Petrol prices continue to escalate and it is now predicted that they will add €400 extra to families’ motoring costs this year. Indeed the latest survey by the AA Ireland shows that the average cost of unleaded stands at 150.7c while diesel stands at 146.3c – and prices have only escalated in recent days.
One of the most expensive filling stations can be found in Rathcormac in County Cork where prices are as high as 159.9c per litre; while in Dublin the most expensive petrol station according to Pumps.ie was charging 157.9c per litre. Conor Faughnan, the director of policy at the AA, described escalating prices as “another kick for motorists” with prices also increasing for car parts and car insurance.
Fighting back
If you want to fight back against these rising costs there are a number of steps you can take to reduce your petrol consumption while also assisting the environment.
One of the first steps is to keep your car regularly serviced. Though it may seem like an additional expense, it should save you money in the long run by stopping small problems getting out of hand and ensuring your engine is running smoothly to keep your petrol consumption efficient. Make sure you carry out regular checks on your car too, including keeping tyres at the correct pressures as properly inflated tyres can reduce fuel consumption by three per cent. Check the condition of the engine’s air filter and if you have air conditioning try to avoid using it during stop-start city traffic as it will ramp up fuel consumption quickly.
From there look at lowering the weight of the vehicle by removing unnecessary items from the boot – an extra 100lbs can increase fuel consumption by one-two per cent. Try to drive in the optimum gear and at a speed of 56mph where legal – driving above 60mph rapidly increases fuel consumption. Look to accelerate smoothly and avoid tailgating as it leads to more frequent braking, as well as being dangerous.
Other tips include checking fuel consumption ratings when buying a new car; choosing manual vehicles instead of automatic cars; checking for the cheapest petrol in your area; and carrying out a fuel service regularly.
Lowering motoring costs
Of course lowering your petrol consumption is only one step in the battle against motoring costs – and there are other steps you can take to keep cash in your pocket.
Perhaps the most obvious is to lower your car insurance costs by using a comparison website to compare the quotes available to you. Remember that insurers base premiums on risk and so you may earn further savings by adding security features, parking in a garage overnight or reducing your mileage. Also look out for promo codes on insurance and breakdown services at Moneysaver.ie.
Photo by Juan Fernandez on Unsplash