Running a car is an expensive proposition, even if you don’t take into account the cost to service a BMW, or the insurance for a sporty vehicle you will soon find yourself drowning under petrol, repairs, tax, and other expenses. There’s a lot of advice floating around out there about how to save money on motoring bills, but how much of it is good advice, and how much of it is just myths designed to make you feel better? This article will look at a few of the more common tips, and sort the myths from the sound advice.
Filling Your Tank When it’s Cold Gets You More Fuel For Your Money
This one is true. You pay for fuel by volume, and fuel contracts when it’s cold. This means that if you buy it in the morning, you’ll get more fuel in your tank. The difference is miniscule, though, so it’s not worth going out of your way to avoid filling up on a warm day.
Filling a Full Tank Makes Your Car Heavier, and Thus Less Fuel Efficient
Adding any weight to your car will make it use more fuel, but the weight of the fuel itself is marginal enough that it’s not worth worrying about – you’d probably use more gas taking a detour to fill up your car more regularly than you’d save by making your car lighter through smaller top-ups. The best way to reduce fuel usage is to take all the extra clutter out of your car – only carry with you the things that you need. In addition, when you service a Land Rover or other vehicle, many of the servicing steps improve fuel efficiency. Look after your car, and it will be more fuel efficient.
Driving Slowly Saves Fuel
The faster you go, the more fuel you use, but that doesn’t mean you should slow your car down to turtle speed on the roads. Going far slower than the speed limit could cause accidents. Instead, stick to the speed limits, and pay attention to the road around you. Change up to a higher gear as soon as you can, and try to brake gently, instead of bringing the car to a screeching halt.
Stopping and Starting is Bad for The Car
If you ran your car as if it was a milk float, stopping and starting it every few yards, then you would damage the engine. The occasional short journey won’t do a lot of harm, though. Ideally, you should try to combine short journeys together to reduce the amount of stress on the engine. If you can’t combine journeys, consider taking public transport or even walking – you’ll save money, reduce pollution, and improve your health too.
Looking after your vehicle is the most important thing. The cost to service a BMW might seem like a waste at first glance if your car feels like it’s running fine, but regular servicing will ensure that it stays that way, keeping your car efficient and in good shape.
Article written by James Harper on behalf of Main Dealer Discount; experts in helping you find discounted ways to service a BMW.
