Fuel efficient driving

Keeping your vehicle topped up with the correct engine oil does far more than simply protect your engine from wear and damage. The right oil can also play an important role in fuel efficient driving by helping your engine run more smoothly and efficiently.

Modern energy efficient engine oils are specially designed to reduce friction inside the engine, helping vehicles use less fuel while also lowering emissions.

For example, Mobil 1 ESP X2 0W-20 has been shown to help provide up to a 4 percent improvement in fuel efficiency. Even small gains like this can make a noticeable difference over time, particularly for drivers covering high annual mileage or businesses operating vehicle fleets.

Using the correct high-quality engine oil can help:

• improve fuel economy
• reduce engine wear
• improve engine performance
• lower emissions
• support longer engine life

Fuel efficient driving is not just about how you drive on the road. Proper vehicle maintenance, including using the correct engine oil, can also help every tank of fuel go further.

When temperatures rise, reaching for the air conditioning can feel almost automatic. However, using air conditioning places extra demand on your engine, which can increase fuel consumption.

Heating and cooling systems both require energy to operate, meaning the harder your climate controls work, the more fuel your vehicle may use.

Fuel efficient driving is often about small everyday habits, and reducing unnecessary use of air conditioning can help improve fuel economy over time. On milder days, opening a window for ventilation or using the fan setting instead of full air conditioning may help reduce fuel usage.

Of course, comfort and safety still matter, especially during very hot weather or when demisting windows is essential. The key is simply to use air conditioning and heating only when genuinely needed rather than leaving them running constantly.

Small adjustments like this may seem minor, but over weeks and months they can help stretch every tank of fuel a little further.

Many drivers do not realise how much unnecessary weight they carry around every day. Unused roof bars, bike racks, tools and clutter in the boot can all make your vehicle heavier and less fuel efficient.

The heavier your vehicle is, the harder the engine has to work to move it. Even carrying an extra 50kg of weight can increase fuel consumption by up to 2 percent.

Roof bars and roof racks can also create additional wind resistance, particularly at motorway speeds, further reducing fuel economy.

Fuel efficient driving is not only about what happens behind the wheel. Keeping your vehicle lighter and more aerodynamic can also help every litre of fuel go further.

A quick clear out of the boot or removing roof equipment when it is not needed could help:

• improve fuel economy
• reduce engine strain
• lower emissions
• improve vehicle performance

It is a simple change, but one that can quietly save fuel mile after mile.

Some of the least fuel efficient driving happens when you are rushing, stuck in traffic, unsure of your route, or constantly changing plans while on the move. Last-minute decisions and stop-start driving can quickly increase fuel consumption.

Planning your journey in advance can help you avoid congestion, reduce unnecessary mileage and maintain a smoother, more economical driving style.

Using a journey planner or navigation app before setting off can help you:

• avoid traffic hotspots
• reduce time spent idling
• choose more fuel efficient routes
• avoid unnecessary detours
• arrive less stressed and more relaxed

Fuel efficient driving is often easier when you are calm and prepared rather than reacting to delays or missed turns on the road.

For businesses operating fleets or delivery vehicles, smarter route planning can also help reduce overall fuel costs, improve productivity and minimise wasted mileage.

A little planning before setting off can save both time and fuel once you are on the road.

The harder your engine has to work, the more fuel it will use. Rapid acceleration, harsh braking and constant changes in speed can all have a negative impact on fuel economy.

Fuel efficient driving is all about being smooth and controlled behind the wheel. Accelerating gradually reduces strain on the engine and helps your vehicle use fuel more efficiently.

Maintaining a constant, steady speed wherever possible can also make a noticeable difference, particularly on longer journeys. Stop-start traffic is one of the biggest causes of unnecessary fuel consumption, as repeated braking and acceleration forces the engine to work much harder.

