Save money in fuel

fcojaviergl

Amidst the surge in petrol prices, what strategies can I employ to cut down on fuel expenses?

extra-ordinary_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058350287/save-money-in-fuel

Use less

zell12

Get the bus

elperello

One useful strategy is shopping around for lower fuel prices.

There can be wide variations at different filling stations.

goochy

Only drive when it's too far to easily walk . Go no more than 80 km an hour - slow down in traffic rather than keep stopping and accelerating again.

MrMusician18

Shift gears efficiently. Maintain 80kmh speed. Draft behind hgvs. Drive less

The Continental Op

Don't drive with a roof rack on if you aren't using it and keep your tyres at the correct pressure. Don't carry half a tonne of tools around with you if you don't need them.

Miscreant

Cycle, use public transport, drive less, walk to the local shops instead of driving, slow down, use your brakes less by anticipating the road ahead. If on a long journey, draft behind a bus or a truck (just not too close).

Don't go buying a new car to "save money"....

bazz26

Here's an idea OP:

colm_mcm

download the AA app, you get 3c off per litre at Circle K.

chrisd2019

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058350287/save-money-in-fuel

Loose weight & do not carry passengers, the lighter the vehicle the less energy it needs to use.

Work from home or get a job that your millage is paid.

Do your shopping online through free delivery sites.

If you need to travel, be a passenger with someone who doesn't want compensation for bringing you.

prawnsambo

Depends on the car and the size of the engine. Small engines use a LOT more fuel at motorway speeds, so if you're doing that kind of driving, slowing down to 110 or even 100kph will make a big difference. Same goes for going up hills.

Charles Babbage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058350287/save-money-in-fuel

Refuel in the North.

prawnsambo

And of course the obvious solution is to buy an electric car. 🤷‍♂️

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122099907#Comment_122099907

No.. if someone wants to do this, stick to the secondary routes

This dawdling to save a few quid and acting as a rolling roadblock in the process is a ridiculous notion. I encounter it a fair bit and often when trucks and other larger vehicles are forced overtake the dawdler.

If someone can't afford to drive without holding up others unnecessarily then they shouldn't be on a motorway in the first place.

loyatemu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122100386#Comment_122100386

you're advocating a 120km/h minimum speed on motorways? Also aren't most trucks limited to 100?

Del2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122099507#Comment_122099507

No point in driving out of your way to save a couple of cent on fuel. Monitor the stations on the route you travel most and buy from the cheapest. But be aware that the price changes regularly, I used to check the prices on my route and the station that was cheapest on the way was the same price or more when I got back to it.

Check your tyre pressure, remove unnecessary weight and drive as little as possible.

the_amazing_raisin

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058350287/save-money-in-fuel

Cycle and walk whenever you can, cut your driving down to the absolute minimum

Get an ebike on the bike to work scheme if possible, they're handy for shopping or if you live in a hilly area. You can even get a cargo bike for bringing kids to school/childcare. I've been doing this for a while and I hate driving the school run now

Request to work from home if possible for as many days as you can get. Don't need a car to get from your bed to your home office (or sofa)

If you have two cars and one of them only does low mileage, consider selling it. You could replace it with a cheap EV if you can get a home charger, electricity is still a lot cheaper than petrol if you're willing to look around at different providers

Or just go car free if it works for you

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122100517#Comment_122100517

Agreed, no point burning fuel to save money.

There are also wholesale fuel merchants who sell fuel from yards and can offer good retail prices.

You'd get to know the places on a regular route.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122100386#Comment_122100386

I wouldn't consider 110 dawdling on a motorway.

Trucks shouldn't be passing you if you're doing that speed and the overtaking lane is there for faster traffic.

_Kaiser_

Unless traffic, surface or weather conditions dictate otherwise, there's no reason whatsoever for car drivers to be dawdling at 10-20 km/h (or more) below the limit.

Only yesterday did I encounter someone doing an indicated 108 past a truck on the motorway. There's also the dozens that dawdle along below the limit that I overtake en masse every time - it's no wonder some drivers just stay in the right lane.

Then they tend to bunch up in the left lane as well slowing everything and making it harder for other traffic to merge into the lane to either join or leave the motorway.

Pandering to these people is ridiculous. If you want to save fuel or a euro or two, stick to the secondary roads as I said, or use public transport.

CelticRambler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122100650#Comment_122100650

there's no reason whatsoever for car drivers to be dawdling at 10-20 km/h (or more) below the limit.

There is. It's "driving at a speed which you judge to be safe for your level of competence, bearing in mind all conditions at the time".

Just because some other eejits on the road think they can drive at 120 and not get into trouble doesn't mean you're "dawdling" if you're doing 100. The sign on the side of the road that says "120" doesn't mean you're physically and mentally able to cope with doing 120 in the vehicle you're driving on that stretch. You might have just rented/borrowed/bought the car and be getting used to it; you might be distracted with family stuff; you might recognise that you're tired after a long day's work (or driving); you might be wary of your increased fuel consumption driving into a head-wind ….

BorneTobyWilde

The same people complaining about fuel going up 3c a liter, are same people who throw away a bottle with a 0.25c return on it.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122100784#Comment_122100784

If you can't "physically or mentally" cope with being on a road among other fast (or faster) moving traffic, then you really shouldn't be there to be honest. Being distracted by other issues or tiredness to where it if affecting your ability is even more reason not to be there.

Stick to the secondary routes in that case which will be slower, quieter (if bypassed) and ultimately safer for you and those around you.

