Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is a warm engine better in the morning than setting off cold?
2. Don't I use more fuel if I switch my car engine off when I'm stuck in traffic?
3. What driving style should I adopt for eco-driving?
4. Does it make a difference how much I carry around with me in my car?
5. Short journeys are the same as long journeys aren't they?
6. What speed should I be driving to maximise fuel efficiency?
7. Should I be over-revving the engine before changing gear?
8. Where can I find a particular car's CO2 emissions information?
9. What if I am purchasing a second hand vehicle?

1. Is a warm engine better in the morning than setting off cold?

When you start the engine in the morning, don't keep it idling to heat up the engine as this wastes fuel and causes engine wear. You should just drive off gently and smoothly.

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2. Don't I use more fuel if I switch my car engine off when I'm stuck in traffic?

Modern engines will not be affected by this, so switch off your engine whilst stuck in traffic. The UK Automobile Association (AA) recommends switching it off if you are likely to be stopped for more than 3 minutes. Recognising that many hours of urban driving are spent at a standstill, several car manufacturers have also started to introduce so-called "stop-start" technology, which conserves energy by shutting off the gasoline engine when the vehicle is at rest, such as at a traffic light, and automatically re-starting it when the driver pushes the gas pedal to go forward.

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3. What driving style should I adopt for eco-driving?

You should drive smoothly, anticipate road conditions and avoid sharp acceleration and heavy braking. This saves fuel and reduces accident rates.

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4. Does it make a difference how much I carry around with me in my car?

Yes, make sure you clear any junk out of your boot. A heavier car means increases in fuel consumption. So make sure you aren't carrying around those golf clubs, buggies, tools, etc every day when you don't need to.

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5. Short journeys are the same as long journeys aren't they?

No, shorter journeys don't allow the engine to warm up enough, a cold engine uses almost twice as much fuel and catalytic converters can take five miles to become effective. Consider walking and cycling for shorter journeys instead of using the car.

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6. What speed should I be driving to maximise fuel efficiency?

You should aim to keep your speed between 45mph and 50mph to maximise fuel efficiency, making sure you always abide by the speed limit set in an area.

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7. Should I be over-revving the engine before changing gear?

You should keep an eye on your rev counter in your vehicle and change up between 2,000 rpm - 2,500 rpm for fuel efficient driving.

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8. Where can I find a particular car's CO2 emissions information?

You can find information about a car's CO₂ emissions from the following sources:

• The environmental label which should be displayed on all new cars in showrooms. This grades each car from A (the cleanest) to G (the most polluting).
• The Vehicle Certification Agency which has a database of cars with their fuel economy and CO₂ emissions data.
• In car adverts - manufacturers are obliged to publish CO₂ emission information by law.

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9. What if I am purchasing a second hand vehicle?

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders has a database of vehicle CO₂ emissions going back to January 1997.

Alternatively the VCA website has information on CO₂ emissions from cars going back as far as 2000 in the downloads section so if you are buying a used car you may be able to find information on its fuel consumption and emissions there.

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