By driving more smoothly and anticipating traffic conditions ahead, you can help:

• improve fuel economy
• reduce engine wear
• lower emissions
• create a more comfortable journey
• reduce driver stress

Simple habits such as easing off the accelerator early when approaching traffic lights or maintaining a sensible motorway speed can all help every tank of fuel last longer.

After all, nobody enjoys a stop-start crawl through traffic.

A simple parking habit can also help improve fuel efficiency. Whenever possible, try to reverse into a parking space so that you can drive straight out when leaving.

This is because manoeuvring with a cold engine uses more fuel. Engines operate less efficiently before they have fully warmed up, meaning repeated reversing and slow-speed steering movements at the start of a journey can increase fuel consumption unnecessarily.

Fuel efficient driving is often about reducing small amounts of wasted fuel wherever possible, and planning how you park is one of those surprisingly effective habits.

Reversing into a space can also offer additional benefits, including:

• easier and safer exits
• improved visibility when leaving
• less time manoeuvring
• reduced engine strain when cold

It is a small adjustment, but one that can help make everyday driving a little more efficient.

With fuel costs continuing to challenge businesses across the UK, and increasing pressure to reduce emissions, greener driving is becoming a growing priority for fleet operators of every size. At Fleetmaxx Solutions, we are proud to work in partnership with Esso to help businesses discover practical ways to improve fuel efficiency, lower emissions and reduce overall fleet running costs.

For many operators, making the move towards greener driving is not something that can happen overnight. Fleets need realistic and cost-effective solutions that fit around day-to-day operations without affecting reliability or productivity. That is why advances in fuel technology, lower-emission fuels and smarter fleet management tools are becoming increasingly valuable for modern businesses looking to drive more efficiently and sustainably. Read our guide to greener driving.

Looking to make your fuel go further? With fuel prices continuing to fluctuate, managing fuel costs remains a major concern for both motorists and businesses across the UK.

While most people cannot simply stop driving, there are plenty of practical ways to improve fuel economy and reduce unnecessary fuel usage. Small changes in driving style, vehicle maintenance and journey planning can all help lower running costs and improve efficiency over time.

Working alongside our friends at Esso, we have pulled together some simple, real-world fuel saving tips to help you drive smarter, reduce fuel consumption and get the very best value from every fill-up.

Not all fuels are the same. Esso has developed its Synergy fuel range using innovative additive technology designed to help engines perform at their best while supporting improved fuel efficiency.

Every litre of Synergy petrol and diesel is formulated to help clean and protect vital engine components, helping vehicles run more smoothly and efficiently over time.

In testing carried out on everyday vehicles, Esso Synergy diesel and petrol improved fuel economy by an average of 1.8%.* While that may sound small, across a busy fleet or high annual mileage, those savings can quickly add up, helping businesses reduce fuel costs and cut unnecessary trips to the pump.

For fleet operators, transport managers and everyday motorists alike, improved fuel efficiency means better value from every tank and lower overall running costs

Selecting the right fuel is about far more than simply filling up. For businesses operating commercial vehicles, company cars or specialist engines, fuel quality can play an important role in vehicle performance, fuel efficiency and ongoing maintenance costs.

The Esso Synergy Supreme+ fuel range is engineered to deliver more than standard forecourt fuels, helping to clean and protect critical engine components while supporting smoother and more efficient vehicle operation.

For customers using the Esso Card™ through Fleetmaxx Solutions, Esso Synergy Supreme+ fuels are widely available across the UK, giving drivers convenient access to premium fuel technology designed to help vehicles perform at their best.

What was once used to cook your fish and chips could now help keep your vehicles moving. Esso Ethos+™ 25% Renewable Diesel contains premium hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), produced using independently verified used cooking oil that complies with Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation standards.

By blending 25% renewable content with Esso’s advanced Synergy additive technology, Esso has created a high-quality diesel fuel designed to deliver the performance drivers expect, while also helping to reduce lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional diesel.

For businesses looking to take practical steps towards greener driving and lower emissions, it offers a simple way to begin making a difference using existing diesel vehicles and infrastructure.