Shell’s Fuel Saving Tips

Fuel and lubricant

1. Fuel matters – All fuels are not the same. Your fuel economy can be improved through using the right fuel. Shell Super Unleaded is designed to help you get extra kilometers and can help you reduce your fuel consumption.

Vehicle maintenance

2. Tune and service your engine – A well-tuned engine can improve fuel economy, so change your oil and follow your car manufacturer’s recommendation on servicing.

3. Keep your tyres at the right pressure – Correctly inflated tyres are safer and last longer. A tyre that is underinflated can reduce fuel economy. An under or over inflated tyre is also more susceptible to damage.

Driving style and behaviour

4. Drive smoothly – Aggressive driving can use more fuel than smooth driving. Avoid accelerating or braking too hard and try to keep your driving as smooth as possible.

5. Use higher gears and avoid over revving – The higher gear you drive in, the lower your engine speed is, which can improve fuel efficiency. Change your gear in good time when you’re accelerating or decelerating.

6. Conserve momentum and keep your distance – Think ahead when you’re driving. For example, slow down early before coming to a stop. Leave a sensible distance between yourself and the car ahead to give you ample time to brake evenly.

7. Use cruise control – Using cruise control on major roads helps you maintain a constant speed and, in many cases, will improve fuel consumption.

8. Avoid excess idling – Idling gets you nowhere but still burns fuel. Turn the engine off when you’re in a queue, or waiting for someone, until you need it. As a rule if you stop for over 10 seconds, switch off your engine.

9. Avoid high speeds – The faster you go the more wind resistance you’ll encounter and the more fuel your vehicle will consume just to maintain speed. Driving just a few miles per hour under the motorway or national speed limit can improve fuel economy. So keep it slow.

10. Use air conditioning sparingly – Air conditioning puts added strain on the engine and uses fuel to operate, so limit use to particularly hot days. On cooler days consider using the fan instead.

The journey

11. Plan trips carefully and avoid the rush hour – Cutting down on the time spent in the car is the easiest way to conserve fuel. To reduce driving time, combine all your short trips and errands into a single journey. Plus, if you can travel outside of peak times, you’ll spend less time stuck in traffic and consume less fuel as a result.

12. Avoid carrying excess weight – You may be surprised, but every extra pound or kilogram matters and affects your fuel efficiency. So keep your boot and back seat clear of unnecessary items that just add weight to your vehicle.

13. Take the roof rack off – If you’re not using your roof rack then remove it. They affect the aerodynamic efficiency of your vehicle and create drag, reducing fuel economy.