FUEL SAVING TIPS!
Get more bang for your buck at the bowser with Whichcar expert ELISE ELLIOTT’S tips
While electric cars may be the way of the future, most motorists are still driving petrol cars and grumbling about skyrocketing fuel prices. There are, however, ways to beat the bowser. Here are seven tips to slash your fuel costs and reduce those tedious trips to the servo.
SERVICE REGULARLY
A well-oiled machine is more efficient. Give your car some TLC and it will love you back. You wouldn’t skip your hair or nail appointment, would you? Book in for your next service.
PUMP UP YOUR TYRES
Make sure they’re inflated to the correct level, which is usually written inside the glovebox, fuel filler flap or driver’s door. A correct PSI (pounds per square inch) is between 27 and 32. Don’t drive on under-inflated tyres. Ever tried to pedal a pushbike with flat tyres? It’s exhausting!
DON’T HOON
In today’s traffic you don’t get anywhere quicker by throttling it then slamming on the brakes. Aggressive acceleration followed by dramatic braking tears through fuel. Drive steadily and smoothly for a more economical ride.
USE CAR SETTINGS
Some cars have different performance settings, which affect how the gearbox and throttle work. Opt for the most economical setting (often called “eco mode”). By contrast, the “sport” option drives in a lower gear and uses more fuel because the engine is revving higher. In a manual car, drive in the highest gear possible.
LOSE THE BAGGAGE
Don’t carry unnecessary weight around. Some drivers have a garageful of junk in the boot, which can weigh as much as an extra passenger. Unnecessary weight is fuel sapping.
REMOVE ROOF RACKS
They look cool and sporty, but unless you’re regularly hauling a surfboard or skis around, roof racks increase wind resistance unnecessarily.
AVOID IDLING
Rather than sitting stationary and humming when you’re stuck in traffic, turn off your engine. Many modern cars have a “stop-start” fuel saver setting, so make sure it’s on.