Preventing the petrol pump blues

The sharp petrol price rise will make it more difficult for South African households trying to make ends meet.

On 1 July, the petrol price rose by as much as 44 cents a litre. Motorists refuelling with 93-octane will pay the full 44 cents. The increase for those using 95-octane or unleaded is 41 cents a litre. This is on top of the 47 cent increase for all grades of petrol in June.

The price at the pump for filling a 50-litre tank with 93 octane is now R676, R45.50 higher than two months ago. A motorist filling up four times a month will now pay up to R2 704.

On its own, just over R45 per tank may not sound like a lot, but bear in mind that this is the second significant increase in two months and a rising petrol price tends to have a knock-on effect across the economy.

Higher transport prices mean goods and services cost more, adding inflationary pressure. This will worry the Reserve Bank, leaving it with little option but to raise interest rates.

Faced with the reality of higher petrol prices, rising electricity costs, the possibility of further price increases for both and an uptick in interest rates, saving some money on petrol suddenly starts sounding like a sensible idea,” says Gavin Moir, head of marketing at Direct Axis.

Some immediate things that motorists can do to save costs include:

• Car pool: If you are using your car to commute, see if you can offer lifts to two or three colleagues and share the costs. Better still if they own cars and you can take turns to drive, you’ll also save on maintenance.
• Avoid congestion: Admittedly this may be easier said than done, but stopping and starting wastes fuel and wears out components such as clutches and brakes. If you’re using your car to commute leave home a bit earlier. Alternatively ask your employer if you can come in a bit later and stay in the office until the rush hour is over. If you’re using your vehicle to go shopping or run errands wait until the roads are a bit quieter.
• Drive sensibly: Harsh acceleration and braking will not only add to the wear and tear on your car, but also wastes fuel. Accelerate gently and change up smoothly through the gears. Don’t be tempted to change up too soon, though, as a labouring engine also wastes fuel. In areas where the traffic lights are properly synchronised, you should find that you’ll be rewarded with green lights for sticking to the speed limit.
• Streamline: It may look cool to drive around with your window open and your surfboard or bicycle on the roof, but this will add drag wasting fuel. Taking your roof racks off after your weekend activities and keeping your window up will pay dividends at the pump.
• Get serviced: Getting your car serviced regularly ensures that it runs optimally. Not only will this save you fuel, but preventative maintenance could also help you avoid a big bill when a worn component fails. Something as simple as a frayed fan belt could result in an overheated and ultimately seized engine.
• Don’t be lazy: The convenience of cars mean that many of us jump in and start up even if we’re only going a short distance. If you’re just popping to the nearby shops to pick up something you’ve forgotten think about walking or taking a bicycle. It’ll save you fuel and make you healthier.

Longer term you may want to reconsider your choice of vehicle.

If you’ve bought a big 4×4 for the occasional weekend in the bushveld, but are mainly using it to commute to work you might want to evaluate the benefits compared to the cost.

There are plenty of cost-effective, fuel-efficient cars to choose from. To explore some options click here.

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Also read:

Motorists to cough up more at pumps

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