With petrol prices now topping R12 a litre, it's important to save fuel where you can.
Now that the fuel price is topping R12 a litre in South Africa, saving fuel and driving economically is not only a way to help the environment, it’s also a way to help tide the flow of money that is being poured into your fuel tank.
There is, of course, a vast amount of external factors that affect how much fuel a driver uses on the roads. Elements like weather, traffic, steep hills and long distances are out of the driver’s control, but by simply driving sensibly you can reduce your fuel consumption.
One of the most important things you can do to save fuel is to pay attention to your driving technique. According to the Automobile Association of South Africa, there are numerous ways to save money and increase fuel efficiency. These consist of:
Regularly check your tyre pressure. As under-inflated tyres can increase fuel consumption by up to 3.3%, make sure to check your tyre pressure at least once a month. Aside from the safety issues that can be caused by under-inflated tyres, they will also increase the rolling distance between the tyres and the road, creating extra drag and forcing the engine to work harder. Service your car often. Problems arise when a car is not properly maintained. For example the filters may get blocked which in turn reduces the engine’s performance. As the engine will not be functioning properly the fuel consumption will increase. Reduce the drag. Hauling unnecessary weight creates drag and slows your car down – once again forcing the engine to work harder. Also make sure to remove items like roof- and bike-racks when they are not in use as these items will change the aerodynamics of the vehicle. Opening windows and sunroofs will also increase the car’s drag. Use the best quality of fuel you can. This is self-explanatory as the car’s engine will run more efficiently with a higher quality of fuel, and improve the combustion within the engine. Turn the aircon off. As crazy as that advice may seem during a South African summer, the air-conditioning runs from a pump that is driven by your engine. Turning the aircon off spares your car’s engine unnecessary extra work and saves a fair amount of fuel. Avoid congested routes. Heavy traffic leads to stop/start driving and every time the car accelerates the engine has to exert effort and the constant braking causes that energy to be lost as heat. Try to anticipate the road and traffic conditions, and adjust your driving style accordingly. Simply lifting off the accelerator earlier and gradually slowing down will already improve your car’s fuel consumption. For instance, there is no use speeding up to a traffic light or t-junction just to slam on the brakes 50 metres down the road. Keep idling down to a minimum. Unnecessary idling consumes fuel and produces emissions even when the car is stationary. Make sure to switch off your engine should you need to stop for more than 30 seconds or so, as doing this can save you up to 10% on fuel consumption. Slow down. Try not to accelerate more than you need to. It goes without saying that the harder and faster one accelerates the more fuel the engine needs to consume. Accelerating gradually will effectively reduce fuel consumption, as the engine can then function within its most efficient range. Other tips to use in this area are to use the car’s momentum where possible instead of accelerating unnecessarily. Another useful thing to remember is that by reducing your highway speed from 120km/h to 100km/h you will save a litre of fuel for every 100km you drive. To increase engine efficiency drivers should also change gear at 2500rpm with petrol cars and at 2000rpm for diesel engines. Steer clear of short trips. When a car’s engine is cold at the start of an outing it uses more fuel as the engine needs to be heated. Gear down. Don’t push the engine at lower speeds when driving up a steep hill, rather change to a lower gear and keep the engine speed higher. Another thing to remember is that while cruise control is an economical way of driving on longer journeys, it should be turned off on a long or steep hill to conserve fuel.