What Car? Q&A - Why are my fuel bills so high?

Q: My 2004 Alfa 147 has a 120bhp 1.6-litre engine, which is nothing out of the ordinary, but the fuel economy is shocking. I drive it granny-style and still it cripples the bank account. Is there any other way I can improve fuel economy?
James Fidgett

A: If the fuel consumption is more than 20% below the official combined fuel consumption figure of 34.4mpg, it could be worth having the car checked out by a workshop.

Problems should have been spotted when it was serviced, but it's possible that if the engine isn't tuned correctly it may be squirting more fuel into the cylinder than it could ever hope to burn, wasting money as a result.

A dirty engine with lots of sooty deposits can also harm economy. Changing the oil may help to improve things here, while premium fuels like BP Ultimate can also clean things up and improve performance and economy. They are more expensive than regular fuel so you could easily pay just as much even though you’re getting more miles to the gallon.

Stereotypes aside, accelerating slowly isn't always considered the best option for fuel saving. Accelerate briskly to your desired speed and then slot the transmission into the highest gear possible. Try to use fifth gear from around 30mph upwards, and aim to keep engine revs to between 2000 and 3000 for as long as possible.

It might also pay to look at the routes you travel. Are there less congested roads you could take on your commute for instance? They might add miles to your journey, but if they cut out stop-start motoring you could be quids-in.

Switch off the engine if you're going to be at a standstill for more than a minute, and keep windows and sunroofs shut and tyres inflated to the right pressure. Wind resistance and drag from under-inflated tyres will cost you. Always remove a roof rack when it's not needed, and don’t leave loads in the back of the car unless you need them.

Finally, switching off stereos, rear demisters, lights and air-conditioning units when they're not needed will also help to cut fuel bills. Remember to regularly use the air-con all year round to keep it running happily, however.