120 isn't exactly starship speeds either. If you can't comfortably mange that when there's no reason not to, then maybe motorway driving isn't for you - which isn't that much of a stretch really considering the driving test doesn't cover any practical test of ability on them.

extra-ordinary_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122100828#Comment_122100828

If you can't "physically or mentally" cope with being on a road among other fast (or slower) moving traffic, then you really shouldn't be there to be honest.

FYP

tayto lover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122099738#Comment_122099738

Circle K is much dearer than other Filling Stations in my area.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122100866#Comment_122100866

Don't need your edit thanks all the same.

I've never been one for pandering to the lowest denominator (as opposed to encouraging a higher base standard). It's partly why we have such overregulation and poor ability in general. I'm not one for encouraging more of it.

But I suppose, so long as the dawdling penny pinchers don't hold up anyone else it's as much as can be expected in this case.

Raichų

should save the money in the bank OP, it’s not good to store it in your fuel! :pac:

Jokes aside the best way is just to reduce your driving if possible. If not utilise eco mode if available, cruise control on motorway, don’t use harsh acceleration and keep the revs below 2k until the engine is at operating temperature.

Dont shift gears too often either.

CelticRambler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122100828#Comment_122100828

If you can't "physically or mentally" cope with being on a road among other fast (or faster) moving traffic, then you really shouldn't be there to be honest. Being distracted by other issues or tiredness to where it if affecting your ability is even more reason not to be there.

You do know the minimum speed on motorways is 50kmh, don't you? So anything over that is "faster than absolutely necessary" Even the powers that be judge that certain vehicles should not exceed 100, 90 or even 80 - but should also be prohibited from using secondary roads when a motorway is available. So your argument would appear to be founded entirely on adrenaline-fuelled arrogance.

To put things in context, using your criteria you'd be seen as dawdling at 120 on an Irish motorway, when over here on the Continent the limit is generally 130 - except in parts of Germany, where (it seems) you're suggesting every one should be keeping up with the locals doing 230 and above …

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122099969#Comment_122099969

Little or no difference in North Ireland prices today. I live close to the border and know it's not worth the trip.

Kaisr Sose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122100386#Comment_122100386

Bad advice. There is no mandatory requirement to drive at the posted limit. As far as I am aware the only limit on speed is no vehicles 50cc or under and a vehicle that cannot maintain a speed of 50kmph. In fact, that is why there are over taking lanes and procedures to use them correctly and safely.

colm_mcm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122100881#Comment_122100881

They’re the same price as the rest around here so it works out ok.

..

prawnsambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122100386#Comment_122100386

There are two lanes on all motorways. Did you not notice this as you were driving up the arse of some poor bugger you deemed not going fast enough in the inside lane?

Charles Babbage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122100988#Comment_122100988

The average price of petrol in NI equates to €1.68, and you can save a few cents on that. Not a gap worth travelling for, perhaps, but you might be there anyway.

Jim_Hodge

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122101114#Comment_122101114

£1.437 today in Newry. That's at least €1.68 excl bank charges. €1.648 in Dundalk today.

Invincible

Download the pumphunt app and check/update the prices in your area.

Charles Babbage

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122101138#Comment_122101138

That's €167.5, the Dundalk price is selling at a loss or the petrol is smuggled.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122101087#Comment_122101087

No, as I said earlier I generally tend to overtake all the dawdlers en-masse on an average day. My issue arises when one of these bumbles into the lane ahead of me or forces a HGV to do so to get past them, or when it makes it harder to move left because of the bunching they cause in the lane.

I guess my tolerance for pandering to this is less than others.

allinthehead

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122100650#Comment_122100650

Imagine, someone driving 10% under the speed limit. I suppose you made sure they knew you were there too.

John_Rambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122101259#Comment_122101259

Unusual for trucks to be overtaking cars travelling at 110kph… however, that's life on the road pal, when your traffic you're going to hit traffic at some stage. Personally, I don't let it bother me.

My advice is get tolerant or get a bike.

halkar

Hitchike. Let someone else to worry about saving money in fuel.

prawnsambo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122101259#Comment_122101259

Whereas generally I think I'd be happier not to be anywhere near you on the road.

Luna84

I was doing 210km/h one night on a motorway it was pretty much empty and I kid you not the petrol gauge was going down as I was flying along. By the time I got off the motorway I was looking for a petrol station.

tayto lover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122101138#Comment_122101138

Where was that in Dundalk please?

Kaisr Sose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122101259#Comment_122101259

Nobody is forced to overtake. Thats a myth. All cars have brakes and having to slow down because of /due or other slow moving or stopped traffic ahead is just part of driving.

whatever.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122100559#Comment_122100559

110 is dawdling

130 indicated will be 120-122 in reality

KaneToad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058350287/save-money-in-fuel

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/car-news/104466/what-is-hypermiling-and-how-do-you-do-it

Hypermiling.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122101756#Comment_122101756

Not in my book.

We are talking actual speeds here.

In reality you have the overtaking lane to pass if you wish.

Kaisr Sose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122101756#Comment_122101756

Whatever!

DRedford

Motorways and dual-lane N roads are imo better for driving slower on - at least you can easily overtake! Not get stuck behind someone for absolute miles with no passing spot.

Whenever I do be pulling a car on the trailer, I try to stick to these - I can be overtaken easily, instead of causing a massive queue behind me.

Plus, them being smoother (in terms of slopes) saves fuel too. As a fun side note, you burn more fuel pulling an empty trailer at 120 than a full one at 80. Air drag is a quadratic function - goes up way more the faster you go