Drivers wasting litres of fuel by not using common car button – save on petrol money in 2024

DRIVERS have been warned that they could be wasting litres of fuel by not using a common car button.

Experts at Xcite Car Leasing revealed how to significantly improve your fuel economy - saving you big at the pumps.

Many might think that idling your engine while stopped in traffic is harmless, but it could be costing you.

The experts explained: "An idling engine is still burning fuel. If you are in slow-moving or stop-start traffic, consider putting your hand brake on and turning your engine off. 

"The same applies when picking someone up or dropping someone off, consider shutting off the engine if you are stopped for a long period.

"Idling for an hour can waste half a gallon of fuel or around 2.3 litres."

Thankfully, there is a simple solution for owners of newer cars in the form of automated start/stop technology.

This nifty feature automatically switches off your engine when you come to a stop, before firing it back up when you press the accelerator.

If your motor has this option, it can usually be toggled on and off by a button on the dashboard, marked by a letter A with a circular arrow around it.

According to the , auto start/stop can lead in as much as a 7% increase in fuel economy.

Based on the average car's mile-per-gallon rating and tank size, as well as current petrol prices, this would represent a saving of around £4.35 for a full tank.

And, given that data firm estimates that the average driver gets through around 795 litres of petrol per year, this would mean an annual saving of £80.

However, this tech is only available on newer vehicles, so some drivers may have to do things the old-fashioned way.

That means switching your engine off manually when coming to a halt before turning over the ignition to get going again.

Fortunately, there's an easy trick to help you remember when it is worth it to use this method.

In December, motorcycle expert Ryan Kluftinger explained the "ten-second rule", demonstrating that it takes less fuel to use the ignition than it does to sit still if you are idling for more than ten seconds.

It comes after a driving instructor revealed why he doesn't trust a common car feature, claiming it could actually be dangerous.