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Watch that gauge: What to do save on fuel

SINGAPORE — With fuel being the main variable when it comes to car costs, making less trips to the petrol station means more savings in the bank in the long run. Depending on the car you drive, you could spend anything from S$150 to S$250 a month on fuel. That translates to quite a lot of S$5 meals a month.

SINGAPORE — With fuel being the main variable when it comes to car costs, making less trips to the petrol station means more savings in the bank in the long run. Depending on the car you drive, you could spend anything from S$150 to S$250 a month on fuel. That translates to quite a lot of S$5 meals a month.

If you are going on a road trip, you will want to get some distance on the dial before you need to find the next petrol station. Besides, not every petrol station may be open.

Given this, drivers would want to make their tank of petrol go further than ever before. But just how would you go about stretching your dollar? Here are some tips.

 

LIGHT IS RIGHT. If you are going on a road trip, carefully consider what you need for the journey. Leave what you do not need at home. For example, you could dispense with the roof racks if you can pack all your luggage in the boot, as the racks create wind drag, leading to you using up more fuel just to maintain your speed. The lighter the load, the lower the fuel consumption and emissions, and the lower your costs.

RETHINK YOUR ENGINE OIL. Those using mineral oil for their car’s engine may want to consider using the fully synthetic stuff. The most common grades in the market are 0W-40 or 5W-50. These lower viscosity oils put up less resistance to your engine parts and this translates to fuel savings, since the engine does not have to work as hard to pump the oil.

CHECK YOUR CABLES. Corroded battery cables will cause the alternator to work harder, which leads to you using up more fuel. Have them cleaned as a matter of course with your engine check-up.

REMEMBER TYRE PRESSURE. Check your tyre pressure. If you have under-inflated tyres, that means your car needs to burn more fuel to get moving. Go for the maximum recommended tyre pressure if possible. Also, check the pressure when the tyres are cold — a hot tyre gives a false reading.

ENGINE TUNE-UP. Aside from your regular engine check-up, have your mechanic check the condition of the engine oil, spark plugs, the air and oil filters, and the fuel filter too. All this will help your engine’s performance, which will translate to better fuel consumption.

ALIGNMENT AND BALANCE. Have the wheels checked for balance and alignment. Bent wheels, axles, worn shock absorbers and broken springs can contribute to drivetrain drag, which leads to fuel waste.

FILLING UP. Keep the nozzle in the tank until after the pump shuts off to eke the most out of the pump. Make sure you allow all the fuel to pour out of the nozzle. Surprisingly, there can still be some left in the hose. Also, choose the right octane fuel for your car — the information can be found in your owner’s manual. In some cases, your fuel tank cap will have that info. Resist the urge to buy higher octane fuel for “extra” performance. You are not going on a race, you know?

GEAR SELECTION. If you drive a manual transmission vehicle, try using the highest gear possible without labouring the engine. For example, if you are driving at 60kmh in third gear, your vehicle will use 25 per cent more fuel than it would in fifth.

Accelerating fast in lower gears also consumes more fuel — sometimes up to 45 per cent more. Some cars have a gauge that calculates how much fuel you are using per 100km — keep that number as low as you can. If yours calculates the number of kilometres to the litre, keep that as high as you can. Some cars have an Eco light or icon that lights up when you reach an economical speed — try keeping this lit up as often as you can.

You can also try “coasting” when you are going down a slope. Switch your gear to neutral and only re-engage it once you are at the bottom. But be gentle on the acceleration as you pick up speed.

PLAN YOUR JOURNEY. Set off earlier than you plan to. When you are running ahead of schedule, you will be amazed at how relaxed you feel. This is worthwhile to note, especially if you find yourself stuck for a long period of time — in a jam or say, some border checkpoints.

How does this save on fuel? Well, you will not be gunning the engine trying to make up for lost time thanks to delays, for one. The latest navigation apps or GPS devices can advise of traffic delays and suggest the fastest alternative routes, too. Also, you can avoid making wrong turns, which would have you racking up the miles unnecessarily.

USE CRUISE CONTROL IF YOU HAVE IT. This can save you up to six per cent in fuel consumption when you are on a highway. Yes, we all feel the need for speed, but it is not advisable to go full throttle all the time. Switch to “manual cruise control” by keeping your foot gently on the accelerator to maintain your desired speed.

DRIVE STEADY. Drive as smoothly as you can. Excessive acceleration and heavy braking can reduce increase fuel consumption, and wear and tear on your brake discs. It is okay to let the vehicle lose a bit of speed going up a hill and pick it back up on the descent. According to experts, this can influence fuel efficiency by as much as 30 per cent.

Avoid tailgating and keep a safe distance between you and the car in front, and try to maintain that distance. That is about six car lengths when you are zooming down the highway; or three car lengths when you are on arterial roads. Doing so gives you enough reaction time should the vehicle in front jam its brakes.

This tactic has a psychological benefit too, especially when you encounter heavy traffic. Thanks to that gap, chances are you will feel less frustrated because your vehicle is always moving — albeit slowly — than if you had to constantly come to a full stop and then get moving again.

LESS IDLING. Do not let your engine idle for more than a minute if you can help it. Idling consumes fuel and pumps needless carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Unlike the cars of the past, the modern engine will consume less fuel if you turn it off and re-start it. Simply start the engine, wait a while to build the oil pressure, and drive off.

THE LEFT FOOT IS ONLY FOR THE CLUTCH PEDAL. You can rest that foot driving an automatic transmission car. Do not use it on the brake pedal while driving. The slightest pressure drags on the brakes — which means additional fuel usage to overcome the drag.

GOING OFF-ROAD? If you are coursing on dirt tracks or unpaved roads, sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and four-wheel drive vehicle owners should consider switching from using tyres with an aggressive patterned off-road tread to more fuel-efficient highway tyres instead. NEW STRAITS TIMES, ADDITIONAL TEXT BY CHRISTOPHER TOH AND SHELDON TROLLOPE

 

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