With petrol and diesel prices rocketing – March saw the steepest increase on record – it's hardly surprising motorists are frantically looking for ways to avoid spending even more at the pumps.
Many drivers are attempting to extract every possible mile from their tank before refuelling becomes necessary, but the techniques they're employing could actually be costing them more money.
These strategies are known as 'hypermiling', which essentially involves enhancing fuel economy through various minor driving adjustments. However, many of these are widely misunderstood, especially when it comes to driving downhill.
Numerous motorists have been convinced that shifting their vehicle out of gear and freefalling downhill in neutral will conserve fuel.
Allowing your car to roll freely while reducing control uses less petrol, many people believe, but this has now been debunked.
Mike Fazal, motoring expert and CEO at Leasing.com, explained about this misconception, saying: "Coasting downhill in neutral reduces driver control and, in modern cars, may even use more fuel than staying in gear.
"When you lift off the accelerator while the car is still in gear, modern engines often stop injecting fuel entirely. That means the car can travel downhill using little to no fuel while also maintaining better control through engine braking.
"If the car is placed in neutral, the engine must instead continue burning fuel to idle, which can actually increase fuel consumption compared with remaining in gear."
However, there are several other fuel-saving techniques you can employ while driving to postpone your next fill-up and protect your wallet.
5 methods motorists can use to reduce fuel costs
The specialist recommends that smooth acceleration and maintaining consistent speed is likely to consume less fuel, while aggressive acceleration burns through petrol more rapidly. Repeatedly braking and accelerating, he suggests, will "quickly reduce your fuel efficiency".
He says: "If you have a manual car, you should always shift into a higher gear as soon as it's practical. And, if you drive an automatic, then try to feather the accelerator to keep your changes as smooth and as quick as possible."
Tyre pressure can similarly impact fuel consumption, making regular checks for wear or incorrect inflation essential. When tyres are compromised, the vehicle must work harder to move forward, thereby increasing fuel usage.
Additionally, weight significantly influences your vehicle's performance and can affect fuel consumption levels. Therefore, clearing out unnecessary items proves beneficial, as heavy objects stored in the boot add extra load for the engine to manage.
Over time, this will diminish your fuel efficiency. With this in mind, roof racks and roof boxes are best avoided if you're looking to keep costs down and delay filling up for as long as possible.
He suggests: "Roof racks and roof boxes create extra drag as air passes over the vehicle. Even when empty, they make the car less aerodynamic and can increase fuel consumption, especially on faster roads."
It's evident that improving fuel efficiency comes down to the cumulative effect of the small choices you make when driving and maintaining your vehicle.
With costs continuing to climb, every saving counts, and making just a handful of these changes could make a noticeable difference over time.
