Save
more liquid gold
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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.
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Photo
illustration by PTE John Wellfare
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By Ken Llewellyn
RECENTLY,
a good friend rang me to check her Toyota Echo because it was
using more fuel than normal.
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 mean
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, the more
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 improve 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 the windows and use air conditioning.
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.
