We look at 5 changes drivers can make to their driving style that will save them fuel. Image: Wiki Commons
How to get more fuel from your tank – Make these five changes to your driving style
The fuel price recently increased and we are keen to help motorists get more fuel from their tanks with 5 changes to their driving style.
We look at 5 changes drivers can make to their driving style that will save them fuel. Image: Wiki Commons
The fuel price recently increased, and we are keen to help motorists get more fuel from their tanks with these five changes to their driving style.
Earlier in September, the price of diesel in South Africa increased by a record figure of R2.84 per litre. Both grades of petrol also increased by R1.71 per litre, according to the Automobile Association (AA) of South Africa.
The increases translate into 95 unleaded retailing for R24.54 per litre and diesel at R23.05 per litre inland.
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FIVE CHANGES TO YOUR DRIVING TECHNIQUE THAT WILL SAVE FUEL
It’s no surprise that motorists are seeking ways to reduce their fuel consumption. Jason Fenske from the brilliant YouTube channel Engineering Explained made a video outlining five changes motorists can make to their driving style.
1. Maintaining your average speed as high as possible.
This sounds odd, but your plan is to not brake harshly at a higher speed. Instead, time yourself to pass through an intersection when the robot changes green without having to reduce speed too much. So, as you’re approaching a traffic light, lift your foot off the accelerator and coast towards the robot. If you have timed things well, you won’t need to stop and can instead drive through the green light and then gradually pick up speed again.
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2. Drive slow when you need to go – keep your average speed as low as possible when driving on a long road/highway.
It has been proven that the amount of power your car needs to produce increases when you drive faster due to aerodynamic drag. Fenske’s example shows that a car travelling at 130km/h uses over 20% more power than the same car travelling at 120km/h. By reducing your speed slightly, you can save fuel without spending a lot more time getting to your destination.
3. Engine braking
The third of the 5 changes is engine braking, and this can be used by drivers when approaching a robot. A driver should ideally lift their foot off the accelerator and leave the car in gear, allowing the car to decrease speed. In this scenario, the engine injects no fuel at all. Once you get closer to the robot, you should brake at a lower speed and only use fuel while the car idles at the traffic light.
4. Drive slowly uphill. Drive faster downhill.
Inclines are a killer when one tries to drive more efficiently. Many drivers tend to increase acceleration on an incline. The car uses more energy as it is dealing with gravitational pull.
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A more fuel-efficient way to navigate a hill is to lift off the accelerator slightly or use the car’s engine braking system. Your speed will reduce once you’re over the incline. Once you’re over the incline, lightly increase your throttle input and use the gravitational pull on the downhill to increase speed.
5 Shift gears early and use light acceleration
Drivers should avoid mashing the throttle when leaving a robot and instead try to keep the revs low and change gears swiftly.
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