Saving petrol is a topic that is on everyone’s mind these days, especially as the country braces for another round of fuel price adjustments in early August.
Driving less or buying a hybrid are two solutions to this problem, but neither option is particularly practical.
Hybrids are expensive to buy and have a payback time to consider where the savings start to outweigh the purchase price of the car.
Driving less is another option, but it’s fair to assume that most trips that people make are done out of necessity, not choice.
The best option, therefore, is to adopt better driving habits that will improve your car’s fuel economy without fundamentally changing anything about the way you get around town.
According to MasterDrive, there are five easy mistakes that motorists frequently make that hurts their fuel consumption and their wallet at the end of the day.
How to save on petrol
The first step to consider is that most car owners are reactionary in their driving, rather than anticipatory.
This means that people only react to what the vehicle in front of them is doing, with little thought as to what comes next.
Not only is this mindset dangerous, as you’re less likely to notice upcoming hazards, it’s also very inefficient for your car.
Reactionary drivers tend to fluctuate between accelerating and braking, which uses more fuel.
An anticipatory driver, on the other hand, observes the road ahead of them and adjust their speed more naturally without slamming on the brakes.
If a red light is coming up, glide to a halt using the car’s momentum rather than continuing to use the throttle and brake.
If you time it right, you may approach the light as it turns green and circumvent the need to come to a complete stop.
Driving habits like these can improve fuel consumption by up to 40% by avoiding unnecessary acceleration.
It also leads to less wear and tear on the car’s components, saving costs over the long term.
The second piece of advice is related to this, as motorists are advised to avoid speeding.
Not only is this unsafe, but aggressive acceleration and constant throttle usage will increase fuel intake by up to 20% in the right conditions.
You should aim for a consistent speed of between 100km/h and 120km/h on the highway to maintain an optimal speed, said Eugene Herbert, CEO of MasterDrive.
The third mistake people make concerns inefficient gear changes.
An engine’s efficiency typically peaks around 2,500 to 3,000rpm, so aim to keep the needle in this interval to improve fuel usage and reduce wear on the gearbox and clutch from unnecessary shifts.
MasterDriver’s fourth tip is to plan your journeys in advance.
If you have multiple tasks to do in a day, try to do them all at once using a route that minimizes travel time.
“When you start up several times a day, a vehicle’s engine takes longer to reach optimal efficiency,” said Herbert.
“Use carpooling and apps to reduce or avoid congestion as this can increase consumption by up to 40% depending on conditions.”
The last tip depends on the weather and time of day, as it’s a good idea to avoid starting your car when its very cold.
“If possible, park your car inside to increase the initial temperature of your engine and interior upon starting in the mornings.”
“The engine warms up faster and can reduce the need to demist windows or heat the interior.”
Allowing the engine oil to warm up first means it will better lubricate the components, preventing damage and improving efficiency.
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