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10 ways you can save money on fuel

The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, says motorists need to make a concerted effort to reduce their fuel consumption after the recent price hike. The price of fuel recently increased by R1.21 for petrol and R1.48 for diesel. That brings the fuel price to just under R20 per litre.
Source: Pexels

"The importance of keeping fuel consumption in mind whenever you drive is essential. MasterDrive is sharing 10 tips to remind South African drivers about reducing fuel consumption as they face these higher petrol prices, especially just before the holiday season as well,” says Herbert.

The 10 tips:

1. Ensure your vehicle's maintenance is up-to-date. Not replacing certain parts in your car can considerably affect fuel consumption.

2. Maintaining an adequate following distance and watching 12 seconds ahead helps save fuel as you have more time to react to traffic. You can then slow down and potentially avoid coming to a complete stop.

3. Keeping your revs between 2,500rpm and 3,500rpm can reduce your petrol consumption by up to 20%. In diesel vehicles, the rpm can be as low as 2,000.

4. Something else that can contribute to a 20% reduction is keeping your speed low. Travelling at a reduced speed, where possible, has shown to also play a role in reducing fuel consumption.

5. Avoid costly behaviours behind the wheel such as driving aggressively.

6. Using your aircon judiciously and making sure that open windows do not add to increased wind resistance will also help.

7. Plan your routes. Plenty of petrol can be wasted by not making your route as efficient as possible.

8. Avoid driving with unnecessary items in your car that add to the weight of the vehicle.

9. Avoid idling for longer than 30 seconds.

10. Ensure tyres are properly inflated. Under-inflated tyres increase fuel consumption.

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