South African motorists live and drive in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Some still face financial challenges, including their cars’ fuel bills. You can’t do anything about the price of fuel, but how can you reduce a high fuel bill. Explore these useful tips next time you put in fuel at the petrol station.1
Don’t travel so fast
How often have you seen a car speed past yours, only for you to pull up next to it at the next traffic light? There is no need to speed in traffic. You will enjoy the journey more by travelling comfortably, and your car’s engine won’t need to use so much fuel.1
Keep a constant speed
Does it make that much of a difference if you are a few minutes late? Leave earlier and travel at a comfortable and consistent speed. Travelling at 90 km/hour instead of 100 km/hr can save you 10-15% of fuel.1
Go with the flow
You should accelerate slowly, as if you had a full glass of water on the dashboard. This manner of driving will make you more aware of gently too. Pressing hard on the accelerator wastes fuel and causes extra wear and tear on the car’s parts.1
Minimise idling time
Imagine how much fuel per minute is wasted in rush hour traffic by thousands of idling cars. If you’re stuck in rush hour traffic, switch off your car’s engine when you come to a stop for more than 30 seconds. You’ll find that, modern cars switch off automatically when standing still for a short while.1
Lighten your car
Those heavy fertiliser bags you’ve forgotten about in your boot will cost you more fuel, because the extra weight makes the engine work harder. Never remove the car’s spare tyre to lighten your car. You’ll be in a jam if you need it.1
The higher the car’s friction, the more fuel it needs
When last did you check your tyre pressure? Underinflated tyres cause greater friction on the road surface, which means the engine needs to work harder and so requires more fuel. In the same way, avoid travelling with open windows at high speeds, as the extra drag causes greater fuel consumption.1
Park in the shade
Make it a habit to park in the shade if you can, and not rely on your car’s air conditioner to cool down your hot car. But if you must park your car in the sun for a few hours, flush out hot air by opening all doors before leaving. In this way, you’ll save using the air conditioner.
Disclaimer
This article aims to give you tips on how you can ensure that you arrive safely at your holiday destination during the festive season.1
As part of planning your holiday trip, make sure you have a good and reliable car insurance policy. Make sure that you understand all the exclusions of your policy. For instance, some insurers may not cover your car while driving on a dirt road. Contact us at PMD should you need more information or would like to learn more about our affordable car insurance car insurance products, world-class experience, and unique benefits such as fixed premiums* and a reduce-to-zero excess*. T’s and C’s apply. Enjoy peace of mind while you travel, knowing PMD is there to assist you when you need us most.
Before you buy a financial services product, consult a certified financial advisor for professional advice.
Be careful not to buy any financial services products without first consulting a certified financial advisor for professional advice.
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This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.