Sneaky ways to save money on fuel
Times have changed dramatically, remember the days when R100 worth of fuel used to fill the tank or would last longer than a week? Today, it seems impractical to talk about ways in which you can save petrol, especially with the frequent price increase of petrol. This makes a considerable dent in an average Rustenburger’s monthly budget as they’ll spend between R1000 and R1800 on petrol on monthly basis. However there are a number of techniques you can follow to lower your petrol consumption.
A lot of people really don’t like to be told to slow down but aside from the safety aspect, adhering to the speed limit rather than exceeding it saves petrol. Take it easy on the accelerator, more speed equals more petrol use. Don’t continue to drive at the same speed and applying the brakes at the last minute. Rustenburg, unlike other big cities may not have a bad traffic, but there are times where it gets bad, especially towards the end of the month, so a clever strategy is to avoid driving on congested roads. If your car is fitted with cruise control, using it during highway driving will help to maintain a steadier speed, which will save fuel. Towards approaching traffic, slowly remove your foot off the accelerator and let the engine’s drop in power to minimise your speed, or particularly by changing to a lower gear.
Be smart enough to avoid skipping services. Look at the distance your car should travel before it can go for a service. Most importantly, don’t service your anywhere else, if your car is a Toyota make sure you service it at Toyota and don’t be fooled by people telling you they’ve worked for a specific car brand, and thus know all about cars. A car that’s well maintained will save more money for you, and will have fewer complications. Make sure the petrol you fill in your car is the appropriate petrol for your car’s design, same applies to the oil you use for the engine, explains Amos Khupari from Volkswagen. If you are still thinking of a car you can buy, consider one which is more economical such as one with a diesel or hybrid engine because these are consumes less petrol.
Most cars these days are not designed to be “warmed up” by idling before setting off. Idling your car doesn’t only waste petrol; it also produces unnecessary greenhouse gases which can be avoided. Only start your car when you are ready to go. Once on the road, switch off the engine whenever the car is held up for an extended period of time (a maximum of 30 seconds). This way you’ll save more fuel than is lost from the burst of fuel involved in restarting the engine.
Frequently check whether your tires are properly inflated to prevent increased rolling resistance. Under-inflated tires consume more petrol. While on the driveway, note any underinflated tire, and then drive to the nearest gas station to fill air. Check the pressure of your tires again at the station, and inflate the low tires to the same level as the others to balance your vehicle. To determine the right tire inflation for your car, look on your car’s operator manual, or ask your tire dealer. Do not inflate your tires to exceed the recommended maximum tire pressure marked on the side of your tires. According to Rustenburg Shell Garage, tire efficiency could save approximately 800,000 barrels of petrol a day.
Make a commitment to drive less, by walking to destinations you don’t need to drive to. It’s common that most drivers are overweight, and walking or biking to the nearest shop to buy bread or a newspaper in the morning and afternoon will positively benefit your health as it’s a good way to get active and exercise, thus saving on trips gym as well. Also consider combining trips with colleagues or friends rather than take different cars when you are all going to one destination.
Believe it or not, simple changes to your driving style and habits will save a lot of petrol as well as help you cope with the rising fuel price increases.
Article: Tshireletso Malapile