The easiest way to save money on petrol

Petrol prices are at record highs in South Africa, with most motorists spending more than R30 per litre to refuel in October and looking to lessen their fuel spend, which may be as simple as reducing their speed.

According to insurer MiWay, fuel price increases hit South African motorists hard, since refuelling is not about convenience, but rather for survival, especially for long commuters.

“Ours isn’t a country of short commutes and compact cities – we drive long distances and sit in traffic jams,” the insurer said.

“We navigate broken traffic lights, morning school runs, punishing potholes, stop-start intersections and highways stretched between provinces.”

While local drivers cannot control what happens in global oil markets, they can control how efficiently they drive once they are behind the wheel, since a surprising amount of waste creeps into everyday driving behaviour.

MiWay explained that most fuel-saving relates to speed and speeding, and it all starts with your right foot.

“Hard acceleration, late braking and reckless speeding all burn up much more fuel. Every time you take off from a robot like you’re trying to qualify for pole position at Kyalami, your fuel gauge pays the price,” it said.

“Smooth driving is exponentially more efficient, but it needs to be done with intention and calm – not always easy on SA’s roads.”

Driving this way entails accelerating gradually, maintaining a steady speed, braking earlier and avoiding bursts of speed between traffic lights.

In day-to-day driving scenarios, aggressive acceleration and high-speed driving only save motorists a few seconds, but can cost significantly more at the pump.

“Most drivers don’t realise how quickly fuel consumption climbs at high speeds. Once you push past around 110km/h, your engine works harder to overcome the air resistance out there,” said MiWay.

This means driving at 120km/h costs much more fuel than 100km/h, and driving slower on long trips can save a lot of money, while cruise control on open roads can help regulate the trip.

“The irony is that many South Africans speed to ‘save time’, only to arrive at the next toll plaza three minutes earlier and R200 poorer. Clearly, it’s just not worth the trade-off,” the insurer said.

A few more fuel-saving tips

MiWay explained that the long-standing myth that restarting a car uses more petrol than idling is just that: a myth, and idling burns fuel faster and achieves absolutely nothing.

Similarly, carrying extra weight, whether in the cabin or in the boot, increases fuel consumption, while roof racks create drag that makes the engine work harder, even when empty.

“The logic flows like this: the lighter and more aerodynamic your car, the less fuel it uses,” the insurer said.

Similarly, choosing between open windows or turning on the air conditioning can affect aerodynamic drag, since at lower speeds, open windows are generally more fuel-efficient than air conditioning.

However, at highway speeds, open windows increase drag, so the aircon may actually become the better option.

Underinflated tyres can also add drag by increasing rolling resistance and forcing the engine to work harder to overcome it.

Ensuring your tyres are at the correct pressure improves fuel efficiency, safety and tyre lifespan, so check them regularly.

“Fuel efficiency in South Africa is no longer only about distance. It’s about delay. Being better organised is just better for your budget,” advised MiWay.

“Combining errands into one trip instead of several shorter trips can bring down that fuel burn significantly. In other words, fewer trips mean fewer tantrums over your fuel tank.”

Finally, the easiest way to save money on petrol is by spending a little more on regular maintenance, since it improves fuel efficiency.

A poorly maintained vehicle burns more petrol, since dirty air filters, old spark plugs, and poor wheel alignment force the engine to work harder than it needs to.

“Fuel-efficient driving isn’t about crawling along with your hazard lights on like a granny on her way to Sunday lunch. It’s about driving with less chaos,” explained the insurer.

“That means smoother driving, better planning and less last-minute rushing.”