Umm Muhammed Umar  – 28-06- 2018

With the price of fuel continually rising, and no estimated date in sight as to when prices will come down, consumers need to be smart about how to save on fuel costs, before they reach the pump.
Fortunately, there are many ways to save without a huge effort involved.
These are some ideas that should be helpful to motorists:

1. Drive Less
Walk or ride a bicycle wherever you can. If your workplace, your child’s school, your local shopping centre/gym/ park/ mosque is within walking distance and it is safe to do so, choose to walk or cycle. Between the rising cost of fuel and the slumping economy, its sound advice to drive less. It will also do wonders, for your general fitness and health, as well as being great for your mind.

If you have to drive, try to combine your errands into one trip.

2. Warm Up Your Car for Shorter Lengths of Time
On cold mornings, avoid warming your engine for longer than a minute. Thirty seconds is ideal. If you idle the engine for longer than a minute, you’re really just wasting fuel and pumping greenhouse gas emissions into the environment.

3. Fill Up Early or Late in the Day
Fill your vehicles tank early in the day, or later at night. This applies even more during warmer weather. Petrol is cooler earlier in the day, and more dense. As temperatures rise, the density falls and you get less of it at the pump.

4. Slow Down and Drive Steady
While some drivers find speeding exciting, it also increases ‘drag’, which increases fuel consumption. There are several factors that cause or increase drag‚ including, driving with the windows open and attaching carriers or bikes to the roof. To decrease drag‚ keep the windows closed‚ especially at high speeds‚ and attach additional weight to the rear of the car instead of the roof. Driving just below the speed limit and driving smoothly, that is, with a gradual acceleration, uses fuel more efficiently. You will notice you won’t have to fill up as often.

5. Be Mindful of When and How You Brake
Braking excessively both wastes fuel, and causes your brake pads to wear out quickly. Maintaining a safe distance between yourself and the car in front of you when you’re in heavy traffic ensures you won’t need to brake as often.
In addition, keeping a little more distance between yourself and the car in front of you also ensures, when approaching a traffic light, or a stop sign, you can begin braking earlier. Not having to slam on the brakes at the last minute, will improve the efficiency of your car and save you precious fuel.

6. Turn Off the Engine
If you’re waiting in your car for someone, before you can leave, or perhaps at a railroad crossing, turn off the engine. Again, idling is a major waste of petrol, which as we all know, costs a shocking amount these days. It also adds massive amounts of poisons to the atmosphere.

7. Don’t Wait Until Your Tank Is Almost Empty to Fill Up
Running the car with a low tank means that the pump isn’t staying as lubricated as it should and is at risk of overheating, and running your car on empty can cause serious and potential expensive problems to your engine.

8. Keep Your Car Well Maintained
Monitor Your Tires. Under-inflation causes tires to wear out faster and wastes fuel. Properly inflated tires reduces friction and offers better fuel mileage.

Temperature changes can cause tire pressure to fluctuate, so be sure to check the tire pressure regularly, more especially if you live in a region where the weather shifts drastically.

9. Keep Your Vehicle Serviced
Car engines need to be regularly serviced. A properly serviced engine uses less fuel, so it helps to keep them regular. Also, be sure to use the proper motor oil for your car. Using the wrong motor oil can cause the engine to work harder and thus wastes fuel.

10. Air Conditioning
Air conditioning, and heating, turns your car into a gas guzzler. Try not to turn it on.

11.Drive Manual
Manual transmission cars are more fuel-efficient than automatic transmission. Be sure to shift into neutral when the car is standing still to reduce strain on your transmission.

12. Choose the Best Route
Whenever possible, take the route with the fewest stop signs and traffic lights. If you can avoid major congestion‚ do. It will save you time‚ frustration and‚ fuel. It’s often better to wait out peak time.

Instead of simply waiting for fuel prices to drop, focus on finding clever, simple ways to save money. Joining a lift club is a great way to save fuel and will reduce wear and tear on your car. It can also be a great stress reliever‚ since you can relax while someone else drives.