Budgeting Finance Share Tweet The general consensus seems to be that petrol is never going to be much less expensive than it is right now. Some experts even believe that $2/litre petrol is likely in the future. In light of this making, an effort to save on your fuel bill is a wise decision. While you might not be able to do much about the price, there are several ways to both save on petrol as well as use less petrol. Below are several strategies to help you save money on fuel. It’s nice when your petrol tank and wallet are both full at the same time. Find the lowest petrol prices. It used to be said that fuel prices were cheaper on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, however nowadays prices are much less predictable. It is mandatory for petrol stations to report their prices within minutes of changing them. As a result, there are numerous websites and phone apps available that will provide you with the cheapest petrol prices in your area. The most popular site and app is Petrol Spy. The website and app are both free and very easy to use. It’s not unusual to save $0.10/litre or more with just a quick glance. If you register with Petrolspy, you can even win free petrol! Checking online or via an app for the cheapest fuel prices can help you save on your fuel bill, but there are also some simple changes you can make to your driving habits that can help reduce your car’s fuel consumption and therefore your overall cost. Avoid heavy traffic. Always easier said than done, but if you’re not using all the tools that are available, you’re sitting in traffic more than necessary. Between the radio, GPS systems, and phone apps, there’s plenty of information out there to help. If possible, drive during times of the day likely to have less traffic. Your car is much more fuel-efficient when it can travel at a constant speed. Ensure that your tyres are properly inflated and balanced. Tyres with the proper tyre pressure and a decent alignment give your car as much as 3.5% better fuel consumption. Low-pressure increases rolling resistance and fuel use. There are also inexpensive air pumps that plug into your car and can inflate a tyre in a couple of minutes. Check your vehicle’s tyre pressure once a week. The correct tyre pressures will reduce rolling resistance and reduce fuel consumption by up to two per cent, plus the correct pressures will maximise the life of your tyres. Slow down! Most cars provide the best fuel efficiency around 90 kph. Increasing your freeway cruising speed from 90km/h to 120km/h can raise fuel consumption by as much as 20%. You can improve your petrol consumption by 10 – 15% by driving at 90km/h rather than 104km/h. The “sweet spot” for most cars, trucks, and SUVs is even lower, between 30 mph (50 km/h) and 50 mph (80 km/h). Slow down and save on fuel costs. Save fuel and your demerit points by keeping your speed down. Check your oil, transmission, and differential fluids. Keeping your lubricants at the proper level not only minimises wear and tear but also allows your car to operate with less friction. Having your car serviced regularly will ensure your engine is in peak condition to make the most of every litre of fuel you buy it. Less friction means more kilometres per litre. Remove the roof rack or ski box This is just like leaving the windows open, but worse. Even if the roof rack is empty, it increases drag and makes your car use more fuel, while a big ski box is like having another car strapped to your roof. The latest roof racks and ski boxes are quick and easy to fit and remove, so make the effort to stow them away when you’re not using them. Roof racks and roof-top boxes also increase wind resistance and therefore increase fuel consumption and fuel costs. Get your petrol away from the city. Large cities frequently have higher petrol prices. When you happen to find yourself away from the bright lights, fill up your tank. Avoid buying premium petrol. A few cars are designed to run on higher-octane petrol; their higher compression engines require it. However, 99% of the cars on the road don’t need it and will not run any better or more efficiently because of it. Save your money and buy the regular stuff. Don’t carry unnecessary weight Just like your body, your car needs more fuel to move around more weight. So don’t cart stuff around in the boot of your car unless you need it. Ironically, the heavier the item (the usual culprits are golf clubs and trolleys), the less likely you are to bother taking it out of the boot and the greater the effect it will have on your fuel consumption. Simply don’t drive. Drive as little as you can. Use your bike, hitch a ride with a friend, or catch public transport. Consider purchasing a more economical vehicle. Anytime you can get someone else to drive you can also get some work done. Try to leave the car at home. Become car-free. One of the easiest ways of saving money on fuel is to live without a car. Do everything you can within reason to save money at the pump. It’s a necessary expense for many of us, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take steps to minimise that expense. With a little attention, you can save a significant amount of money. Like this article? If you enjoyed reading this article, then please like our Facebook page for further money-saving updates. If you have friends or colleagues who may enjoy this post, please share it with them on social media.