Petrol price changes in South Africa affect thousands of motorists nationally and tips on how to save fuel will help a lot of people to keep a bit more money in their pocket when the next price increase comes around again. The constant fluctuations in cost around SA are due to a number of factors including the cost of oil, exchange rates, levies and taxes. This year in particular (2008) saw the cost of fuel rising to new highs although in the last few months it has dropped again.
The unpredictable petrol price South Africa experiences can often become annoying for those relying on their car to get them to work and back so knowing how to save fuel on the SA roads will come in very handy. One way to save money on petrol costs is to simply slow down. Cutting your driving speed from a modest 100 kph to 80 kph can cut your fuel consumption by 15 per cent. Also, try to drive more smoothly. Accelerating and decelerating uses a lot of juice so the smoother you drive, the less fuel your car will use. Keep your revs down as well, engines run most economically at revs between 1,500 and 2,500. Keep between those figures and save yourself some cash.
Another tip to help you improve your cars fuel consumption is to keep your tyres inflated at the correct pressure. Under-inflated tyres increase resistance on the road causing cars to use more juice. When you drive off in the early morning, drive very carefully for the first few kilometres as a cold engine will use twice as much petrol as a warm engine will. Open windows will cause drag when driving on the SA highways at speed so keep them closed when possible. If you have an air conditioner in your vehicle, try to use it sparingly. Regular services will keep your car running smoothly and help a lot towards economical fuel consumption. Hopefully some of these tips will help you to save fuel while you are driving and you will not feel the pinch so much next time there is another increase in the petrol price in South Africa.