Save petrol

The next stage of the CO₂ tax came into force in January 2024. It now amounts to 45 euros per tonne. This has increased the price of petrol and diesel by around three cents per litre.

The CO₂ tax is set to rise to 55 euros per tonne in 2025. And there is no end in sight. So it's worth asking: How can you save petrol? With these simple tips, you can significantly reduce your fuel consumption and protect the environment at the same time.

• Start the engine and drive off straight away. Warming up the engine is no longer necessary and saves fuel.
• Shift up the gears quickly: the higher the gear engaged, the lower the fuel consumption. Noise levels and pollutant emissions are also reduced if you do not extend the gears.
• Only shift down to a lower gear when absolutely necessary (at around 1,000 rpm at the latest), which is usually just above the "jerk limit", thus saving fuel and preventing damage to your engine. Your car consumes the least fuel when you are in the lower engine speed range.
• If your vehicle does not have an automatic start-stop system, switch off the engine during longer waiting phases (e.g. at traffic lights or in front of a railway barrier) to save fuel.
• Drive with foresight and try to keep your speed as steady as possible. On motorways, drivers can use the recommended speed of 130 km/h as a guide. Braking and accelerating is also an expensive pleasure. If you have cruise control, use it. And if you have an automatic gearbox, let it change gear, the automatic can do it better. Manual intervention usually increases fuel consumption considerably. If possible, use the engine brake (e.g. before a red light or when driving downhill).
• Check your fuel and oil consumption after every refuelling stop so that you can intervene in good time.
• Switch off electrical consumers such as
  • Air conditioning,
  • fan,
  • seat heating,
  • auxiliary headlights
    only switch on when it makes sense. However, safety first. Do not do without necessary aids if you are putting yourself and others in danger.
• Pay attention to traffic announcements on longer journeys and avoid traffic jams. If possible, drive outside peak traffic times.
• Use route optimisation programmes: With many navigation devices, you can also request fuel-saving routes within the city. Or take routes where experience has shown that you are less likely to get stuck in traffic jams.
• Avoid short journeys and use your bike or walk instead. This is the best way to save petrol. This will keep you fit and your wallet full.

The equipment, care and maintenance of the vehicle also have a major influence on fuel consumption. Small adjustments can have a big impact. With a few simple changes to your vehicle, you can significantly reduce fuel consumption.

• Use low rolling resistance tyres:
  Low rolling resistance tyres have a lower rolling resistance compared to conventional models. The consequences: Less fuel consumption, more money in your wallet. According to studies by the Federal Environment Agency, fuel consumption is reduced by up to 5 per cent.
• Reduce weight:
  The heavier your car is, the more fuel it consumes. Every extra kilogramme in the car increases fuel consumption. Check which items you can do without in the car and clear out your boot.
• Reduce air resistance:
  Roof and rear carriers and incorrectly packed roof luggage impair the aerodynamics of your car. Fuel consumption increases. Remove all luggage racks from the car when you no longer need them.
• Check the tyre pressure regularly:
  If the pressure is too low, this increases rolling resistance and therefore fuel consumption.
• Engine oil:
  Use the engine oil recommended by the manufacturer and change to a high-quality low-friction oil. This leads to lower energy consumption as it reduces friction losses in the engine. The investment is particularly worthwhile for cold starts and shorter journeys, as low-viscosity oils distribute much faster and better.
• Have your vehicle inspected regularly:
  Have the engine checked regularly at a specialised workshop. A broken lambda sensor or a defective control unit can also increase fuel consumption. Dirty air filters and spark plugs also increase fuel consumption. It is worth replacing these parts regularly.

The higher the prices at the petrol pump, the more interesting the question: Is my car's fuel consumption above the norm?

TÜV NORD Mobilität has worked with the Institute for Vehicle Technology and Mobility (IFM for short), where we can determine the exact fuel consumption using state-of-the-art testing equipment.

Before the fuel consumption can be determined, we test the exact rolling and air resistance on the road.

We then transfer the characteristic values determined in the practical road test to the chassis dynamometer. This must simulate exactly the same resistance.

There is a direct correlation between CO₂ emissions and fuel consumption. Accordingly, we now measure the CO₂ emissions of your car on the chassis dynamometer. The fuel consumption can be calculated from the calorific value of the fuel.

This is how the test runs:

• Roll-out tests to determine the individual driving resistance
• Measurements of exhaust and CO₂ emissions in the urban and extra-urban driving cycle in a cold state (room temperature)
• Fuel consumption is calculated on the basis of the CO₂ emission measurement results.

We differentiate between three parts in the test series:

• urban consumption,
• extra-urban conditions and
• total consumption.