How to slash your fuel bill
Death and taxes used to be the only certainties in life. But now it appears as though they need to be joined by fuel price increases. It seems as though a month never passes in South Africa without the fuel price soaring. But thankfully there is something that you can do about the situation (apart from lose sleep, that is). Ford has come up with 10 fuel saving tips to ease the financial burden.
1. Get your kit off (the kit on the roof that is)
Surf over the weekend but not during the week? Remove the roof racks from your car during the week. This ensures better aerodynamics and improved economy.
2. Ensure your tyres are correctly inflated
Such a simple task can have a massive impact on fuel usage as well as handling. Correct inflation also means improved safety – low tyre pressure can cause blowouts.
3. Lose weight
Weight increases fuel usage! It also affects the vehicle’s handling. Unload unnecessary items from your car. (Irritating husbands and boyfriends don’t count.)
4. Don’t rubberneck
We are all tempted to slow down and take a look at what caused the accident on the side of the road. But, when you slow down to do so, you’re causing others (in some cases hundreds of others) to slow down for no reason. All those cars then hit the pedal to speed back up, wasting fuel in the process. (So do you.)
5. Anticipate
Always look ahead and get a good idea of what is about to happen in the next few seconds. Minimise your reactionary braking, or aggressive acceleration. The smoother you drive, the more you will save.
6. Don’t drive when you’re cross
Yes, we know that this is easier said than done. But angry driving burns more fuel. Burning out at the traffic lights or weaving in and out of cars can all mean heavy acceleration and heavy fuel usage.
7. Go into cruise mode
Using cruise control on the highway and setting a constant speed can save fuel.
8. Servicing makes cents
Would your engine sing well enough to win an automotive Idols? Yes, we know – you don’t look forward to servicing your car. But, while you may be saving money by not servicing, you’ll end up paying in the long run with poorer fuel economy. Worse still, you could end up with costly major mechanical damage.
9. Plan your journey
A wrong turn here and there means extra kilometres behind the wheel and that means you burn more fuel. Rushing out to the shops three or four times a weekend also impacts your pocket. Draw up a shopping list and ensure you complete all your errands in one trip. A carefully planned journey can save you precious litres.
10. Buy an economical car
Incidentally, this doesn’t necessarily mean a dull car! A case in point is the new Ford Fiesta ST with EcoBoost, which just happens to be Ford’s fastest-yet production Fiesta ST. At the same time, it’s also the most fuel-efficient with a combined cycle fuel economy rate of 5,9 litres per 100 kilometres.