Higher Oil Prices: 10 Ways To Save Money On Your Vehicle’s Petrol Consumption

The oil markets are cyclical. If we own a motor vehicle, our emotions too will swing with the cycle. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that when oil prices go up, many motorists look for ways to save on their fuel costs. It costs more to travel the same distance without any additional benefit to us.

Switching to a more fuel-efficient hybrid car, or even a Tesla, could be an ideal long-term solution, but may not be practical, especially if we are not nearing the tail-end of our car’s certificate of entitlement (COE).

The next best step is to be penny-wise (and hopefully not pound-foolish) with our petrol consumption. By making small changes to our driving habits and being more attentive to the maintenance of our cars, we can slowly shave off a few dollars at each pump and compound our savings in the long run.

To help save money on our petrol expenses regardless of the price of petrol, we have collated 10 tips that can be implemented without any additional costs.

Read Also: Cheapest Cars In Singapore That You Can Buy In 2022

#1 Plan Your Route Before You Leave

In a small and digitally-connected country like Singapore, we tend to underestimate the need to pre-plan our routes. Most of us may have the mindset that even if we “horlan” (are lost), we can just U-turn and eventually find our way.

Though this may be true, you may end up driving an unnecessary number of kilometres. You’re not only wasting your time but also your fuel.

Unlike generations before us, we don’t have to sift through thick driving guidebooks to plan our routes.

With Google Maps and Waze, we have fairly accurate route planners that can suggest the shortest routes at the click of our fingertips. Furthermore, these apps also, provide real-time traffic information, which can help you avoid routes that may potentially lead to long traffic jams.

So, plan your route ahead before setting off.

#2 Be A More Patient Driver

How many times have we seen cars accelerate rapidly only to stop a few seconds later at the next traffic junction?

Aggressive driving habits like speeding, rapid acceleration, and sudden braking (aside from emergencies) increase your petrol consumption. According to the US Department Of Energy, such driving habits in stop-and-go traffic could affect your petrol mileage by around 10% to 40%.

Being gentle with your acceleration and adopting a more eco-style of driving will not only save you money, but it will also give your passengers a more comfortable ride.

#3 Do Not Keep Your Engine Idling

Many parents may be guilty of doing this whilst waiting to pick up their children from school. In a hot and humid country like Singapore, it’s natural for us to keep the engine running to keep the air conditioner functioning.

But an idling engine leads to fuel wastage and creates unnecessary pollution to the environment. If your car comes with a start/stop function, then it would be a good idea to use it to save on your fuel consumption.

This isn’t just a good habit either; it is an also offense under the Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emissions) Regulations to keep your engine idling. It carries a maximum fine of up to $5,000.

It pays you to do your part for Mother Earth!

#4 Do Not Keep Unnecessary Items In Your Car

How many of us have seen the boot of a car that belongs to someone we know that looks like a mini storeroom?

Over time, a lot of stuff gets in there, but just does not get taken out. If you are guilty of that, it’s probably a good time now to tidy it up. If you need some inspiration on tidying, check out Marie Kondo’s five-step tidying method.

These unwanted items not only occupy space in your car, but they also add more weight to your car, which eats into your fuel consumption.

So, keep your car as light as you can, not that you can do anything about your passengers’ weight.

#5 Do Not Tamper With Your Car’s Aero Dynamics

Modern cars are designed with aerodynamic features. However, when we add the roof rack or other decorative items (like flags or antlers), we are unwittingly introducing more drag on our cars.

If you are not transporting any items, like bicycles on the roof rack, you may want to remove it to have better aerodynamics, not to mention less weight.

Little actions like this go a long way in saving your fuel costs.

#6 Follow Your Car Maintenance Schedule

If you are buying a car first-hand, the manufacturer will provide you with a car maintenance schedule. This includes checks on the oil and coolant levels, air filter, headlights, and turn signals, to name a few.

Typically, these routine inspections must be done every 10,000 km or 6 months, whichever comes first. Some manufacturers may also void the warranty if the car is not regularly checked as scheduled.

This implies the importance of having to religiously follow up on your car’s maintenance schedule. This helps to keep your car in good working condition.

As an added incentive, you may also get a better resale value if you can show that you have been maintaining your car well.

Read Also: Why Going For Regular Car Servicing Is Similar To Going For Regular Health & Dental Check-Ups

#7 Check Your Vehicle’s Tyre Pressure Regularly

Pumping your tyres is definitely not as difficult as changing the car’s tyres itself. Even then, many may neglect to check their vehicle’s tyre pressure regularly.

Underinflated tyres can be both dangerous and costly, as they can increase fuel consumption by as much as 5%. However, an over-inflated tyre can decrease traction and cause the treads to wear out more quickly in the centre of the rubber.

So, the next time you wait at the petrol kiosk for your turn, you may want to get out and check your tyre pressure and tread depth. Your actions might remind other drivers to do the same too. And who knows, it could save someone’s life.

#8 No Need To Use Premium Grade Petrol

We usually have three choices at the petrol kiosk: the low-grade 92-Octane, the mid-grade 95-Octane, and the high-grade 98-Octane. We naturally assume that the higher the petrol grade, the better it is for our cars and their fuel mileage. But is this true?

On season 1, episode 19 of TalkingPoint, a dynamometer test was conducted on a 3-to-4-year-old Hyundai i30 to gauge the difference in torque required when cruising and the distance covered. The regular 92 grade and premium 98 grade were used for comparison. The findings showed little difference between the two grades of petrol in both power and mileage.

Therefore, if you are driving an average sedan car, it might be cheaper to switch to a lower grade of petrol or use the petrol grade recommended by the manufacturer. You do not need to use a higher petrol grade in the hopes of getting better mileage.

Read Also: Do Electric Vehicles Make Financial Sense in Singapore? Here’s How Electric, Hybrid And Petrol Cars Compare

#9 Stack The Credit Card That Gives The Highest Discounts To The Petrol Retailer Of Your Choice

This is probably not a ground-breaking tip for seasoned motorists. However, it is possible that many motorists are not fully stretching their dollars by using a credit card that offers the best discounts at the petrol retailer of their choice.

Aside from checking the fuel prices, you can also use Fuel Kaki to compare the best credit cards to use at each of the different petrol retailers.

(Hack): You do not have to worry about mixing petrol with different brands, as the fuel quality in Singapore, which has a RON rating, is similar across all petrol stations.

Furthermore, you may want to have more than one credit card and sign up for different loyalty programmes with multiple petrol retailers. This will save you the hassle when you need to pump at different petrol kiosks without having to lose out on your discounts.

Based on our checks, you can get as high as a 24% discount on fuel, down to as low as 14%, by pairing the different credit cards at the different petrol kiosks.

#10 Drive Less By Walking Short Distances

Another thing that you can do is to drive less.

When traveling short distances, say within a 1 km distance for lunch or running errands at the neighbourhood centre, you may choose to walk over instead of driving there.

The rationale here is that driving short distances involves more start-stop than driving long distances, which expends more fuel per km of distance travelled compared to cruising.

Furthermore, by walking, you will not only save on your fuel costs (and parking fees), but it also gives you an opportunity to clock your 10,000 steps for the National Steps Challenge. You can stay fit and active while saving money at the same time.

Read Also: Complete Guide To Buying A Car In Singapore

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