Time to pay more for your fuel
The Department of Energy has announced that as from Wednesday, October 5 the retail price of petrol (93 octane) will increase by 44 cents per litre and that of 95 octane by 43c per litre.
The wholesale price of diesel (0.05 per cent sulphur and 0.005 per cent sulphur) will increase by 23c per litre, while the wholesale price of illuminating paraffin will increase by 22c per litre.
The single maximum national retail price of illuminating paraffin (SMNRP) will increase by 30c per litre and the maximum retail price for LPGAS will go up by 58c per kilogramme.
According to the department, the economic factors which impacted fuel prices in September included an increase in the average international product prices of petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin.
On average the rand appreciated against the dollar during September, but still remained above the average of August.
The average rand/dollar exchange rate for September was R14.0057 compared to R13.8016 during August.
This led to increases in the contribution to the basic fuels price on petrol, diesel and illuminating paraffin by 7.89c/l, 7.48c/l and 7.50c/l respectively.
A possible outcome of fuel price increases on the economy could be the continued rise in the price of food.
12 tips to get the best out of your car and save fuel
1. Keep it in shape
Like any machine, your car needs regular tune-ups. Bring your vehicle to technicians who can handle your sophisticated systems and on-board computers.
2. Watch the wear
Air-conditioning reduces fuel economy by as much as 0.43 kilometres per litre. Under-inflated types, by as much as 3 pewr cent.
3. Manage the tear
Replace spark plugs, timing belts, hoses and filters at proper intervals, with a mechanic who is well-qualified with the latest service bay tools and technology.
4. Inspect air filters
Air filters remove debris from the air entering the combustion chamber of the engine. Inspect and replace your air filter at regular intervals to avoid problems.
5. Watch the dirt
Check your air filter more frequently if you drive on dirt roads or do a lot of stop-and-go driving.
6. Take it slow
Decreasing your freeway speed to 88.5km/h increases your fuel economy by up to 20 per cent.
7. Moderation is key
Quick accelerations lower your gas mileage by up to 33 per cent, so apply your accelerator and brakes moderately.
8. Plan ahead
Starting, stopping and idling are bad for your engine and even worse for fuel economy, so avoid rush hour if you can and plan your routes ahead of time.
9. Travel light
Extra weight in your trunk requires extra power and fuel from your engine. Fuel economy is lowered by up to 2% for every 45.4 kilograms, especially for smaller, lighter cars.
10. Reduce the revving
If you drive a manual car, choose the gear with the lowest rpm that doesn’t risk stalling the engine.
11. Avoid the idle
For modern fuel-injected vehicles, ‘warming up’ is no longer necessary. Turn off the engine if you’re not moving. Idling gets you 0 km/l and wastes fuel unnecessarily.
12. Share the load
Car pooling is a great way to lower your fuel expenditure, while enjoying some great company.
