This information never dates, as the price of fuel keeps on rising the need is always there for all road users to drive sensibly so as to conserve fuel.
Saving fuel has the dual effect of saving drivers money, and of course helping the environment with lower CO emissions.
* Use your vehicle less wherever possible, especially making lots of short trips which tend to burn considerably more fuel per kilometre, due to the fact the engine hasn’t properly warmed up.
* Driving in the right gear is fuel efficient. Too low or high a gear at any particular point is wasteful.
* Hard acceleration uses more fuel. Anticipating traffic that is stopped ahead so you can take your foot off the accelerator, rather than slamming on the brakes.
* Don’t idle, car engines nowadays don’t need warming up before the car is driven.
* The average car will use more fuel at 110 km/h than it it will at 90 km/h, in fact as much as 25% more. So, don’t speed.
* If you aren’t using it then take off your roof rack. Aerodynamic drag created by roof racks can result in your using 20% more fuel.
* Your vehicles’ tyres should be inflated to the right level. Keep up the pressure, but don’t overinflate.
* Aircon is great, but remember that airconditioning can increase your fuel consumption by around 10%. At speeds of over 80 km/h, it is better to use your airconditioning rather than to open a window as this creates aerodynamic drag. At low speeds it is often more fuel efficient to open a window.
* The more you load your car up, the more fuel you will use. Travel light and take those items you don’t need out of the car.
* Finally, keep your vehicle well tuned, regularly maintained, and serviced in accordance with your manufacturer’s handbook.
