19th May 2008: With the constantly escalating petrol price, everyone is more aware of how much petrol they use on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. The good news is that there are many things one can do to save petrol; all of which can make a significant combined difference to the overall amount you spend on getting around.
The more aware you are of the amount of petrol that you use the more you can do to try to reduce your petrol costs. Here are some key issues to be aware of:
- If you start to notice that your petrol efficiency is decreasing it could be an indicating factor that your car needs servicing; get this done asap to maintain optimal fuel efficiency;
- Having regular maintenance checks will decrease petrol consumption. Studies have shown that a car with a poorly tuned engine will increase petrol consumption;
- Change the oil in your car on a regular basis. When you keep it clean you reduce the wear that is caused by the friction in the moving parts of your car’s engine;
- Try to avoid warming up your cars engine when it is cold – half a minute after switching the engine on is sufficient time, and
- Stopping and starting your car needlessly wastes petrol. Idling your car for a minute uses the same amount of fuel as starting your car.
Also always, be aware of where you purchase petrol from, how often you do it and when. The following tips are easy to monitor and can benefit your bottom line in the end:
- Buy petrol from a petrol station that is constantly busy and therefore has its underground tanks filled on a regular basis. Quieter petrol stations will have petrol that has been sitting in underground tanks for longer periods of time which leads to petrol contamination;
- Choose the type and brand of petrol carefully. Higher quality brands (i.e. Engen) will always be more economical;
- When you purchase small amounts of petrol the pump does not have enough time to really activate which can result in short bursts of petrol that may short change you from the amount of petrol that you are purchasing so try and avoid ‘topping up’ your tank at the petrol pumps and rather put in a larger amount;
- The best time to replenish the tank is when you have half a tank or less left in your vehicle; although you should try not to run your vehicle on empty, and
- Fill up your car in the early morning or late evening. Service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground and the cooler the ground the more dense the petrol. The warmer it gets the more chance that the petrol will expand and this means you will get less petrol for every litre purchased. Avoid filling your tank to the top as the overfilling results in overflowing petrol out of the tank. Watch the attendant helping you and make sure he/she fills up to the automatic first ‘click’ of the fuel nozzle and no further.
You can further reduce your petrol costs by paying more attention to your driving techniques. Driving at the speed limit or less will dramatically lessen your petrol consumption. If possible, avoid rush hour traffic, in traffic you waste petrol and cause more wear and tear to your car.
When approaching a hill accelerate before you reach the hill, this will help you use less petrol while you are climbing the hill in your car. Also over-revving or under-revving your car when using the wrong gear can increase your petrol consumption dramatically.
Travel in your car with the windows closed when travelling at highway speeds. Open windows cause air friction, which will reduce your mileage as will travelling on exceedingly rough roads.
Try to avoid the habit of keeping your foot on the brake and clutch, even lightly, when you are driving; when you rest your foot on either one you use more petrol. Air conditioners reduce your fuel economy by a substantial amount and the heater fan, electric windows and seats increase the engine load, which will then also decrease the mileage.
When travelling with a carrier or a roof rack you increase your petrol cost so try to put as much luggage as possible in your car boot as this will save you on petrol. Try these tips and see what a difference it makes on your petrol consumption.
Ends.
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Issued by: Magna Carta
Kate Thompson
021 417 5833
kate.thompson@cape.magna-carta.co.za
On behalf of: Engen Petroleum Ltd
Tania Landsberg
021 403 5258