers will be doing whatever they can to avoid extra costs.
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Luckily, this quick tip could put extra pounds back in your pocket amidst soaring fuel costs.
A simple engine check could boost your fuel economy by up to three percent, experts revealed.
All you need to do is use the right engine oil - which is crucial but often overlooked component in every vehicle.
According to specialists at CarShop, picking the correct engine oil can make a significant difference in how efficiently your vehicle runs.
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The motoring experts said: “Making sure the right specification of engine oil is used is important to improve a car’s overall efficiency, including fuel efficiency.
“The vehicle handbook will be able to indicate the correct type of motor oil to be used within the engine.
“Modern engines are built with finer tolerances and therefore require thinner oils - those with lower viscosity – that can also improve fuel economy by around three percent.”
Experts at CarShop advised drivers to consult their vehicle handbook to identify the recommended engine oil for optimal performance and fuel efficiency.
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They explained: “This allows us to use lower viscosity oils, which take less energy to pump around the engine. Think about the energy it would take you to squeeze a bottle of water vs. syrup.
“This then translates to improved fuel economy and savings for customers. Typically, moving from a 10w40 engine oil to a 5w30 would show a fuel economy improvement of around one to two percent.”
Modern engines are designed with tighter tolerances and boast thinner oils with lower viscosity.
These require less energy to run through the engine - improving the fuel efficiency by up to three percent.
Specialists at Castrol added that lower-viscosity oils “generally enable reduced fuel consumption”.
When it comes to selecting the right oil, experts recommend to use the correct type tailored to your vehicle's model.
According to MillersOils, newer models offer oils with lower viscosity base with better lubrication to protect engine parts while boosting fuel economy.
For this, drivers are advised to consider transitioning from their old models to newer ones.
Going from a 10w40 engine oil to a 5w30 could result in around one to per cent improvement in efficiency, according to industry specialists at Castrol.
Fuel prices have surfed by around 9p per litre and have now climbed above 149.5p in just four months, according to RAC Fuel Watch.
Diesel prices haven't escaped the rise, jumping from 147.62p to 157.99p.
It comes as a motoring expert revealed a little-known trick which can help slash the amount of fuel used and therefore save you money at the pump.
Drivers across the country are feeling the squeeze with steeply rising fuel costs as the cost of living crisis continues to bite.
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Elsewhere, motorists can slash their fuel use by up to 25 percent by removing one common item from their car.
Experts say that applying attaching their bikes to car roof racks could save drivers hundreds of pounds.
Motor money-saving hacks
DON'T let insurance premiums and repairs catch you out.
The cost of buying a car is not just about meeting the asking price.
You also need to sort out insurance for your motor, which can rise to eyewatering annual amounts.
Models with economical engines usually become significantly cheaper to insure than performance models.
Certain brands can only be repaired at specialist shops, so consider that before buying your new motor.
Motors with excessive mileage are less fuel-efficient
Any time you buy a car, you should always consider resale value.
If you find a model that will sell well on the used car market, that is a better money-saving investment than a model that typically struggles to drum up buyers.
Along with the make and model, check the mileage if you're trying to save money in the long term.
The experts say that the mileage is more than a number - it's an indicator of the condition of a car.
Bright and bold cars lose value faster than other colours
While it may seem like a trivial choice, picking the perfect paint job for your car impacts the resale value and general maintenance.
Lime greens, burnt oranges and sunshine yellows might speak to your personal tastes, but they are notoriously difficult to sell on the used car market.
That’s because, as a more niche choice, it’s tricky to find willing buyers, forcing you to lower the asking price or wait longer for a suitable offer.
Buy the car that best suits your day-to-day – and bin off the extra features
To save as much money as possible on your purchase, you need to think specifically about how you're actually going to be using the car rather than how you might use it.
For example, if you need a used car for commuting into a city centre office, you might be better off with a nippy three-door that costs £5,000 rather than a 4x4 on the market for £10,000.
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