Fuel price hikes that seem never-ending have many of us coming up with all sorts of ways to save money at the pump. To do this, it’s worth knowing what your car’s fuel consumption is, so that you can budget more accurately, as well as make improvements when it comes to how you drive.
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The Automobile Association (AA) notes the following factors that could affect your car’s fuel consumption:
1. Irregular servicing
2. Underinflated tyres
3. Air conditioning
4. Traffic density
5. Air temperature
6. Humidity
7. The way you drive your car
According to the AA in New Zealand, it’s estimated that 8% more fuel can be used on a return intercity trip when air conditioning is used for most of the journey. In hot summer months, this can definitely affect your fuel consumption negatively, especially when you’re sitting in peak-hour traffic.
Related: How to beat the recent fuel increase
Calculating your car’s fuel consumption
To make sure the numbers are as accurate as possible when calculating fuel consumption, follow these steps below:
1. Fill up your car until the self-trigger mechanism clicks (work from a full tank).
2. Zero your trip meter.
3. Drive your car like you normally do – to work and back, on highways or arterial roads and so on.
3. Drive for about 400km.
4. Fill up your tank again.
5. Write down your distance travelled, and litres of fuel used.
Now, you’ll be able to calculate your car’s efficiency, based on how you normally drive:
1. Divide the distance travelled by the litres used and you will get the km/litre.
2. Convert km/litre to litre/100 km – divide 100 by km/litre.
For the most accurate results, the AA recommends doing this test twice and comparing results, bearing in mind traffic flow, weather conditions and whether you made any changes to how you drive.
From: WOW
PHOTO: iStock/NithidPhoto
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