Learn to be cost- and consumption-conscious. The following fuel-saving tips may seem obvious, but they can be surprisingly effective:
* Never overfill the fuel tank. If you have done so, don’t park in the sun or on a gradient with the filter facing downhill.
* Use the correct fuel. Using a higher octane fuel than that recommended for your car does not improve its performance; it’s money going up in smoke.
* Avoid soft tyres. Low tyre pressure not only increases consumption, but reduces tyre life.
* Use multigrade oil, which reduces drag in the engine.
Economical motoring through skilful driving techniques:
* Avoid stop-start driving. Anticipate traffic light changes so that braking and accelerating are minimised. Steady travel uses less fuel than constant stopping and starting. Consumption increases dramatically over the first few hundred metres from a standing start.
* Drive smoothly. Heavy braking and accelerating waste fuel.
* Try to use just the first quarter of the accelerator movement and, for the best results, try to keep the accelerator pressure steady.
* Change gears up quickly and save. Lower gears use an excessive amount of fuel.
* Change up as quickly as circumstances permit. Skip a gear where possible.
* Close your windows. Open windows create drag, increasing fuel consumption by up to 20 percent.
* Use your handbrake on hills. Riding the clutch wastes fuel and dramatically reduces the life of the clutch. With an automatic transmission, use your handbrake, not the accelerator, to hold against an incline.
* Use the car prudently. The more you drive, the more fuel you use, especially on short trips.
* Avoid cold starts. Fuel consumption increases by up to 400 percent with a cold start, compared with starting when the engine has been warmed. For substantial savings, cut down on unnecessary short trips.
* Short trips also increase oil dilution and engine wear, and are a major cause of premature exhaust failure.
* Pool your resources by joining a lift club. The saving is well worth the inconvenience.
* As the crow flies: the shorter the trip, the less fuel you use. Experiment with routes and departure times to see where you can save.
– Information supplied by the Automobile Association of South Africa