10 tips to make your fuel last

This year has been a rollercoaster of emotions, with Covid-19 pandemic restrictions easing, the war in Ukraine, an increasingly positive business outlook, the floods of April and May, unemployment rate slightly down and the big one… the petrol price going up.

To counter the rising fuel prices, Tangawizi Used Cars has shared 10 simple tricks to improve your engine’s overall performance and save more fuel than before.

1. Drive slowly and steadily

This is the single most effective and easiest solution to increase fuel efficiency.
Drive at a low speed and maintain the speed limit. Sudden starts, and stop-and-go driving waste fuel. Research shows that fast and rash driving can increase fuel consumption by 50%.

2. Keep your engine healthy

Tests on a large number of vehicles show that you can keep your engine healthy by over 60% with regular tuning. If your engine emits smoke or has poor pulling power, have it checked immediately at a reputable garage.

3. Use the brakes sparingly

A good driver anticipates stops. When you slam on brakes, you waste a lot of useful energy. Repeated braking simply wastes energy, converting it into unnecessary heat energy which greatly reduces the service life of your brakes.

4. Let go of your clutch

Unnecessary use of the clutch leads to loss of power.

5. Clean air filter regularly

A dirty filter limits the amount of air flowing into your car’s engine, making it work harder, thereby increasing fuel consumption. Choked exhaust ports and silencers make your engine struggle to breathe, causing poor consumption.

6. Watch your tyre pressure

Underinflated tyres increase rolling resistance and petrol consumption. Tests show that under-inflation of the tyre by 25% causes a 5% increase in fuel consumption and a 25% decrease in tyre life. Watch for slow leaks.

7. Stop fuel leaks

Check your fuel tanks, carburettor, and fuel lines regularly for signs of leaking fuel. A leak of just one drop a second costs you 500 litres of precious petrol a year. Shut off the fuel valve when you turn your engine off. Keep the fuel tank cap closed tightly.

8. Stop the engine

If you stop for more than two minutes, stop the engine. Idling can cost money and fuel. Stop your engine at long waits such as at a railway crossing. Always keep your engine ready to start.

9. Park in the shade

More science! The cooler your car is, the less fuel or gas will evaporate from your tank. That’s like giving money to the sky.

10. Get a new car

Your rust bucket is costing you money at the pump for sure. Check out Tangawizi’s quality used cars which have been through a 120-point check by qualified technicians. Browse online at www.tangawizi.co.za/used-cars.

By doing these simple things, your engine’s overall performance will start increasing and you will be able to save more fuel than before.

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