11 Tips to Help You Save Fuel During the Tough Economic Times

                                                       Save Fuel

 

The fuel cost in my country is at an all-time high – about $1.3 per litre. If the fuel prices in your country are as high as in mine or even higher, it means that you’ll spend more money at the pump. As a result, you’ll have less money to spend on other services and goods, thus impacting your life negatively.

The good news is that there are various things you can do to save fuel. Below are 11 tips to help you save fuel during the tough economic times:

1. Maintain Your Car Well to Save Fuel

 

Do you know that a poorly maintained car consumes more fuel than a well-maintained one? Now you know. So, the first tip to help you save fuel is to maintain your car well. Maintaining your car well to save on fuel includes doing the following:

Keeping the car’s tyres pressure at the recommended levels: You see, when the car’s tyres aren’t well inflated, there is some rolling resistance as you drive. The rolling resistance can increase your car’s fuel consumption significantly. So, save fuel by keeping the car’s tyres well inflated. 

 

Keeping the air filter clean: When the air filter is dirty, it can interfere with the airflow to the engine. As a result, the engine must work harder, leading to higher fuel consumption. When the air filter is clean, the fuel consumption decreases.

2. Remove Unnecessary Items from Your Car to Save Fuel

 

Surprisingly, if you keep unnecessary items in the back seat, rooftop, or boot, your car may consume more fuel than necessary. Each extra pound of weight in your car affects fuel consumption. 

 

So, remove those golf clubs, books, coats, shoes, etc. from your car, and you’ll save some fuel.

 

3. Avoid Filling Up the Gas Tank Unnecessarily

 

Many people are tempted to make unnecessary trips when their gas tanks are full. If you fall into this category, you could end up wasting fuel. If you live in a place with gas stations nearby, there is no need of filling up your gas tank – fuel your car only when necessary. 

This could go a long way in helping you to save on fuel.

4. Carpool to Save Fuel

Suppose you have more than one car in your household. In that case, you can save fuel by using one car (carpooling). Carpooling is especially ideal when going on trips, shopping, or parties. 

 

Using one car may not be as comfortable as riding alone, but you’ll save money and have more fun travelling together.  

In addition, when travelling with friends, you can carpool to save on fuel. Each person chips in to pay for the fuel, thus lightening the burden. 

 

Carpooling with friends is also a great way to connect with them during the ride.

5. Adjust Your Driving Style 

 

The way you drive can significantly affect your car’s fuel consumption. For instance, sporty/aggressive driving increases fuel consumption considerably due to air and tyre rolling resistance. It is, therefore, advisable to slow down on highways to save fuel. 

 

In addition, when you drive with the windows down, the car consumes more petrol as the engine may become overworked. So, it’s best to drive with the windows up, especially on the highway to save on fuel.

6. Use the Air Con Sparingly to Save Fuel

One of the best fuel-saving tips is to use the car’s air-con sparingly – only when necessary. You see, putting on the air con can increase your car’s fuel consumption by about 5% to 20%. The reason is that the air con puts an extra load on the car’s engine.

Here’s how you can use the air con sparingly to save fuel:

• Turn the air-con off when you don’t need it.
• Let the air flow into the car using flow-through ventilation when driving on highways.
• Open the sunroof or windows when driving slowly in the city.

7. Turn Off the Engine When the Car is Idle

Your car uses fuel even when its engine is idle. Idling is when you leave the car’s engine running when the car isn’t moving. Apart from being harmful to the environment, idling can lead to fuel wastage. So, if you anticipate idling for over 30 seconds, it’s best to turn off the engine to save on fuel. 

Some of the places where you can turn off the engine to save fuel include:

• At traffic jams
• Red lights
• Crossings
• When waiting for someone

Some of these suggestions might sound outrageous, but if your car idles for a few minutes daily, it could end up costing several additional dollars of petrol weekly. 

8. Avoid the Rush Hours

 

If you commute to work, it’s best to avoid the rush hours as traffic jams are at their peak. In traffic jams, you have to stop-start your car continuously thus putting lots of pressure on the car’s engine. As a result, the car burns more fuel leading to high fuel consumption.

 

So, find out when traffic is at its peak on your route and plan accordingly. You’ll end up saving several dollars per day on fuel.

9. Shop Online to Save Fuel

 

Today, you can get almost anything you need from online stores. Groceries, clothes, shoes, toys, and gifts are available at the click of the mouse. You can shop at your convenience from the comfort of your home. 

By shopping online, you save time and the stressful, crowded stores. On top of that, you save lots of money on fuel as your orders are delivered right to your doorstep.  

10. Walk or Cycle Occasionally to Save Fuel

Sometimes we get too addicted to driving – we want to drive even to the nearest places. When you drive everywhere, you end up using lots of fuel. One great way of saving on fuel is by walking or cycling occasionally instead of driving.

For instance, if you want to pick something from the grocery store a few blocks away, you can walk or cycle. That way, you help to save the environment from pollution, keep fit, and save on fuel. It’s a win-win situation for you.

11. Go for a More Fuel-Efficient Car

If you’re really feeling the pinch of the high fuel costs, maybe it’s time to go for a more fuel-efficient car. According to experts, a car that consumes less than 6 litres per kilometre is considered to be fuel efficient. 

 

So, if you feel like your car is not fuel efficient, you can consider selling or trading it in for a more fuel-efficient car.

 

Conclusion

 

 

I hope you’ll apply some of the fuel-saving tips I’ve discussed in this article. All the best as we keep hoping that the fuel prices will drop – someday (tongue in cheek).