Low-cost fuel stations

INFLATION in Spain has seen the price of fuel go up and up, with cheaper fuel stations becoming ever­more popular. However, evidence suggests that cheaper might actually be more expensive in the long run, according to a recent report.

While it is true that fuel prices are not quite as high as they once were, the cost is still much higher than it was a few years ago, hence the popularity of cheaper fuel stations. Despite being easier on the pocket, drivers are encouraged to weigh up the pros and cons of buying cheaper fuel.

Public opinion is somewhat divided on the subject. There are considerable savings to be made by filling up at low­cost petrol stations. However, people think this type of fuel could be harmful to their vehicles, which is why many motorists continue to use the more traditional petrol station.

All fuels in Spain are subject to regulations. The Hydrocarbons Law demands specific quality standards and protocols. This basically means that all diesel and petrol are practically the same no matter where you choose to go.

There is however one factor in which low­cost fuel differs from regular fuel, and that is the additives. As a rule, higherpriced petrol stations generally do put additives in the fuel they supply, whereas low­cost petrol stations may not. Clearly, this will have an effect on your car.

Running your car on fuel without additives will not damage the engine or cause a significant breakdown, but it may cause changes in the behaviour of the vehicle, and it is likely to consume more fuel.

However, there are certain things that can help save money at the fuel station. One recommendation is to fill up on the day when it is cheapest to do so (Mondays).

Another little­known one is to avoid squeezing the hose handle to the maximum, as the pressure of the fuel will be lower. This will avoid producing as much vapour and the actual filling of the tank will correspond more accurately to what you are charged per litre.

The survey of 1,900 UK drivers found that one­in10 (11 per cent) reported some or all parking payment machines had already been removed by their local councils with an extra 8 per cent saying their local authority was consulting on doing so.

Drivers in London were most likely to say payment machines had already gone or were due to be going (44 per cent of respondents in the capital), followed by those in the east of England (23 per cent) and East Midlands (22 per cent).

The RAC’s findings are being driven by the fact that many councils are getting rid of machines for taking payment for parking as a result of many older machines relying on 3G mobile phone signals to function, which telecoms operators are switching off.

This means councils either have to spend large sums on replacing machines with more modern ones or get rid of machines altogether, in turn

262 miles Tesla on a single charge.