Save more liquid gold
RECENTLY, a good friend rang me to check her Toyota Echo because it was using more fuel than normal.

Feeling the pinch at the pump? Staying in high gear whenever possible, accelerating slowly and reducing weight can help take the edge off the fuel bill. Photo illustration by PTE John Wellfare

Although the little Toyota had more than 100,000km on the clock, it was still in superb running order with no obvious problems or fuel leaks. It was only when she admitted to letting it idle for 20 minutes or so on frosty mornings to ‘warm up the car’ that the issue was resolved.

Not all increased consumption figures are so easily fixed, but there are other more subtle ways to save your dollars. In a future article I will be looking at the benefits (or otherwise) of purchasing a diesel-powered vehicle or a hybrid.

Diminishing world reserves and rapidly increasing fuel costs means we are unlikely to see sub-dollar prices for petrol again. But here are some hints to make your dollar travel further.

Vehicle share
Consider vehicle sharing or look closely at public transport options.

Use higher gears
It is obvious more fuel is used as the speed increases. But the quicker you get into the higher gears in manual cars, economy will improve. If you drive an automatic, use the economy mode.

Use cruise control
Not only will cruise control maintain your speed and avoid speeding fines, in most cases it will reduce consumption.

Anticipate traffic
If you don’t tailgate and therefore avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration, you can increase consumption by 5-10 per cent. Nearly half your energy in city traffic is needed for acceleration; therefore a light touch on the right foot will save you money.

Switch off in traffic
Unnecessary idling in traffic just wastes fuel and pollutes. Switch off to save.

Reduce weight
Pull out any unnecessary items that you carry and only half-fill your tank.
Vehicle upkeep
A well-tuned engine can improve consumption by more than 10 per cent. Even a clogged air filter can severely affect economy. Also, keep your tyres correctly inflated and get your wheel alignment checked.

Avoid air conditioning
Open your window to save energy-sapping air conditioners. However, above 80km/h, because of the air drag, it is more economical to close windows and use AC.

Premium fuel
There has been much discussion regarding possible increased economy by using premium fuel. The experts I spoke to said it will only benefit economy in some cars. In essence, it is not worth the extra cost if you are seeking economy as opposed to performance.