TOP 10 TIPS FOR SAVING FUEL

WITH the price of petrol about to rise steeply for the second consecutive month and no end in sight, everybody and his mechanic has tips and suggestions for getting the most out of what is rapidly becoming a scarce and valuable commodity.

So we thought we’d put together a compilation of fuel-saving tips we’ve collected over the past few years, from the insane to the impractical to the ones so obvious you’d think everybody would be using them already.

Here’s our pick of the 10 most practical tips, things you can do in your daily driving, that, taken together, can significantly reduce your monthly fuel bill. 1 – KEEP IT SMOOTH

Fast pull-offs from standstill will dramatically increase your consumption, while a light right foot is your budget’s best friend. Keep your speed as steady as possible while cruising and lift your foot early for stops rather than braking as late as possible.

2 – FIND YOUR CAR’S SWEET SPOT Conventional thinking says to change up as quickly as possible when accelerating, to keep the engine revs down – but this can cause the engine to labour, sending expensive unburnt fuel down the exhaust pipe.

All engines have a sweet spot where they run most efficiently – usually just below the torque peak, which you can look up in the owner’s manual. Accelerate gently until you reach that sweet spot and then change gears. If your car has a gearchange indicator, that’s exactly what it will tell you to do.

With an automatic gearbox, you may have to learn some fancy right-foot moves to keep the revs in the most efficient part of their range, but if your car has drive modes, that’s what the “economy” setting is programmed to do. Use it.

3 – NOT TOO FAST, NOT TOO SLOW Air resistance rises as the square of velocity (that’s a law of nature), so at 110km/h your car is using 15% more fuel than it would at 100km/h and 25% more than it would at 90km/h – bearing in mind that driving at 90km/h in the fast lane of a 120km/h highway will make you a danger both to yourself and other motorists.

Lower speed isn’t always on your side, as consumption dramatically increases below 50km/h.

4 – PACE YOURSELF IN TRAFFIC Rather than using the brakes to burn momentum and then burning fuel to get it back, use that momentum to your advantage. Easing off the throttle when there’s a red light ahead means it’s more likely to turn green before you get there.

5 – DON’T RIDE THE CLUTCH

Use your handbrake for hill starts; riding the clutch will not only shorten its life but the corresponding accelerator movements will also cause your car to use more fuel.

6 – AIRCON OFF, WINDOWS UP

Unless you’re on your way to a job interview or hot date, keep your air conditioner off as much as possible – which shouldn’t be too hard at this time of year. The aerodynamic drag caused by open windows will also increase your car’s fuel consumption. While we’re on that topic, roof racks and any other protruding objects that affect your car’s ability to slice through the air should be removed immediately.

7 – GET SMART(PHONE)

Going online for real-time traffic information on Google Maps can help you avoid the worst of the congestion on your commute. Read or listen to up-to-date traffic reports and monitor your GPS for faster routes.

8 – CLEAN THE CAR OUT

Most people with a busy lifestyle will be embarrassed to find out how much unnecessary clutter they carry around. You don’t need Colin Chapman to tell you that lightening a car, even by a small amount, will measurably reduce fuel consumption. 9 – CHECK THE TYRES

Wrap your head around the fact there is no such thing as a car tyre that doesn’t leak. Keeping the tyres inflated to the correct pressure will optimise fuel use (even slightly deflated tyres will have an impact on fuel consumption), so get into the habit of having them checked every time you refuel.

10 – BASIC MAINTENANCE

The better maintained an engine is, the more economically it will run. Even if you can’t afford a full service, replacing a dirty air filter will make a measurable difference, as will correct wheel alignment (almost as important as correct tyre pressures) and checking that the brakes aren’t binding – that’s a real fuel-waster.

This may sound like blasphemy to dedicated petrolheads, but modern oils are amazingly durable; as long as there’s enough oil in the engine (if you don’t know where your car’s dipstick is, ask the pump attendant) an engine can go beyond its service interval – just try not to run for longer than a year on the same oil. The same goes for spark plugs; a strong spark means cleaner, more efficient combustion and you’ll go further on every litre of fuel. Advanced fuel-saving

If you’re prepared to modify your lifestyle, you can carpool – commuting in your own car only one week in four will save you a lot of fuel – or go to work at 5am when there’s no traffic (that one really works). Combine several trips into one (most moms are very good at that) and try to plan a circular route, for the fewest possible stops and smoothest traffic flow.

Even making sure your car is spotlessly clean inside and out all the time – especially the engine compartment – will make a tiny but measurable difference. Few of us, however, are prepared to go that far. – IOL Motoring