Drivers told put water and food in car on Thursday and ‘press button’ | UK | News

With temperatures expected to climb as high as 28 degrees from Thursday in the UK, drivers may be tempted to turn on the air conditioning to keep themselves cool. Experts warned that increased fuel consumption could be caused by this situation, along with other hot weather driving habits.

Tim Rodie, resident tool expert engine point He said: “It can be tempting to open the windows and turn the air conditioning on full blast when driving in hot weather, but this will wreak havoc on your fuel economy. When driving in hot weather, there are a few things you can do to reduce your fuel consumption and help you get to your tank longer.”

Tim said: “It’s widely known that air conditioning uses a lot of energy and can increase your fuel consumption by up to 10%, especially when it’s cooling hot air coming into the cabin. “If you use the ‘recirculation’ function on your dash instead, it cools and recirculates the air already in the cabin, which can reduce energy use and help cool your cabin using less fuel.

“However, before you start your journey, you will find it greatly beneficial to ventilate your vehicle for a few minutes to allow the hot air to escape. This will save you from having to cool down a hot vehicle when you start driving and will allow your cabin to cool down faster.”

Tim also explained the rule about windows, adding: “When you approach a highway is the best time to close your windows. While a cool breeze on the road feels great, open windows at high speeds can affect your car’s aerodynamic performance, making it harder to keep up and causing it to use more power and fuel. Setting the air conditioning to ‘recirculation’ mode helps keep the cabin cool without significantly harming fuel economy. So, if you’re driving above 50 mph, keep the windows open.” and rely on your air conditioning throughout the journey.”

And if you want to cool your car before a road trip, don’t do that. Tim said: “It is advisable not to leave your car running to cool down before starting your journey on a hot day, as idling is very bad for fuel efficiency. More importantly, leaving it unattended with the engine running greatly increases the risk of theft.”

“Most car insurance policies have ‘keys in car’ or ‘vehicle left unattended’ clauses, meaning drivers cannot make a claim if their vehicle is stolen unattended with the keys inside.

“Modern air conditioning will cool your vehicle quickly, so there is really no need for your vehicle to cool down before you start your journey.”

There are a number of other habits that can also cost you fuel costs

Maintain trouble-free driving habits

“By keeping your acceleration and braking smooth, you can reduce excessive fuel consumption and wear and tear on your vehicle, which can help save you money over time. In manual vehicles, ‘short shifting’ earlier in the rev range can also help reduce stress on your engine and overall fuel use; try shifting up at 2,000rpm when accelerating gently.”

“If you have cruise control, use it to maintain a steady, consistent speed. Where possible, driving at the same speed for longer periods of time can improve your fuel efficiency by up to 6%.”

“It is not common knowledge that short trips can consume more fuel. To save energy, combine several short trips into one by planning your errands in advance to save energy, especially when the weather is warmer and you will use more energy for air conditioning.”

Make sure you have heatwave essentials

“When temperatures reach the twenties, the risk of dehydration increases, especially if you’re on the road with limited stops and no supplies in your car. Be sure to stock up on plenty of water, sunscreen, snacks and other essentials before you hit the road in case you have limited stops or break down.”