Some practical petrol saving ideas you can act on today
Foul.
The smell of petrol makes me sick.
I’m not sure if it’s the actual fumes or the sensory connection to the exorbitant price per litre that does it.
Suffice to say, I avoid petrol bowsers like I do dog-turds.
And I’ve worked out that if I simply change my driving habits I can cut my need for fuel by a whopping third – which means a few less unpleasant moments feeling nauseated at the bowser. Perfect.
I’ve listed some really easy things I do to keep fuel in my tank for longer – practical stuff you can start doing today.
#10 is my favourite. It was inspired by one of my flatmates who followed this extreme principal to a tee. But I better give you the more practical ones first.
Here goes…
#1 – SHOP AROUND ONLINE before you start burning petrol trying to make a BP versus Caltex comparison in your local area. Check out http://www.motormouth.com.au and this one is handy too http://www.carsguide.com.au/site/tools-and-advice/petrol-prices/.
#2 – BLOW UP YOUR TYRES to the recommended tyre pressure. Just like when you ride a bike with flat tyres it takes more ‘energy’ to make it ‘go’. A flat tyre can affect fuel efficiency big time, not to mention your safety. Check and top-up your tyre pressure to the manufacturer’s recommendations fortnightly and it will save you fuel.
#3 GET YOUR GEARS RIGHT AND DON’T BE A REV-HEAD – You should always drive in the highest gear possible without straining the engine. Drop gears gradually while you brake gradually. I’ve read this will increase fuel efficiency by up to a third.
#4 SWTICH OFF – If you know you’re going to be stuck in traffic with your car completely stationary for longer than a minute, then switch the engine off. It takes less fuel to restart the car than it does to run it idle for that time.
#5 LIVE A LITTLE WITHOUT THE AIR-CON – When it’s comfortable enough, switch off the air-con. This can reduce fuel consumption by up to 10 percent when you’re zooming around a city.
#6 TURF THE GOLF CLUBS AND LIGHTEN THE LOAD It’s a dream to think I can play golf or go surfing every day. There’s no real need to store big items in your boot or back seat. Lighten your car’s load like I do and save heaps.
#7 DON’T SKIMP ON YOUR CAR SERVICE – Small things like dirty and blocked air filters can significantly increase fuel consumption. And although you do save petrol when your car breaks down (like my present situation) it’s not good to have a car that isn’t running at its optimum. DON’T skimp on the service.
#8 WORK OUT THE BEST DAY TO FILL UP – Fuel prices tend to be cheaper earlier in the week. Here’s a rough guide that changes from time to time.
Sydney: Monday and Tuesday
Melbourne: Monday and Tuesday
Brisbane: Sunday
Adelaide: Friday
Perth: Monday
Again, shop around online and follow price trends to work out the best day to fill ‘er up!
#9 SHOP-A-DOCKETS ALL ADD UP – The average 4c discount you get with a Woolworths or Coles shop-a-docket doesn’t sound like a lot – but over a year it all adds up. And keep an eye out for EXTRA fuel discounts on offer – Like I would normally, I bought over $30 worth of fruit and veg at Woolworths on the last long weekend we had and I was automatically given a voucher for 14c off per litre! That was certainly worth it.
AND MY FAVOURITE…
#10 FOLLOW THE WAY OF THE TIGHT ARTIST – Take full advantage of the standard practice of rounding prices down to the nearest tangible value (takes you back to grade five maths doesn’t it!).
Watch the video to find out more…
By following a few or all of these tips you’ll be saving significantly on petrol in no time like me.
If you have any other money-saving tips, leave a comment. We’d love to hear them.
Cheers,
Greg Ellis
