South Africans are bracing for another hit at the pumps, with escalating conflict in the Middle East sending global oil prices rocketing. The unrest has disrupted shipping routes, pushing Brent crude well above the $100 per barrel mark before a light recovery.
This translates to a grim outlook for local motorists, with mid-month data suggesting petrol could jump by more than R2,40 a litre, while diesel might see an increase of around R4,50.
As a net importer of oil, the country feels these global tremors almost instantly. It means that making every drop count is no longer just a good idea—it's a financial necessity. Here’s a look at practical, no-nonsense ways to fight back against the rising costs.
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Smooth Driving and Speed Control
How you handle the accelerator has a direct impact on your fuel gauge. Pushing to 120 km/h on the highway uses significantly more juice than cruising at 110 km/h—savings can be as high as 15%. In busy traffic, particularly in urban centres like Johannesburg, aggressive acceleration can burn through 40% more fuel. For long, flat stretches, engaging cruise control helps maintain a steady pace, improving efficiency by up to 14%.
Tyre Maintenance Matters
Under-inflated or misaligned tyres are silent fuel guzzlers. They increase rolling resistance, forcing the engine to work harder. Simply keeping tyres pumped to the correct pressure can improve efficiency by around 5%. Before any long-distance trip, especially with a full load, it’s worth checking they are inflated to the right specification. With freight costs climbing due to ships taking the longer route around the Cape, every small saving at the pump helps buffer against wider economic pressures.
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Lighten the Load and Cut the Drag
Driving with a roof rack when it’s not needed is like driving into a headwind. Removing it can reduce fuel consumption by as much as 25%. Similarly, while driving with windows down is fine in town, it creates drag on the highway—best to keep them closed and use the aircon. Also, take a moment to clear out the boot. An extra 50kg of unnecessary weight will have a noticeable effect on how often you need to fill up.
Stick to Your Service Schedule
A well-tuned engine is a fuel-efficient engine. Simple maintenance makes a real difference. Using the correct grade of engine oil reduces friction, while replacing a dirty air filter or worn spark plugs can prevent consumption from creeping up by as much as 20%. Even a struggling battery puts extra strain on the alternator, which in turn uses more fuel.
Think Before You Drive
Short trips are particularly hard on fuel, as the engine runs inefficiently until it warms up. Where possible, try to combine several errands into one round trip, which can save between 15% and 20% on fuel. If you can, avoid rush-hour gridlock; sometimes a slightly longer route with a steady flow of traffic is actually more economical.
With the global oil supply under pressure and the rand feeling the heat as investors move to safer currencies, volatile fuel prices are likely here to stay. While we can’t control the geopolitics driving the cost, how we drive and maintain our vehicles is still firmly in our hands.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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