A SIMPLE hack could save you hundreds of pounds on fuel costs – and all you need is a 20p coin.
Last week, petrol prices fell below 175p per litre, and it could drop by another 15p in the coming weeks.
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But there might be a way to save even more money on fuel – and it doesn’t take much effort.
According to The Daily Star, you can use a 20p coin to check whether your car tyres have enough air in them.
It’s important you keep your tyres inflated at all times – not only is it dangerous not to, but underinflated tyres can cause a vehicle to use up to 10% more fuel.
Also, UK law states that your tyre tread needs to be at least 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread, around the entire circumference, so it’s extra important that you check.
So, to check with a 20p coin, all you need to do is place the silver into the main tread grooves of the car tyre.
If the outer band of the 20p is hidden in the rubber, the tread is above the current legal limit.
Don’t worry about losing a little bit of air in your tyres – they lose air naturally, and it’s not something you can completely stop from happening.
However, it’s always handy to know when you need to top up, and this little hack means you can do it before it starts costing you extra in fuel.
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How else can I cut down on fuel?
There are plenty of ways to cut your petrol costs through little-known hacks.
For starters, you can drive more efficiently. This can mean:
- Accelerate gradually without over-revving
- Always drive on the highest possible gear
- If you can, allow your car to slow down naturally as your brake is a money burner
- Re-starting your car is expensive, so keep that in mind
There are also sites you can use to help you find the cheapest petrol prices near you, like PetrolPrices.com and Confused.com.
These allow you to search prices of UK petrol stations. All you need to do is enter in your postcode and tell it how far you want to travel (up to 20 miles).
It’s also so easy to forget about the clutter building up in your car – whether it’s tools, kids’ toys or general rubbish. But it turns out additional storage space can increase fuel costs by a whopping 12%.
So, don’t forget to do a car clear out every now and then.
And, if you’re driving at a slower speed, think about taking the roof rack off and switching off air con to save on running costs.
Remember, costs are still significantly higher than a year ago, when petrol averaged 135.3p a litre, and diesel 135.56p.
So every little hack helps, even with the recent fuel drop, and you can find out more about that here.
