20 practical ways to cut your fuel bill

Driving style (the biggest savings)

• Smooth throttle — hard acceleration burns far more
• Anticipate and coast instead of braking late
• Keep speed steady; every 10 km/h over ~90 hurts economy
• Use the highest gear that still pulls smoothly
• Avoid idling — restarting uses less fuel than 60 s of idle

Maintenance that pays back

• Check tire pressure weekly — 0.5 bar low costs 2–3%
• Change the air filter when dirty
• Fix a dragging brake caliper
• Replace aging oxygen sensors
• Use the correct oil viscosity

Reduce the load

• Remove roof boxes and empty racks on the motorway
• Empty the trunk of heavy junk
• Remove the tow bar when not towing
• Use the AC sparingly at low speed; windows at town speed

Plan and combine

• Combine short trips — cold starts are the most wasteful
• Check fuel prices where you drive
• Use cruise control on flat motorways
• Skip the aggressive "eco" gadgets that do nothing