50 ringgit of petrol used to last me about 2 1/2 days. That was already much for me but now it costs me about 60 - 70 ringgit! Waa...!! Pak Lah said there will be no more price increase of petrol till next year - but...what if price of oil keeps going up??? Hmm ..??
After dismissing the thought of boycotting petrol stations (heh, heh - wishful thinking) – won’t get the kids to school or you to work lah – but still gotta think about some real options right?
SO ... part of my budget restructuring drive involves changing my car!! From a 2000cc car, I'll be getting my 1500cc car this week! From a RM300+ - 15" tyres, this new car will only have RM100+ - (14") tyres. Not only maintenance but my road-tax too will be very much reduced! Alhamdulillah...! I love my current car but NO! - I'll have to love myself MORE!
However, if you guys are happy with your cars right now and have no intention (not pressured) of changing them like me (my purse currently have a very limited stretchability!), maybe I can share with you some tips on how we could cut our petrol bill further. Here goes :
1. Don’t drive as much.
Don't worry, this isn’t as painful as it sounds. We are all accustomed to our cars providing mobility on demand. It is a good thing when it isn’t hurting our purses or wallets but not so good when the reverse is true. That's what's happening today. Agree?
So better to plan ahead. A great strategy in saving petrol is to consolidate your day’s errands into sequential trips one after another.
2. Ease off on the pedal, Speed Racer.
Okay, take it easy from one traffic light to another. Avoid quick starts and stops cuz it does make a significant difference in fuel economy. Give it a try. Smooth out your pedal pressure at highway speeds as well.
3. Feeling the need for speed? Let it go.
It’s easy to forget about speed limits especially on highways where traffic seems to be zooming passed you, isn't it? Do you realise that fuel efficiency diminishes rapidly above 60 mph (96.6 kph) ? In fact, it seems that for each 5 mph (8.05 kph) driven above that speed, it has the net effect of costing you about several cents more per litre of petrol.
4. Check your tyre pressure weekly and keep your air tyres up to the recommended psi.
This is so simple but does everyone do it regularly? Not really. And that’s too bad. Do you know that tyres with low pressure create greater rolling resistance? That alone can cost you up to 3 percent in fuel efficiency!
Remember, tyres heat up upon driving and if you were to check them while still hot, you will get an artificially high reading. So, make a habit of checking tyre pressure before driving when your tyres are cold.
5. If you’re using mid-grade or premium fuel, check if you really need to do this.
Some high-compression engines do require higher octane fuel to run properly. In fact serious engine damage could result from using a lower grade fuel than from what is specified in your owner’s manual. But if you don’t need premium fuel why should you be using it? Premium fuel costs more per litre but doesn’t provide better performance in engines designed to run on regular … so you’re actually pumping cash out your exhaust pipe. Food or rather fuel for thoughts folks?
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