MOTORS experts have revealed how drivers can save hundreds in minutes this winter with a quick fuel economy fix.
The hack can, they claim, reduce fuel consumption by up to 10%, allowing motorists to go further for less.
GettySimply washing your car could save you hundreds this winter[/caption]
The team over at ATS Euromaster have urged vehicle owners to keep their motors clean to save money.
It may not seem like much, but scrubbing off any dirt and grime can reduce drag and make the car more aerodynamic.
When you consider that data firm Nimble Fins estimates that the average person takes 380 car journeys every year, this really does build up.
The specialists said: “The original theory was that if your car is dirty, it will reduce drag.
“The dirt creates dimples on the car, likened to those of a golf ball, which increases the aerodynamics of the car.
“However, later studies showed that the dirt particles will generate more drag — and could reduce your fuel economy by up to 10%.”
Nimble Fins data reveals that the average petrol car does 36 miles per gallon so, based on the experts’ estimate, this could be reduced to 32.4 mpg just by dirt.
Given that, according to Mechanic Base, the average fuel tank is between 12 and 16 gallons, that reduction could see you losing out on up to 57 miles per tank.
In practical terms, with the RAC reporting average petrol prices of 146.65p per litre (which amounts to 0.21 gallons), that adds around £23 onto the price of a full tank.
Spread that over a year and you could be saving hundreds simply by washing your car thoroughly and regularly.
This was backed up by experts from Select Car Leasing, who estimated that keeping your vehicle clean could net you around £200 per year.
They added: “A cleaner car is in fact more fuel efficient. Experiments found the vehicle was more fuel-efficient when clean, averaging two miles per gallon more than when it was dirty.
“The main determining factor here is when the car doesn’t have dirt around it, it is much more aerodynamic.
“The surface area of a vehicle can impact mileage and fuel efficiency because when it has no debris, it can travel through the air much easier and freely.”
It comes after a driver revealed how you’ve been using an ice scraper all wrong.
Meanwhile, an EV erupted into flames after its owner used a toaster to “warm the batteries” in the freezing cold.