Getting bang for your buck

ECONOMY: DRIVING FUEL EFFICIENTLY IS NOT ONLY GREENER, IT IS BETTER FOR YOUR POCKET

Five-day Fuel Economy Tour takes place from November 12 to 16.

The recent petrol hike marks the eighth official increase for South Africans this year. Unfortunately, petrol hikes are beyond our control, consumers can consider buying a fuel-efficient vehicle as a means to save money.

Practicing good driving habits is another.

The five-day WesBank Fuel Economy Tour will provide motorists with definitive fuel consumption figures among a selection of car brands, as well as recommended travelling times between major centres in the country to help them get more value from a tank of fuel

The tour, planned for standard production passenger cars and light commercials, is scheduled to take place from November 12 to 16 and will involve a five-day drive on major roads from Johannesburg to Cape Town via Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth and George, with a total distance of 2 500km.

WesBank suggests the following tips to help motorists go greener and become more fuel-efficient drivers.

Drive smoothly

Aggressive driving, such as rapid acceleration, speeding and braking, can lower your fuel mileage significantly.

So, accelerate smoothly, brake softer and earlier, and stay in one lane while it’s safe to do so. These techniques will also prolong the life of your brakes and tyres.

Slow down

Speeding wastes fuel. Aim for a constant speed. Driving at 90km/h instead of 100km/h can improve fuel efficiency by 10 to 15%.

Pumping the accelerator sends more fuel into the engine, emptying the tank faster.

No idling

Today’s engines don’t need a warm up. Start the car immediately and gently drive away. Don’t leave your car idling.

Prolonged idling increases emissions and wastes fuel. Turn the engine off whenever it is safe to do so, such as when stationary for more than 30 seconds.

Remove unnecessary cargo

Reducing the amount of cargo in your boot or on your back seat can improve fuel efficiency as less energy is needed for acceleration.

Only use A/C on the highway

Your fuel economy drops by up to 15% when you use the air conditioner at low speeds. So, if it isn’t too hot, turn off the air conditioner and roll down your windows.

However, at 90km/h or higher, using the air conditioner is preferable because your vehicle has lower wind resistance with the windows closed. The engine produces more power at higher revs, so it is able to run accessories like the A/C compressor more efficiently.