Fuel-saving myths to ignore
The supplier of motor management solutions advises on fuel-saving myths to ignore. There are also some interesting tips we could use to save a little.
In May we enjoyed a slight relief in the petrol price but most of us are still looking at ways to cut back on the cost of living. There are lots of ways to save money on fuel, but some advice on this topic is out of date or simply wrong, warned Barend Smit, Marketing Director of MotorHappy.
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Below are the top four fuel-saving myths to ignore:
• Myth #1: Premium fuel is best
Many people believe that using high-octane fuel somehow improves their engine’s power. That is not necessarily true,” said Barend.
“If your car manufacturer recommends using premium fuel, then you should stick to the manufacturer’s guidelines. This is usually the case with high-performance cars.
“However, if you drive a ‘regular’ car, you can use regular fuel. Paying for premium fuel offers no benefit to your car: It won’t perform better, get more mileage, go faster, or run cleaner. Paying for premium petrol when your car is built for regular fuel will only benefit the petrol companies.”
• Myth #2: Warm up your car before driving
Don’t waste petrol on warming up your car’s engine. Smit explains that while older engines took longer to warm up, engines based on new technology can do so in 20 to 30 seconds. You can drive your car immediately. Just don’t accelerate heavily during the first few minutes.
Save petrol by minimising the time spent idling your car. In cold weather, the engine will warm up faster once you’re driving,” he said.
• Myth #3: You’ll get more fuel if you fill up in the morning
The theory says that petrol expands at higher temperatures and becomes denser in the cold mornings. So, if you fill-up the petrol tank on a cold morning, you’ll get more fuel since the quantity of fuel is measured in litres rather than kilograms or pounds.
But there is one flaw in the theory: Fuel reservoirs at gas stations don’t experience huge fluctuations in temperature. The tanks are covered with concrete to avoid heat conduction. Hence, no matter the outside temperature, the temperature and quantity of the fuel stay the same.
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• Myth #4: Letting your car idle is more fuel efficient than turning it on and off
It is an old myth that restarting your engine consumes more fuel than letting it idle for several minutes.
“This was true in the case of engines that used carburettors,” Barend added. However, newer engines that use direct or electronic fuel injection techniques are more intelligent than that. If your car was manufactured after 1980 and doesn’t use a carburettor, turning it off saves more petrol than idling.
One of the tried and tested ways to save petrol is by regularly maintaining your car. This will help your car achieve its most efficient fuel economy.
Some overlooked maintenance items [like a dirty air filter] can increase your fuel cost up to 13%. Most maintenance plans include such items, so investing in a comprehensive plan can help you save on fuel long-term, and it will help keep your car on the road for longer,” concluded Barend.
