How to save on fuel

thought I would share some tips on increasing fuel economy. It is my hope that these tips will help you get extra kilometres per litre.

Although it appears to be a simple process, a lot of people just don’t know how to measure their average fuel mileage. Fuel economy is a total mystery to them.

A lot of cars nowadays have a kilometre per litre readout that you can select from the on-board computer. While these are useful, they do tend to be a bit optimistic. So how do you measure your average kilometres per litre?

It is easy. You need to fill up your tank to the point where the pump cuts off. I know that for most people this is a rarity but it is very critical for this exercise. Take a note of the litres that you have put in. After filling up reset your trip counter to zero. You will find the trip counter on the speedometer. In some cars the trip counter and the speedo counter are placed separately but in the digital speedos they use the same dial.

You then go about your business making sure not to disturb the trip counter. When you are running low on fuel and the fuel gauge is at the same level that it was when you last filled up, take the number of kilometres that you have done and divide it with the litres that you put in and you get your kilometre per litre.

You then repeat the same process. Once you have four or five calculations, you can start to figure out your running average using some simple maths.

These tips are so simple anyone can use them. If you are avoiding traffic lights, chances are that you are wasting petrol and your kilometres per litre will come down. If you are racing at 120km/h on the city streets, you are wasting petrol. Your fuel mileage can drop to as much as 15 percent between driving at or below 100km/hr and driving above 100km/hour.

Now I love speed as much as the next person but you have to be realistic here – do you want better fuel economy or to get there marginally quicker?

I sound like a total wet blanket telling you this, of course, but driving slower absolutely will improve your kilometres per litre. Why? Because once you get over 100km/hour, you are using more engine power to overcome drag and this requires more petrol or diesel.

What about when you are not on the city streets? Well, consider a little less braking if you can. If you can see the next set of lights ahead of you are red, don’t race up to them and come to a complete stop.

Try to moderate your speed a little if you can do it safely. If you can get there as they turn green and the traffic in front begins to move, you are doing OK.

This is because it takes more energy to get you going from a complete stop than it does from a slow roll. So if you can do this, it will improve your fuel saving.

Check your tyre pressure. This is a total no-brainer. Make regular checks, let it be part of your Sunday routine or something. If your tyre pressures are low, you will be increasing the rolling resistance of the tyre on the road and that will be robbing your fuel efficiency – your fuel mileage will be down.

So make sure they are up to manufacturer recommended values (at the very least) and watch your fuel saving get a little better. You might never have considered this, but manufacturers do make tyres designed for low rolling resistance. This means that there is less effort required in rolling the tyre along the road surface. Less effort means a lighter load on your engine. A lighter load means better kilometres per litre.

You should get rid of your roof rack. No need to drive around town with it. If you go biking or kumusha at the weekends, you can use it then. When commuting to work, that empty roof rack is adding aerodynamic drag to your car. More drag means more power to overcome it, which means less kilometres per litre.

Same goes for those “aerodynamic roof boxes” – if you are not using them, get rid of them. Yes, they look aerodynamic but the fact of the matter is they do induce drag. And to be honest, they look silly. I know it means getting up and doing something rather than just routinely getting in your car and driving off but we are talking about fuel mileage here. It is all to do with money. You need to make a choice between being lazy and saving money.

Out of sight, out of mind. I’m guilty of this. Your air filter is what protects your engine from ingesting all the dust, dirt and crap in the air. If it is doing its job well, it will clog up, much like the bag in a vacuum cleaner.

Once it clogs up, your engine has hard time sucking air through it. To compensate for the reduced airflow, the engine management system will enrich the petrol air mixture by increasing petrol intake to keep the engine running smoothly. Replace your air filter once a year and you are guaranteed of better fuel mileage.

You need to change your oil and filter often. Changing your oil and filter ensures the efficiency of your engine.

Another effective way of saving fuel is changing your spark plugs. Spark plugs work in an incredibly hostile environment. If you have done more than 50 000 kilometres on your car, change the plugs.

Fresh plugs that are not covered in carbon deposits will certainly help you in your quest to become a fuel miser.

Realistically, if you stick to the above points religiously you should expect to see a km/litre improvement of about 15 percent.

Doesn’t that sound like a lot? Let me put a number to it. If you spend US$500 per month on fuel then you will now be saving about US$75. Food for thought.

Ciao!

Fact D. Jeke is a motoring enthusiast who has attended vehicle shows, rallies and has written for various publications in the region for the last decade. She can be contacted via email on [email protected] or Torque with Fact Jeke on Facebook.