Motorists encouraged to drive with bowl of water in car this September to save money on fuel

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A motoring expert has suggested an unconventional tip to improve drivers' fuel efficiency and driving habits.The advice comes amid concerns regarding the potential end of the freeze on fuel duty in the upcoming October Budget, which could see petrol and diesel prices climb by 10p per litre.To combat escalating fuel costs, a spokesperson for the vehicle leasing company Vanarama suggested motorists to envisage carrying a bowl of water on the passenger seat to optimise their driving style, the Express reports.They shared: "Every time you apply the brakes, the energy that you've paid for in fuel is lost in heat generated by the brake pads and discs."Don't rev the engine unnecessarily when accelerating, just move gently through the gears, keeping the engine speed to a reasonable level, but without labouring it by being in too high a gear." Although it's not necessary to actually place a bowl of water inside the vehicle, holding onto this mental picture can contribute to more efficient fuel consumption.Abrupt acceleration risks both spilling the imaginary water and excessively revving the engine, leading to increased fuel use.Moreover, aggressive braking can detrimentally affect fuel efficiency as well, since it converts much of the energy into waste heat, resulting in the need to accelerate once more.The general advice given to drivers is to accelerate and brake as softly as possible according to the driving conditions encountered.For those driving manual cars with a tachometer (rev counter), it's advised to avoid revving the engine at speeds exceeding 2,500rpm or below 1,000rpm, as both can negatively affect fuel economy. Join the Daily Record's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your