The constantly escalating petrol price has made just about everyone painfully aware of how much fuel they are consuming. The good news? There are lots you can do to save petrol!

So, how can you significantly lower the cost of getting around? Here are some key issues to be aware of:

  • If you start to notice that you’re using more petrol it could be an indication that your car needs servicing; get this done ASAP to maintain optimal fuel efficiency.

  • Regular maintenance checks decrease petrol consumption whereas a poorly tuned engine will be thirstier.

  • Change the oil in your car on a regular basis. Keeping it clean reduces wear that is caused by friction of the moving parts of your car’s engine.

  • Avoid warming up your engine when it is cold.

  • Stopping and starting your car needlessly wastes petrol. Idling your car for a minute uses the same amount of fuel as starting your car.

Did you know that how often and when you buy petrol influences your consumption? The following tips are easy to follow and will benefit your bottom line in the long run:

  • Buy fuel from busy petrol stations. They regularly fill their underground tanks whilst the quieter ones will have petrol that has been sitting underground for longer leading to petrol contamination.

  • Choose the correct type of petrol for your car.

  • Avoid buying very small amounts of petrol. Petrol pumps take a moment to activate and while doing so release short bursts of petrol that may shortchange you. Avoid ‘topping up’ — rather put in a larger amount.

  • Avoid unnecessarily driving around with a heavy, full tank of petrol. Rather wait until you have half a tank or less left in your vehicle before filling up while avoiding running your vehicle on empty.

  • Fill up your car in the early morning or late evening. Service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground and the cooler the ground the more dense the petrol. The warmer it gets the more chance that the petrol will expand meaning you will get less for every ‘litre’ purchased. Avoid filling your tank to the brim as this will cause petrol to overflow. Watch the attendant helping you and make sure he or she fills up to the automatic first ‘click’ of the fuel nozzle and no further.

You can further reduce your petrol costs by paying more attention to your driving technique. Driving at the speed limit or less will dramatically lessen your petrol consumption. If at all possible avoid rush hour traffic when you will achieve your worst consumption figures while causing more wear and tear than you would at any other time.

When approaching a hill accelerate before you reach it as this will help you use less petrol while you are climbing. Also, over-revving or under-revving your car when using the wrong gear can increase your petrol consumption dramatically.

Travel with the windows closed when at highway speeds. Open windows cause air friction which reduces your mileage as will traveling on exceedingly rough roads.

Try to avoid the habit of keeping your foot on the brake and clutch, even lightly, when you are driving; when you rest your foot on either one you use more petrol. Air conditioners substantially reduce your fuel economy while the heater fan, electric windows and seats increase the engine load which, in turn, decreases the mileage.

Driving with a carrier or a roof rack increases your transportation costs, so rather try fitting all your luggage in the boot.

Try as many of these tips as you can — the combined effect will make a significant difference to the amount of petrol you consume.