It is unclear at this stage whether we, as South Africans, may experience fuel shortages in our areas over the coming days. On Tuesday, South Africa’s largest crude oil refinery, Sapref, said it was shutting down and declaring force majeure on contracts in the face of the ongoing social unrest. At the time of writing, major arterial routes such as the N3 remain closed, and there have been sporadic reports of petrol stations running out of fuel in Gauteng. On the other hand, fuel companies and a government spokesperson were quick to denounce rumours of a possible shortage – insisting that there are sufficient fuel reserves and that the reopening of the N3 is a priority. 

It is all very confusing, and at this point there is no way of knowing with certainty if the situation will swing one way or the other. While I hope we won’t see a fuel shortage, I have decided to use the opportunity to write an article on fuel consumption. It is not intended specifically for now, so that you can eke a couple more kilometres out your current tank, but more of a long-term strategy to decrease your fuel consumption, save you money and save the environment. 

As such, I have included some tips such as regular maintenance, which, while it won’t help you get home from work with your petrol light on this afternoon, or in the immediate situation, it will definitely help lower your consumption going forward. With petrol at an all time high, and increasing again next month, there has never been a better time to start considering driving efficiently. 

At the very outset, I want to put it out there that there is no magical fuel saving device on the market, that you can just clip on your fuel line or pour in your tank, that will make your car more efficient. Remapping your ECU may show some fuel improvements, but it comes at a heavy price in terms of longevity of other components – so overall there won’t be any real saving. 

The only way of lowering fuel consumption is by changing your driving habits and adopting fuel efficient driving techniques. That includes driving smoother with less harsh acceleration and braking and lower speeds, eliminating excess mass and aerodynamic drag, keeping the engine in good condition through regular services, and inflating tyres to specification. 

Let’s have a look at some real, actionable ways to save fuel. Like I said earlier, there are a few changes you can make to your driving style which will immediately help you conserve the fuel you currently have and get as far as you possibly can. (These include keeping the revs down, checking your tyres are at the correct pressure etc.) There are other more long term strategies which will make your car more efficient in the long run. 

Fuel-Efficient Driving Techniques 

1. Accelerate gently 

The harder you accelerate, the more fuel you use. In urban driving, you can use less fuel by easing onto the accelerator pedal gently. To be as fuel-efficient as possible, take 5 seconds to accelerate your vehicle up to 20 kilometres per hour from a stop. 

2. Maintain a steady speed 

Maintaining a steady speed will also result in a lower fuel bill. When your speed dips and bursts, you burn more fuel and more money, than is necessary. Tests have shown that varying your speed up and down between 75km/h and 85km/h per hour every 18 seconds can increase your fuel use by 20%, then driving at a constant 80km/h. 

On the open road, consider using cruise control for highway driving, where conditions permit. Be mindful, however, that small variations in speed can be good when gravity does the work. Where traffic patterns permit, allow your speed to drop when you travel uphill, then regain your momentum as you roll downhill. 

3. Anticipate traffic 

To maintain a steady speed, and thereby reduce fuel, always anticipate what is ahead. If the upcoming robot is red, ease off the accelerator and coast the last few hundred metres rather than driving that distance to brake sharply at the end. Keep a comfortable distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you, so that if he brakes suddenly or unpredictably, you do not have to follow suit and lose all your momentum. Become accustomed to paying close attention to what pedestrians and other cars are doing, and envisioning what they will do next, so that you can keep your speed as steady as possible and thereby use less fuel. There are also many safety advantages of driving this way. 

4. Avoid high speeds 

Each vehicle has an optimum speed where they are the most fuel efficient. Of course, it depends on the vehicle and how it is geared. If your vehicle has a digital fuel consumption read out, keep an eye on it and you will soon learn what is the most suitable speed. In general, it is fair to say that above 80km/h, vehicles use increasingly more fuel the faster they go. 

For example, at 120 km per hour, a vehicle uses about 20% more fuel than at 100 km per hour. On a 50-km trip, say from Johannesburg to Pretoria, this spike in speed – and fuel consumption – would cut just four minutes from your travel time. 

5. Coast to decelerate 

Every time you use your brakes, you waste your forward momentum. By looking ahead at how traffic is behaving, you can often see well in advance when it is time to slow down. You will conserve fuel and save money by taking your foot off the accelerator and coasting to slow down instead of using your brakes. 

6. Avoid idling your vehicle 

Turn off your engine when you are stopped for more than 60 seconds unless you in stop-start traffic. The average vehicle with 3-litre engine wastes 300 millilitres (over 1 cup) of fuel for every 10 minutes it idles. 

7. Measure your tyre pressure every month 

Driving a vehicle with tires under-inflated by 56 kilopascals can increase fuel consumption by up to 4%. That means if your tyres should be 240 but are sitting on 185. This seemingly small oversight can also reduce the life of your tyres by more than 10,000 kilometres. Find the right tyre pressure for your vehicle on the tyre information placard. It is usually on the edge of the driver’s door or doorpost. 

8. Service Your Vehicle Regularly, According to Manufacturer’s Instructions 

A poorly tuned engine can use up to 50% more fuel and produces up to 50% more emissions than one that is running properly. 

9. Do not carry unnecessary weight 

While having the golf kit in your boot may save you a few minutes every Sunday morning, it will cost you in fuel. Remove unnecessary items your vehicle. The less it weighs, the less fuel your vehicle will use. The fuel consumption of a mid-size car increases by about 1% for every 25 kilograms of weight it carries.

10. Remove roof or bicycle racks 

Streamline your vehicle by taking off the racks when you are not using them. Aerodynamic drag can increase fuel consumption by as much as 20% on the highway. 

11. Use air conditioning sparingly 

Air conditioning can increase a vehicle’s fuel consumption by as much as 20%. Open the windows when you are driving in the city and use the flow-through ventilation system with the windows up on the highway. If you do use air conditioning, use the re-circulate option. It will minimize the impact. 

12. Use a fuel consumption display 

See the impact of the all the fuel-efficient driving techniques first-hand with the help of a fuel consumption display, a feature now standard on many vehicles. Many drivers consume 15% less fuel by acting on the feedback that fuel consumption displays provide.