Ways to save money on petrol

Cost of petrol is getting ridiculously higher and higher and causing us to resort to keep tightening our belt more and more. The sad thing is that we are completely helpless and has virtually no control over these price hikes. The only resort we have is to save on petrol bills and make every dollar count. Every single dollar we can save can be put to better use in other areas of our lives and to help cushion the ever increasing inflation that is making our lives so miserable.

So to save on petrol bills, we have to be ingenious and innovative in the way we drive our car. Our driving techniques and skills is the most important factor in determining the fuel economy of our car. We can easily achieve up to as much as 30 to 50% better gas mileage if we adhere to the following recommendations.

Having the right mindset and attitude

• Each time while we drive, we should consistently remind ourselves to save money on fuel.
• Do not drive when in an angry or upset mood. When angry or upset, the tendency is to drive faster and more ferociously resulting in higher fuel consumption.

30 seconds count during start-up

• Before turning on the ignition, ensure all accessories that consumes power are switch off so that batter load is minimized during the start-up.
• During the initial start-up, let the engine run idle for not more than 30 seconds. Letting it idle beyond 30 seconds will cause fuel wastage and also harm the engine. Oil performs its lubricating job best when the car is in motion. A car in motion will also result in the engines warming up faster.
• Press on the accelerator only once as additional pumping can cause wastage of fuel.
• When turning off the engine, do not rev it up as this will cause raw fuel to be dump on the cylinder walls and the protective lubricating oil film to be washed away. This will increase engine wear when you next start the car and cause fuel wastage
  

Know how to accelerate correctly

• Acceleration starts that results in jerkiness and screeching can cause fuel consumption to increase.
• Acceleration must be slow when on slippery or gravel roads
• Acceleration should be brisk and smooth on highways up to about 50 kilometers per hour, then should be moderate up to 65 kilometers per hour, subsequently maintaining a steady pressure on the accelerator sufficiently to maintain speed.
  

Know the correct driving speed

• Drivingat moderate speed especially below speed limits can help save on fuel.
• When pressing on the accelerator, apply only feather-light pressure – this again can produce better savings on fuel.
• Whenever you can, always try to keep the speed above 35 kilometers per hour.
  

Know how to use gears correctly

• If going downhill or on a flat road, skip a gear by going from first to either third or fourth gear.
• If going uphill, go through all the gears gently and quickly.
• If driving a car with automatic gears, release the accelerator then quickly easing into high range.
• For cars with five-speed gears, if you can smoothly use the fifth gear at lower speeds, then always go for that to further save on fuel.
  

Know how to drive on hilly terrain

• Driving uphill will always use up more fuel compared to driving on flat terrains. So before reaching a hill slope, build up speed so that you do not need to have to press hard on the accelerator which will cause fuel wastage.
• The build up speed will create a momentum that helps to carry your car over the hill crest. On the downhill side, you can simply depend on gravity to help your car to go down. You just need to take care of the brake pedal.
  

Know the impact of tyre pressure

• Follow strictly to recommendations from the manufacturer regarding tyre pressure.
• Fuel consumption can increase significantly if car tyres are underinflated. It will also result in increased wear especially on the outer edges of the tyre thread. Normal braking and traction will also be impaired.
• Overinflated tyres are also not good as it can cause the tread’s centre to wear faster and cause unnecessary rough car ride.
• Try to avoid driving over or hitting rocks, holes or kerbs along the road.
  

Avoid idling

• After the engine has warmed up, restarting a car consumes less fuel compared to idling the car for over 1 minute. Therefore do not idle the engine while waiting for somebody.
• To restart the engine, you should not need to have to press the accelerator.
  

Reduce resistance of wind

• Too much wind resistance can cause a drag on the economy of the fuel. Therefore when driving beyond 60 kilometers per hour, ensure all the windows are close to reduce wind resistance.
• Avoid carrying unnecessary weight as for each additional 45 kilogram of weight, the fuel economy can be reduced by around 1%.
  

Consider driving conditions

• Stop-and-go situations can increase fuel wastage therefore to avoid this, always look out for the traffic as far as 2 cars ahead.
• Avoid driving too close to the car in front of you to prevent unnecessary frequent braking and acceleration.
• If feasible, try not to use air-conditioner when driving at lower speeds especially when driving in city or town centers as it can lower the fuel economy by around 9%.
• Avoid traveling during peak hours.
  

Plan well for short trips

• Short trips of about 1 to 8 kilometers can result in cold tyres, cold vehicle parts and improper lubrication of engine which consequently will cause heavier penalties on fuel economy.
• A minimum of 25 kilometers drive is required to ensure fuel efficiency.
• However if short trips are unavoidable, plan well by combining shopping errands together with your regular commuting trips.
  

Choosing fuel economy routes

• Avoid routes that can cause wastage to time and fuel such as congested city routes which requires frequent stop-and-go situations
• Avoid loose or rough road surfaces as this can result in fuel economy being reduced by 10 to 30%.
• Avoid hilly or mountainous roads.
• Hence, it is better to select a flat and uncongested route even though it is slightly longer.