Petrol and diesel owners could save on fuel costs this summer with simple tip

Drivers could make dramatic petrol and diesel savings by making one simple change to their driving habits this summer.

Experts at Confused.com have warned motorists may be “burning more fuel than normal” by carrying excess weight in their vehicles.

Extra weight can “cause drag” meaning the car will need to work harder and use more fuel to travel.

Specialists claim that removing heavy items will be enough for road users to notice a considerable improvement.

It comes as petrol and diesel costs continue to rouse with drivers still getting squeezed at the pumps amid the cost-of-living crisis.

Louise Thomas, motor expert at Confused.com told Express.co.uk: “Making changes to the way you drive can reduce the amount of fuel you use.

“One way to do this is by removing excess weight from your vehicle. That’s because extra weight can cause drag when driving, so your fuel might not stretch as far as it should.

“It’s likely that lots of drivers have items stored in their boot, and sometimes even on passenger seats and footwells. Overloading your vehicle could mean that you burn more fuel than normal. It could also impact your vision when driving and affect your vehicle’s stopping distance.

“By removing heavier items, such as roof racks and boxes, your fuel consumption could improve.”

KwikFit warns heavier vehicles will tend to use more petrol or diesel in stop-start traffic which could be a major blow to city inhabitants.

The garage experts claim that an extra 50kg of weight in your car could be enough to increase fuel consumption by one or two percent.

However, Thomas warns drivers should not go overboard and strip their vehicles of all the essentials.

Motorists still need to make sure they are prepared for all eventualities before setting off on long trips.

She added: “Be sensible, as keeping things like a spare tyre in your boot could come in handy. Every vehicle also has a weight limit, so staying within this could help your tank last longer and save you money in the long run.”

RAC FuelWatch claims average petrol prices rose for the second successive month in July 2023.

Unleaded fuel now costs around 145p, up 2p per litre since the start of June.

The cost of filling up a 55-litre family car with petrol now stands at £79.95 while diesel will cost £80.21.

Diesel prices remained stable at 146p per litre but brought to an end a run of eight successive months of declining rates.

But the RAC warns more fuel prices are on the horizon with oil prices up almost £8 ($10) in July.

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