More ways to use fuel wisely

It has become scary to look at or even to look forward to. The future, motoring-wise, I mean.

There still seems to be no clear-cut solution to the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz — and if we are to believe all that we read, the news seems so bleak. The year is all about to end. What with Christmas carols being played out loud.

And then there is the reality of the general cost of living on the rise, be it the prices of fresh produce, food in the small kiosks or monthly rent; the gas price spike is beginning to be quite a stretch for far too many.

So, although I can’t bring down the price of gas, diesel in particular, I thought I might be able to give you some more fuel-saving advice that could help keep your wallet a little fuller each month.

As an aside, have you noticed how scarce fresh produce is — be it in the groceries or even in the small tindahan of your suki seller. I should know; if the prices aren’t too high, the availability of fresh produce is truly lean.

So, how do we drive?

For many of us, me included, saving money and drafting a budget doesn’t come naturally. Most often, I have noticed that it leads to spending the money I initially saved. For something that I need.

Try not to stress. I am going to try to unpack a few ways you can burn fewer fumes and save more cash. Yes, it is a topic that has become so close to my pedal to the metal heart.

Here are some free fuel-saving tips you can put to the test the next time you’re out on the road:

• Drive as your gas saving efforts depend.

Keeping your engine on while your vehicle is not moving is not advised, here’s why: Idling while driving burns an unnecessary amount of fuel and puts additional stress on some parts of your vehicle that could become damaged as time goes by.

Contrary to popular belief, continuously switching your car on and off while stuck in traffic does not burn more fuel than leaving it, idling, in fact, idling, I have been told by well-meaning car enthusiasts, burns more.

And although I have not tried it, I have been advised that turning off your engine when not moving for longer than 10 seconds can be a simple fuel-saving solution that also saves on business costs.

• Never speed.

Sure, this activity may feel like you’re getting from A to B faster, but speeding is one of the biggest contributing factors to rapid fuel consumption. Simply put, vehicles naturally use the most energy when accelerating.

If you are serious about getting the most liters per kilometer, we recommend you leave the bad driving habits like speeding, abrupt acceleration and braking, for the race track and stick to the rules of the road. Exercising safe driving and driving at the recommended speed limit, especially on long-distance roads, will improve your vehicle’s fuel economy drastically.

• Change gears smartly.

If you have a manual gearbox, switching gears too early may be another reason why you find your fuel light turning on empty a lot sooner than you expect.

Not giving your vehicle ample time when changing gears from a higher gear to a lower one will increase fuel consumption and engine strain as the engine is still continuing to run at a higher rpm while shifting into a lower gear, making the engine work harder than it should.

• Check your tire pressure regularly.

Believe it or not, the state of your car impacts your gas usage. Being up to date with servicing your car and frequently checking on its maintenance are good habits to have if you hope to save on petrol.

Underinflated tires take up more space on the road, causing them to drag while driving. This increases resistance and fuel consumption as you continue to use them.

Depending on your manufacturer, you can typically find the recommended tire pressure on the inside of the door or in the manual. Or, it is always a good idea to ask your friendly taller guy to help you out.

• Make shopping an all-in-one experience.

Another smart way to make every drop in your tank count is to make shopping a “one-stop-shop.” Imagine this, you’ve finally finished your long day at work and are about to head home. You get home, open the fridge and realize you’re all out of ingredients. Before even putting your feet up, you’re already out the door, heading to the shops.

Next time, head to your local shops on your way home and buy whatever you need. Simply planning your trips or routes before heading out can help you avoid burning unnecessary fuel.

• Carpooling, if that is indeed possible.

“Hitching a ride,” or more commonly “carpooling,” is the next big thing when thinking of sparing your own petrol. According to Business Tech, carpools and lift clubs are South Africans’ go-to options for beating record-high petrol prices.

Besides saving money on fuel costs, alternating lifts let you sit back, relax and listen to music while you’re being driven around town. If more people started carpooling, fewer cars would be on the road, traffic would be greatly reduced and air pollution would slowly decrease.

Carpooling also helps to prolong the life of your own vehicle, as your monthly mileage will be significantly reduced.

• E-hailing or cab-hailing

If you don’t have a group to drive with or simply don’t enjoy the company of local strangers, then e-hailing services might be for you. With e-hailing, you don’t have to worry about how much gas you have left or putting extra wear and tear on your own car. You just open an app, order a car, wait for the driver and enjoy the ride.

Yes, these days, there are multiple e-hailing apps to choose from. All these services offer different pricing on rides and offer their own special discounts on their respective mobile apps from time to time.

I was watching recently on IG… re work your car and make it an EV?

Might work.

I hope I helped.

Until the next detour.