Spend less on petrol

Motorists are enjoying a bit of relief after the slight decrease in petrol experienced in December.

Even with the decrease it is always wise to save on petrol.

A few tips to help you save on fuel consumption:

• Slow the pace:

The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. Sticking to the speed limit is not only the most important rule when it comes to road safety, but will also save you a lot of money.

• Refrain from revving:

If your car is an automatic, use moderate acceleration so that the transmission shifts into higher gears. Gear shift drivers should shift down before accelerating. If you accelerate and need to put on the breaks straight away, you are wasting precious fuel.

• Hang back with trucks:

In serious bumper to bumper traffic jams, the pace seems to slow down and then pick up again – while more heavy duty vehicles, especially trucks, seem to hang back and take their time driving along at an easy pace. There’s a reason why they do that. A steady pace and hanging back, keeps gear shifting to a bare minimum – making travelling from point A to point B a far more economical journey. It takes less fuel to keep a car moving, than it does to get it going at an increasing rate.

• Consider an upgrade:

While new wheels and tyres can improve handling, they create more rolling resistance and increase the amount of fuel used (if they are wider than the stock tyres). If you’re looking to upgrade your wheels, tyres and rims, then do yourself a favour and keep the old ones if they are in a reasonably good condition. The stock tyres are best for longer road trips, giving you a smoother ride and remains one of the best ways to save petrol.

• Make smaller (but wiser) choices:

If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, take a good look at how much car you actually need. A basic rule of thumb to keep in mind: the smaller the car, the less fuel is used.

• Check the pressure:

Keeping an eye on your vehicle’s tyre pressure is a good idea, if you’re looking to gain as much mileage from your tank as you possibly can. Tyres with less pressure than they require, create more rolling resistance – meaning you’ll need to use more fuel to keep the car moving.

• Check your filter:

Filter checks and changes are one of the best ways to save petrol. Dirty air filters restrict air flow to the engine, which doesn’t make for great performance or fuel efficiency. Rather use filters that are cleaned – they are far more cost effective than throwing away paper filters and have less impact on the environment.

• Use the air-con sparingly:

Your air-conditioner can use up to 10 per cent more fuel when operating, so roll down your window and let the wind blow through your hair. That said, if you drive faster than 80km an hour, the air-con may be more efficient, considering the wind resistance from open windows.

Tips sourced from: Drive South Africa.