Here are a few tips to minimise petrol use and save some Riyals!

Qatari authorities recently decided to regulate its petrol prices to reflect global changes. While the prices have not seen dramatic highs or lows, things could change once the global oil glut dies down.

With a little care, you can optimise the amount of fuel your car uses. And in the long run, it can definitely help you save a few riyals here and there.

Qatar Living has collected some tips as to how to minimise fuel consumption. Do you have more suggestions? Let us know in the comment section and we’ll add it to this.

1. Try not to drive during rush hour

While this is a tough one to follow in Doha, a little bit of planning can help you save much on fuel costs. Travelling in traffic jams is an expensive way to move. Each time you stop and start again, the car needs to do so in first and second gears. Both these gears are huge fuel guzzlers. In addition, you can also save fuel by understanding the traffic ahead and travelling steadily at a slow speed, rather than accelerating and braking.

2. Close the windows and sunroof while on open roads

While it’s not a problem while driving in town, the shape of your car becomes very important when you’re moving more quickly, on a motorway for example. The car’s sleek aerodynamics helps reduce the ‘drag’ on it while travelling at high speeds.

While you cannot do much about your car’s design, you can avoid making things worse by keeping the windows and sunroof closed.

3. Remove the roof rack/ski box

While not a very common sight in Qatar, some cars do have mammoth roof racks/ski boxes installed. Removing them will help you save a lot. This is because even if the roof rack is empty, it increases drag and makes your car consume much more fuel than necessary. Even if you need them, go for ones that can be easily attached and detached. Remove after use.

4. Don't carry round unnecessary weight

This is simple science. The heavier your car is, the more fuel you will use to get it to move. Don’t carry stuff around in the boot of your car unless you need it. You may prefer to leave heavy items in the boot rather than remove them (owing to laziness), but it will only help burn a hole in your pocket.

5. Accelerate smoothly

What is the ideal speed to travel for maximum fuel efficiency? Experts say it is about 80kmph. If you’re a patient driver, your fuel bills will be that much lower. While it’s impossible to not overtake at some point of time, resisting the urge to constantly accelerate (simply to get in front of the car ahead) will reflect significantly on your fuel bill.

6. Stick to the speed limit

Don’t believe the hype. The maximum time you can save on a 300km highway trip, if you travel at 130kmph instead of 110kmph, is just 20 minutes. But the amount of petrol a car uses up to save you 20 minutes is insane. Don’t do it unless you’re in a big hurry and every minute counts.

7. Check tyre pressures regularly

This is really a no-brainer. Maintaining optimum pressure on your tyres is important not only to save fuel, but also to keep you safe. The lower the tyre pressure, the more fuel the car needs to move it along. It will be wise to check your tyre pressure every fortnight, or at least once a month at the minimum.

8. Avoid tailgating

You can avoid wasting fuel by not tailgating. In such instances, you'll often press the gas to regain the speed lost from braking, which forces you to correct your following distance by applying your brakes, causing a vicious cycle. This constant up and down uses up more fuel than ever.

Repeated braking wastes energy. It gets converted into unnecessary heat energy and greatly reduces the service life of your brakes.

9. Drive until your tank is close to empty.

This again is simple science — a lighter car uses lesser fuel. What makes your car lighter? Not having a full tank. When you hit that 1/3 mark and are tempted to fill up, give it a couple of days. That last 1/3 may last you a bit longer than the first third.

10. Avoid excessive idling.

If you idle your car for more than a minute, it’ll save gas to turn off the engine. Also, new cars do not need to be ‘warmed up’ on a cold winter day — a few seconds should do the trick. Whenever you're waiting for someone, turn off the idle. Drive thru diner or going inside? Going inside, definitely. All saves gas.

11. Turn all electronics off before cutting the engine.

Sure, when we cut the engine, everything goes off. But what about when we start it back up? If you turn everything off, the next time you start up your car, it'll take way less gas to get everything going.

12. Regularly service your car

When manufacturers set definite time frames to maintain your car, they do it for a reason. Keeping your car regularly serviced will help save fuel. Changing spark plugs and wires on schedule helps keep fuel wastage at a minimum. The better your engine runs, the more power it’ll produce on lesser fuel.

13. Don’t blindly buy premium fuel

This may sound surprising, but higher-octane petrol may not always be the best suit for your car. Don’t buy it unless your vehicle requires it. Octane has nothing to do with gasoline performance. It merely indicates the volatility factor in the combustion chamber. Unless your vehicle owner’s manual specifically requires it, don’t use premium fuel. It works out much cheaper in the long run.