We all know how much the fuel price fluctuates. However, even if we find ourselves in a month when the price drops by a record amount, petrol remains one of the most significant costs for individuals and businesses. The good news is that there are always ways to save fuel if you’re prepared to drive carefully and be more frugal. Highway Bakkie Hire offers the seven best ways to keep your fuel costs down.

7 Easy Ways to Reduce Your Fuel Costs

Every South African motorist could do with some ways to save fuel – regardless of how much we drive. Well, it’s really quite easy – it just requires a little thought and some careful driving. Here are our seven top fuel-saving tips. Take a look at our blog for more motoring advice.

1. Avoid Traffic

Sitting in start-stop traffic burns more fuel. Your car sits idling for extended periods, you drive in low gear, and you tend to break and accelerate suddenly and roughly. The best advice: rather avoid the traffic: leave earlier or later, or work from home if you can

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2. Drive at a Reasonable Speed

South Africans tend to love their speed, but it comes at high cost – both in terms of reduced control and high fuel consumption. If you stick to the speed limit, you will use fuel more slowly and economically.

3. Drive in High Gear as Much You Can

Driving in low gear burns higher amounts of fuel. The best driving practice is to progress to the highest gear as quickly but as smoothly as possible, and then cruise in that gear for as long as you can. Your engine uses more fuel to get itself going from a stationary position. The higher the gear, the more momentum your vehicle has built and the less fuel it needs to burn to keep itself going.

4. Keep the Air Conditioner Off

Car air conditioners eat up fuel at a very high rate. Keeping your AC off completely may be a difficult ask during a road trip or a regular workday in the midst of the South African summer. However, it will pay off in the long run to keep your AC use to a minimum. Oh, and keep the windows closed too – an open window create excessive drag that your engine needs to work harder to overcome.

5. Service and Maintain Your Car

A well-maintained car with a good service history will have an engine that runs efficiently and thus consumes less fuel. This is only one reason to keep your car regularly serviced.

6. Accelerate and Brake Smoothly

Speeding up or braking suddenly is another way to use up fuel at an unnecessarily high rate. In addition to maintaining a reasonable speed, be sure to accelerate smoothly and be sure to avoid situations where you need to slam on the brakes.

7. Reduce Your Load

The heavier your car is, the more fuel it will consume. Try not to carry more than absolutely necessary in your vehicle. Check your user’s manual to see what the recommended weight limits are.

For Fuel-efficient Rental cars, Call Highway Bakkie Hire

Highway Bakkie Hire is committed to offering well-serviced, fuel-efficient vehicles.

Contact us for more information on our rental options.

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