What practical tips do you have to Reduce my weekly fuel bill?

Given that pressure on prices is expected to remain high, modifying how (and when) you drive a car offers the best opportunity to manage how much you spend on fuel.

Many people are paying for more expensive fuel than they need to. A recent report presented to the Ministry of Economic Development shows that only a very few cars need 98 Octane fuel, with the vast majority designed to run well on Premium 95 octane or Regular 91 octane petrol. To keep your fuel bill down always buy the lowest recommended octane grade your car needs as the higher octane grades offer no performance benefits if the engine is not designed to take full advantage of it. You may be interested to know that Regular 91 is the recommended grade for most cars.

Using Havoline Energy in your car can reduce your fuel consumption by up to 6%. Check out: Caltex Havoline® Energy

Here are a few tips from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority to be more fuel efficient in the way you drive your car. Implementing these could save you 30 per cent on your fuel bill:

• Think before you drive - Consider walking, cycling, or taking public transport before getting into your car. If you need to use the car, plan your journey. Picking up groceries and other items on the way home saves taking the car out later.
• Avoid short trips - You use 20% more fuel driving when your engine is cold.
• Drive smoothly - Make sure you accelerate smoothly. Change gear early (but don't labour the engine). If you drive an automatic, choose 'economy' gear switching as this will keep the engine speed down.
• Don't speed - Driving faster doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get there any faster. By travelling at 100km/h instead of 110km/h you can cut around 13% off your fuel bill.
• Look ahead - Check what's happening, maintain a safe following distance and you'll keep at a more constant speed. This uses less fuel than accelerating and braking all the time.
• Reduce idling time - If you're going to be stationary for more than 30 seconds, switch your engine off.
• Love your car - A little love goes a long way. Keeping your tyres at the right pressure saves fuel, as does checking your alignment, engine timing, air filter and spark plugs regularly.
• Watch your air con - Only use air conditioning when absolutely necessary as it tends to eat fuel, up to 10% more in fact. Other features such as the rear window demist can also be a drain, so make sure you switch them off when they've done their job.
• Keep your load down - Sounds obvious, but a heavier vehicle means more drag. So take those golf clubs out of the boot after the game, and remove the roof rack when you're not using it. The same goes for the bike rack.
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Copies of the EECA brochure are being distributed to all Caltex sites (download PDF) but for more driving tips visit http://www.energywise.org.nz/