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How to be an eco-savvy driver

Wise up and tune up
If your car hasn't had an oil change or minor service in the last 15,000 kilometres - it's time to book one.
When you check in, also ask for a professional recommendation on the best motor oil for your vehicle.
Having a tune-up and new filter fitted before hitting the road can increase your kilometres per litre and decrease the overall environmental impact.

Golden oldies
Don't buy higher-octane fuel if you’re driving an old car. It won't make your vehicle run any faster or any better.
Observe the speed limit

When you drive faster than 60 kilometres per hour, you are lowering your fuel efficiency and spending more on petrol. Accelerating rapidly uses more fuel and braking wastes the fuel that was used to accelerate in the first place.
Inflate and rotate

Properly inflated tyres are safer and can decrease fuel consumption by as much as 3 percent. Proper air pressure coupled with regular tyre rotation also improves handling and extends the life by maximising tread wear.

Clean your fuel system

Two ways to determine if your fuel system is dirty:

•    If your engine hesitates during acceleration; or
•    Idles roughly.

Valvoline Instant Oil Change offers a multi-step fuel cleaning service that helps to restore fuel efficiency, which can yield fuel savings of 2 percent or more.

Keep up the gear
Most cars are more fuel efficient in a higher gear, so when you're up to speed, pick the gear with the lowest engine RPM and you'll burn the least amount of petrol, while reducing harmful emissions.

Keep it shady
The sun zaps fuel from your gas tank. Parking in the shade or garage will lessen the amount of evaporative emissions with the extra benefit of adding a little change to your pocket.

Recycle your cool
Instead of running the aircon in your car continuously, keep the windows closed and switch to re-circulate to keep the cool air flowing.
Streamlined and lightweight

Carrying around your golf bag? Storing junk in the boot? Don't drive around all that extra weight as it increases fuel consumption. If you own a bakkie and don't use the canopy - take it off. It adds extra weight and creates wind resistance, both of which make your car burn up even more fuel.

Switch off and save
In older cars it was researched that idling rather than restarting saved fuel. Today, however, the opposite is true. An engine idling for more than 10 seconds is using more fuel than a restart - so switch off and save!

 
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