Being the owner of a green or hybrid car is one of the most efficient ways of ensuring less carbon footprints on the earth. Unfortunately not all of us can afford them. The good news is that small diesel engines are just as good and sometimes even better for fuel economy.

Three things to consider when buying a new car

    • Size of the car. Smaller cars are usually more economical for driving in town.
    • Engine size. Larger engines generally use more fuel than smaller engines. We tend to think that small engines offer better fuel economy while larger engines deliver performance. In truth, fuel economy isn’t always proportional to engine, and big engines don’t always provide the best performance.
    • Weight matters. How much your car weighs is the key to how much fuel it uses. In fact, weight is more important than engine size – a heavy car needs a lot of fuel to get it going while a big engine in a small, light car can be economical.

Special built-in features that help save fuel

    • Tyre pressure monitoring systems. They monitor the amount of air in the tyre and alerts the driver when the pressure in any of the tyres falls below a certain threshold.
    • Fuel economy meters. They provide information on the current or average fuel economy of your car.
    • Speed alerts. They alert the driver when a set maximum speed is exceeded. Typically, going faster than 100km per hour will adversely affect fuel economy.
    • Fuel efficient tyres. Many tyre manufacturers offer tyres with lower rolling resistance, thus helping to improve a car’s fuel efficiency.

Steps to maximise your car’s fuel economy

Before driving

Here are a few ways to keep your car in peak condition and keep money in your wallet:

    • Service your car regularly. That includes regular oil changes, air-filter changes, and spark plug replacements.
    • Check the tyres. Keeping the tyres properly inflated and aligned saves fuel by reducing the amount of drag the engine must overcome.
    • Be weight-conscious. Don’t keep unnecessary items in the car. Also, reduce drag by putting bulky items inside the vehicle or boot rather than on a roof rack.
    • Keep track of your car’s fuel economy. A drop in fuel economy can be a sign of engine trouble.

While driving

The way you drive can have a big impact on your wallet:

    • Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes petrol.
    • Don’t let your vehicle idle for more than a minute. Idling for more than a minute burns more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it.
    • Park in the shade, which minimises evaporation of fuel and keeps the vehicle cool.
    • Use overdrive gears. When you use overdrive gearing, the car’s engine speed goes down. This saves petrol.

 

Sources

Petrol saving tips. http://www.fuel-economy.co.za/
Top 10 fuel-saving tips. http://www.wheels24.co.za/
5 Products for Better Fuel Economy. http://auto.howstuffworks.com/
Top Ten Fuel Saving Tips. http://cars.about.com/
How to Maximize Your Vehicle’s Fuel Economy. http://www.ucsusa.org/
Ten Tips for Selecting a Fuel-efficient Car. http://www.carquotes.com/