With the economy fried and the rising cost of living making headlines, we’re given daily tips and advice on how to shrink our expenses.
When it comes to cars, it’s not as simple as choosing a home-cooked meal over Tasha’s unbelievably tasty lamb cutlets.
As far as selecting a fuel-saving car goes, engine size plays a major role. However, it’s not as cut-and-dried as that. There are other factors to consider, such as the reality that smaller engines can in fact increase fuel consumption.
READ MORE: Take a look at five of the most fuel-efficient luxury cars in SA
Mass is also paramount in saving fuel. Less of it usually results in better fuel consumption. Attach a small engine to a heavy car and you’ll pay dearly.
The boys over at DESTINY MAN decided to undertake the challenge of driving long distance with minimal fuel in a bid to give you valuable tips on how to keep fuel consumption low.
DESTINY MAN chose the BMW 320i for this challenge. Equipped with BMW’s EfficientDynamics Package that comes with ECO PRO and Auto Start/Stop, which switches off the engine when the vehicle is at a stop longer than a few seconds, decreasing wastage of precious fuel.
READ MORE: Tips for stretching your rand
This proved handy, as the team realised they wouldn’t be able to shut off the aircon for the trip as around this time of the year, when the Polokwane sun is absolutely searing.
Our intreprid driver also relied on BMW’s radar cruise-control, allowing the car to sail effortlessly with sensors monitoring traffic flow ahead with automatic brake and throttle regulation that also assists in keeping fuel consumption low.
The rest is more technical. If you’re interested, you can read an account of the trip: here.
READ MORE: 10 things to do before buying a car
Here are some tips gleaned from the experiment . . .
Ways to stretch fuel usage
1. Keep weight down by removing unnecessary items in the car. Get rid of any junk in your boot.
2. Use a vehicle’s climate control instead of opening windows. A car’s aerodynamic efficiency is best with the windows shut.
3. If you can, get a car with cruise control. It’s a good tool for consistent, linear throttle inputs, which human legs have no hope of mustering. It’ll save you fuel in the long run.
4. Adopt a smooth driving style and avoid harsh throttle and unnecessary braking on open roads. with good timing when executing overtaking manoeuvres.
5. Plan ahead by choosing quieter roads or embark on journeys during off-peak times.
6. Keep your car’s exterior clean – in fact, polish it often. Drag forms when it passes over dirty surfaces and increases fuel consumption.
7. Keep tyre pressures at specified levels and ensure equilibrium at all four corners. A hobbling car will quaff its fuel supply.
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