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There are many things you can do to save petrol; all of which can make a significant combined difference to the overall amount you spend on getting around.
Try these tips:
• Have regular maintenance checks. 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.
• Stopping and starting your car needlessly wastes petrol. Idling your car for a minute uses the same amount of fuel as starting your car.
• Buy petrol from a busy petrol station. The petrol in quieter stations has been sitting in underground tanks for longer periods of time which leads to contamination.
• Choose the type and brand of petrol carefully. Higher quality brands will always be more economical.
• Don't purchase small amounts of petrol. The pump does not have enough time to really activate and the little bursts can short-change you in the amount of petrol you get for your money.
• The best time to fill up is when you have half a tank, or less, left. But never run your vehicle on empty.
• Fill up in the early morning or late evening. Service station storage tanks are 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 you will get less for every litre purchased.
• Avoid filling your tank to the top. Overfilling results in overflowing. Watch the attendant and make sure he/she fills up to the first 'click' of the fuel nozzle and no further.
• Driving at the speed limit or less will dramatically lessen your petrol consumption. If at all possible avoid rush hour traffic – you waste petrol and cause more wear and tear to your car.
• Accelerate before you reach a hill and you will use less petrol while you are climbing.
• Over-revving or under-revving in the wrong gear can increase your petrol consumption dramatically.
• Drive with the windows closed when travelling at highway speeds. Open windows cause air friction which will reduce your mileage.
• Don't keep your foot on the brake and clutch, even lightly, while driving.
• Air conditioners reduce your fuel economy substantially. Heater fans, electric windows and seats increase the engine load which also decreases the mileage.
• Roof rack luggage increases your petrol cost so try to put as much luggage as possible in your boot.
The more aware you are of the amount of petrol you use the more you can do to try to reduce your petrol costs.
Have any other fuel-saving tips? Share them in the comment box below.
Try these tips:
• Have regular maintenance checks. 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.
• Stopping and starting your car needlessly wastes petrol. Idling your car for a minute uses the same amount of fuel as starting your car.
• Buy petrol from a busy petrol station. The petrol in quieter stations has been sitting in underground tanks for longer periods of time which leads to contamination.
• Choose the type and brand of petrol carefully. Higher quality brands will always be more economical.
• Don't purchase small amounts of petrol. The pump does not have enough time to really activate and the little bursts can short-change you in the amount of petrol you get for your money.
• The best time to fill up is when you have half a tank, or less, left. But never run your vehicle on empty.
• Fill up in the early morning or late evening. Service station storage tanks are 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 you will get less for every litre purchased.
• Avoid filling your tank to the top. Overfilling results in overflowing. Watch the attendant and make sure he/she fills up to the first 'click' of the fuel nozzle and no further.
• Driving at the speed limit or less will dramatically lessen your petrol consumption. If at all possible avoid rush hour traffic – you waste petrol and cause more wear and tear to your car.
• Accelerate before you reach a hill and you will use less petrol while you are climbing.
• Over-revving or under-revving in the wrong gear can increase your petrol consumption dramatically.
• Drive with the windows closed when travelling at highway speeds. Open windows cause air friction which will reduce your mileage.
• Don't keep your foot on the brake and clutch, even lightly, while driving.
• Air conditioners reduce your fuel economy substantially. Heater fans, electric windows and seats increase the engine load which also decreases the mileage.
• Roof rack luggage increases your petrol cost so try to put as much luggage as possible in your boot.
The more aware you are of the amount of petrol you use the more you can do to try to reduce your petrol costs.
Have any other fuel-saving tips? Share them in the comment box below.
