I'm seeing more and more MPG related threads recently. So here are some things I've learned over the years.
Firstly the weather is getting colder, colder weather means the car takes longer to warm up so fuel consumption on these cold mornings will go up as the weather gets worse.
As the weather gets worse many people drive slower, so (as you should be anyway) look and plan further ahead. Don't go screaming up to the car in front and slam on the anchors. Constant braking and accelerating is the best way to use lots of fuel without realising.
Make sure your tyres are inflated correctly, under inflated tyres even by a few PSI can look and feel OK but the increased rolling resistance will increase fuel consumption.
Finally if your car is due a service, do it now. A freshly serviced engine will run smoother and therefore more economically, so spending £60 on service items now could save you money in fuel in the long run.
Any other tips and tricks you have to share then please post them below.

not winter specific and only relateable to newer cars, but staying in gear while braking or going down hill uses no fuel, whereas putting it in neutral does to keep the engine idling.

 

clean out your car, unnecessary rubbish and clutter is weight which uses extra fuel to move around.

 

try driving with half a tank of fuel instead of a full tank, again, less weight to carry around

 

those roof racks you use once or twice a year? take them off for less drag at higher speeds

 

ensure your drivetrain rotates freely and there are no dragging calipers/drums

 

keep the engine in a free revving range, and not always the highest gear you can use, lightly pootling around in 4th at 2k RPM might be more efficient than working the engine harder at 1.5k in 5th to keep the same momentum.

 

if your car has A/C try to avoid using it, it saps engine power when running

 

if your going to be sat for a while i.e. level crossings turn the engine off

 

thats all I can think off right now short of taping up gap lines haha

 

 

On carb and injection cars make sure the warm air pipe from exhaust manifold to air intake is intact. 

Check the vacuum pipe from thermo valve  to warm air flap control is attached, and from engine vacuum source   to thermo valve.

 

Don't run engine while defrosting. But make sure all windows clear. This means do windscreen last then drive off, then sometimes stop and redo.

De-icing will need more energy usage and a cooled electric kettle dribbled is my compromise of laziness and environment and cost.

 

Many spritmonitor users also fit engine block pre-heaters. Need to be able to run a mains cable to car and turn it on 45mins to 1 hour before depart and heats coolant to 60 degrees or so, not enough to open thermostat. Instant cold weather starting. interior heater pre-warmed so screen de-mists and engine and car driver/passenger space warms faster.

Cost about £110  (was less before brexit referendum). Estimated payoff time 3 to 4 years.

Edited 6 November, 20169 yr by dvderlm

Hot tap water is more than hot enough to crack a screen, luke-warm water is fine for de-icing, warmer if it's thick ice, which is what i use, followed with a squeegee to prevent the wet glass turning to ice. Then you can take the bottle with you (a 5l can is ideal). Car looks like it's been in a garage within 30 seconds, crystal clear glass all round, can't ever work out why people stand there freezing their tits off with a scraper.

 

I have a manual choke for cold weather starting/idling, which i've only recently needed to use - soon as i'm on the move it's no longer needed.