There’s not much we can do about the volatility of the local fuel price, yet we can try to prolong our next trip to the forecourt. We highlight five ways you can save fuel and improve your car’s fuel economy.
Among the many financial challenges facing the average South African consumer, that unavoidable visit to the fuel station has quickly risen in the rankings for associated anguish. Whether driven by events in markets far from ours or by any number of local taxes, the price of a litre of fuel has become increasingly volatile, rising more often than it falls.
We as consumers can do very little to affect the listed price of fuel, yet small adjustments to our driving habits can hopefully delay our next visit to the petrol station forecourt. Here are the top five tips to save fuel:
1. A well-oiled machine
As impressively complex as the workings of a modern motor vehicle’s powertrain are, its efficient operation relies on myriad small processes combining seamlessly. Keeping up to date with scheduled servicing and maintenance on your car’s engine, including at least timely fresh lubrication and filters, ensures optimal efficiency. On this, a modern internal combustion engine relies on specified operating temperatures to deliver its best results. With research suggesting the average South African consumer only covers up to 40 km per day behind the wheel – and predominantly while sitting in traffic – it’s good practice to plan semi-regular longer journeys to generate the kinds of internal temperatures needed to keep your engine’s components working optimally.
2. Avoid the drag
If you’ve ever seen footage of a vehicle being wind-tunnel tested, you’ll have noted that the brief of any new car design is to make its shape as “slippery” as possible when it comes to air passing over and around it. While a family-focused SUV obviously has a different set of criteria than a sports coupé, the goal remains to make it as fluid as possible. That said, even keeping your vehicle’s exterior paintwork clean can make a small difference in overall efficiency.
Adding accessories like roof rails and aftermarket gear can significantly impact how far you can travel on a single tank of fuel. In particular, it’s recommended to remove roof rails when these aren’t required.
Keeping windows closed while on the move also plays a role in eking out a few extra kilometres of range.
3. Rolling rubber
Just as it’s important how the air flows up, over and around your car while on the move, rolling resistance plays a role in average fuel consumption. Often overlooked, yet critical in terms of efficiency, is the condition of the four patches of rubber keeping your car on the road. While it’s recommended to schedule a semi-regular inspection of the general condition of your tyres, including tread depth and expiry date (yes, your tyre’s rubber compound has a finite lifespan), it’s worthwhile asking your friendly petrol attendant to monitor that recommended pressures are maintained. Including impacting handling and safety, under-inflated tyres cause unwanted drag.
4. Plan ahead
The evolution of modern navigation systems and associated mobile-phone apps make it easier to plan trips around prevailing congestion and traffic conditions. Opting for the path of least resistance when it comes to start/stop traffic and delays translates to less time spent on the throttle while getting back up to speed. On this, try to look as far ahead up the road as possible, thereby anticipating any changing traffic lights or congestion.
Try to plan for one main trip to accomplish as many daily errands as possible, rather than an accumulation of smaller excursions. These latter trips don’t allow your car’s engine to reach its optimal operating temperature, with each turn of the ignition key placing strain on various components, including the battery.
5. Steady ahead
While the evolution of the automatic transmission has taken much of the guesswork out of keeping an engine running optimally, many of these modern setups incorporate a pre-defined ‘eco’ mode. Like considered shifting in a manual transmission, this setting prioritises the tallest available gear as conditions dictate. It does this while also controlling the responsiveness of the throttle, making forward progress as progressive and fluid as possible.
Consider whether it’s necessary to access modern conveniences like air conditioning and cruise control. While it is often second nature to have refrigerated air pumped into your car’s cabin, there are times when a simple fan function might suffice.
Modern cruise control settings may offer moments of respite on the open road, yet their programming can’t replicate a driver’s ability to anticipate, for example, an impending incline and manage the throttle accordingly. A cruise control-defined mid-incline downshift isn’t as efficient as a steady acceleration towards the climb.
