How to Save Fuel on Long Trips in South Africa
Fuel is expensive in South Africa. But small changes in how you drive can save you 15-20% on every trip. Here are the easiest ways to use less fuel.
Key Takeaways
- Driving at 100-110 km/h instead of 140 km/h saves 20-30% fuel
- Keep your tyres at the correct pressure — low tyres waste fuel
- Use cruise control on highways to maintain steady speed
- Air conditioning uses extra fuel — use it wisely
- Remove roof racks and heavy items you don't need
Slow down
This is the single biggest fuel saver. At 140 km/h your car uses 20-30% more fuel than at 110 km/h. The engine works much harder to push against wind at high speed. On a Joburg to Cape Town trip, driving at 110 instead of 140 saves you about R300-R500 in fuel.
- 110 km/h is the sweet spot for most cars
- 140 km/h uses 20-30% more fuel than 110 km/h
- You arrive 30-45 minutes later on a 1400km trip
- But you save R300-R500 in fuel
- Less stress and safer too
Check your tyre pressure
Under-inflated tyres create more rolling resistance, which means your engine works harder. Check your tyre pressure before every long trip. The correct pressure is on a sticker inside your driver's door. Even 0.5 bar too low can increase fuel use by 5%.
- Check pressure when tyres are cold (before driving)
- Correct pressure is on the sticker inside your door
- Under-inflated tyres waste 3-5% more fuel
- Also check your spare tyre
Use cruise control
If your car has cruise control, use it on the highway. Keeping a constant speed is more fuel-efficient than speeding up and slowing down. Your foot on the pedal naturally varies speed, which wastes fuel.
- Constant speed = less fuel than varying speed
- Set cruise control at 100-110 km/h
- Turn it off in hilly areas (it accelerates too hard uphill)
- Also saves you from accidental speeding fines
Reduce weight and drag
Remove anything heavy you don't need for the trip. Every 50kg of extra weight increases fuel consumption by about 2%. Also remove roof racks, bike carriers, or roof boxes if you're not using them — they create wind drag that wastes fuel.
- Remove unnecessary heavy items from the boot
- Take off roof racks when not in use
- Close windows at highway speed (open windows = drag)
- Don't fill the tank completely if you're just going to town
Plan your stops
Fill up at the cheapest fuel stations along your route (coastal areas are cheaper than inland). Avoid filling up at highway service stations if possible — they are sometimes more expensive. Plan your route to avoid heavy traffic and stop-start driving.
- Coastal fuel is R1-R1.50 cheaper per litre than inland
- Fill up before entering Gauteng if coming from the coast
- Avoid peak traffic times when leaving cities
- Use the N-routes rather than going through towns
Ready to see your own numbers?
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