5 hacks that will help you save petrol

Motorists can expect a big petrol price increase this month due to the increase of crude oil and the weakening Rand against the dollar among other factors.

It is advisable to fill up your vehicle before the increase on Wednesday, 3 April and make the most of the petrol you use. Here are some hacks to help you along:

1. Don’t drive a heavy car

Picture: iStock

The heavier your car, the more work your engine has to do and the more petrol you burn so only drive with what you need in your car.

2. Keep your tyres inflated at the right level

Picture: iStock

A lot of people make the mistake of overinflating or underinflating their car tyres. This is neither fuel efficient nor is it safe for your car. If your car tyres are inflated at the proper level you might save as much as 3% of your petrol.

3. Cruise control is your friend

Picture: iStock

If your car has cruise control, use it. Cruise control is a mechanism in your car that automatically controls the speed of your car. The system is a servomechanism that takes over the throttle of the car to maintain a steady speed as set by the driver.

The difference in fuel consumption is substantial. For example, if you use eight litres of petrol per 100km you could save up to three litres just by using cruise control, especially when driving longer distances.

4. Don’t let your car warm up for too long

Picture: iStock

Jumping into a freezing car is never a fun experience, but there is definitely no need to warm up your car for hours. One or two minutes of warming up your car should do the trick and save you fuel and money.

5. An idle car burns fuel

Picture: iStock

The estimated fuel consumption of an idling engine is 0.6 litres/hr per litre of engine displacement. This means that an idling 3.5-litre engine consumes more than two litres of petrol per hour.

Read the original article on Alberton Record

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.