Top tips to save fuel
Your car's fuel efficiency can be increased by making some minor changes to your driving habits
IN April, motorists will begin to feel the effects of yesterday’s budget announcements, with the cost of fuel set to rise by 39c/litre.
This hefty jump will no doubt put a further strain on taxpayers’ finances, but there are ways you can make your fuel tank last a bit longer.
Here are the top five tips to saving fuel
Don’t ‘ride’ the clutch when stationary
In an effort to not waste more time than necessary at traffic lights, a staggering number of people ‘ride’ the clutch as they wait for the light to turn from red to green. This not only wears out your car’s clutch but also uses fuel. Rather, bring your car to a complete stop, in neutral, with the handbrake on.
Switch off your air conditioner
Sometimes this is simply not an option, especially in February in Zululand. But we are entering that time of year when temperatures should start cooling, especially in the mornings and evenings. That noticeable change in vehicle power when you switch on your air conditioner decreases your vehicle’s fuel efficiency by 10%. While there are some schools of thought that say driving with open windows also increases fuel consumption because of the increased
drag, it has been proven to affect fuel efficiency less than an air conditioner does.
Drive at a reasonable speed
It has been proven that speeding can increase your car’s fuel consumption by up to 45% compared with driving at the average 60km/h.
It has also been proven that driving at high speeds in lower gears, for instance driving at 60km/h in third gear, uses 25% more fuel than in fifth gear. Lower gears labour your car’s engine, causing it to use more fuel.
Take your foot completely off the brake when driving
Every slight tap to your brake pedal puts a small amount of drag on the car. This drag causes premature wearing of your car’s components and increases fuel consumption.
Check tyre pressure
Be careful of both over-inflating and under-inflating your car’s tyres. Tyres that are too flat create more resistance when driving, which increases fuel consumption. Similarly, driving on over-inflated tyres creates more wear on the tyre walls and sides, and means less grip on the road. Refer to your owner manual for your car’s optimum tyre pressure.
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