Petrol pills tablets

Petrol price hikes in recent months have seen South African motorists take matters into their own hands in a bid to save a few rands – Image: TikTok

Motorists ‘pop pills’ into petrol tanks in a bid to save fuel: Is it safe? – WATCH

Petrol price hikes in recent months have seen South African motorists take matters into their own hands in a bid to save a few rands.

Petrol pills tablets

Petrol price hikes in recent months have seen South African motorists take matters into their own hands in a bid to save a few rands – Image: TikTok

Crippling petrol price hikes in recent months have seen South African motorists take matters into their own hands in a desperate bid to save a few rands.

In TikTok videos posted online, drivers have shown off a money-saving measure: popping pills into their petrol tanks.

But just how safe is this latest craze?

ALSO READ: Petrol price: MONSTER R2.50-per-litre increase coming to SA in July

Motorists in Mzansi are currently having to fork out between R23 and R24 a litre for petrol and over R23 per litre for diesel.

More bad petrol price news in July

And there’s more bad news on the way in early July!

In videos that have gone viral on TikTok, motorists are seen popping pills into their tanks in a bid to make their fuel last longer.

In one video, a female driver pops the brown pill into her tank before filling up at a petrol station.

She says to the petrol attendant in isiZulu: “Pour it, when its full I’ll drive in it and will show what happens to the kilometres. With your R100 you can buy the pill, fill up and boom you’re ready to go, it boosts the engine and performance”.

@zakithi.l.mabaso #petrol users#zyashaku ♬ original sound – Zakithi.L.Mabaso

In another clip, a male driver says to the camera: “This is the pill I’ve been telling you about, I pop in half because I pour in half the tank, it will save me petrol.”

@zakithi.l.mabaso Reply to @charlotte_nyalungu #nalo ♬ original sound – Zakithi.L.Mabaso

According to a report by Wheels24, a fuel-saving pill was introduced in 2007.

Tim Dunstan-Smith – who launched the pill in SA – reportedly told the publication at the time: “The product is two-pronged. It saves between seven and 14% fuel in a combustion engine and it reduces 75% of harmful emissions into the environment”.

ALSO READ: Fuel prices: How to make your petrol last longer

But despite the promises of saving money, the Automobile Association (AA) warned of the risks involved.

Spokesperson Johan Jonck told Briefly: “We warn motorists of using all types of misfuelling… when in doubt do not use them. Listen to the vehicle experts and be cautious of fake news and gimmicks”.

Have you ever used a similar pill? Has it helped you save on fuel?

Let us know!