South Africa is potentially facing massive fuel price hikes next months as a result of the ongoing war in the Middle East.
At the start of March, the United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks against Iran, prompting counterattacks from the Islamic Republic and sparking a conflict that has engulfed the region.
This has led to major disruptions for one of the world’s largest oil-producing regions, causing the price of Brent Crude oil to skyrocket over the past week.
While the market has thankfully improved somewhat over the last few days, oil is trading at $85 per barrel as of the time of writing, and oil supplies remain highly volatile and prone to price shocks as the situation in the Middle East continues to unfold.
In a worst-case scenario where the conflict continues to drag on until the end of the month, South Africa may be facing petrol price increases of up to R8 per litre.
In light of this, it may be more important than ever for motorists to ensure that they are doing everything they can to reduce their fuel consumption.
MasterDrive CEO Eugene Herbert recently shared five lesser-known tips to help car owners improve their car’s efficiency and avoid unnecessary fuel expenditure.
He warned that with the uncertainty of current economic events and possible ongoing increases, saving fuel at every opportunity is vital.
“We have covered the most common methods to save fuel, like avoiding speeding or not idling often. Yet, there are other ways we may not immediately think of as influencing our fuel consumption,” said Herbert.
What you can do to save petrol
The first thing motorists can do to improve their car’s efficiency is to check the oil, as low-quality engine oil puts strain on the components and can impact performance.
“If you use oil with the incorrect viscosity, the pistons and other movable parts are placed under more pressure, which uses more fuel.
“Check your manual or ask your dealership for the correct engine oil and do not neglect to change your oil at the correct mileage.”
Checking the Oil isn’t the only maintenance-related measure that motorists can take, as it is also important to monitor the condition of the tyres.
“Bad tyres have less traction and use more fuel as they spin faster to maintain speed.”
“Low tyre pressure and tyres that are not correctly aligned can also consume more fuel. This is besides the other risk factors associated with tyres not in good condition.”
Vehicle owners are also advised to take their models for regular services, as there are various faulty, worn, or poor-quality components can negatively impact performance.
This includes spark plugs, fuel filters, air filters, and even fuel injectors, as worn injectors tend to burn through petrol faster.
When it comes to driving, MasterDrive recommends that you avoid short trips whenever possible, as cars are much less efficient when the engine hasn’t had time to warm up.
“This is especially true for older engines, but modern fuel-injected vehicles also run richer and less efficiently during the first few minutes of operation.”
“Where possible, combine your errands and get all your chores done on the same day to get more kilometres from your tank.”
Lastly, drivers are advised to improve their driving style to minimize fuel usage.
This includes learning when to change gears at the optimum time, moderating throttle control and acceleration, and avoiding hills and other challenging road conditions whenever possible.
Driving at high RPMs wastes fuel unnecessarily, and manual owners with poor clutch control can also expect higher fuel consumption.
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