Shahzad Sheikh driving expert and editor in chief of Motoring Middle East
With the deregulation of fuel prices from August 1, drivers in the UAE are paying more at the pump than ever before. While petrol prices are still considerably cheaper than many countries around the world, some UAE residents fear the hike in fuel will hit them hard in the pocket, and add to already increasing living costs.
Shahzad Sheikh, driving expert and editor in chief of Motoring Middle East, looks at the issue of rising petrol prices and offers tips on how to save fuel.
Q. Should I change cars?
Not necessarily. Considering the potentially high cost-to-change, unless you’re doing a tremendous amount of mileage per year, that may actually be a false economy. If you do average mileage, you should look at using fuel-saving techniques and smarter driving to reduce your overall fuel bills. We’re very wasteful in the way we drive in this region because we’ve enjoyed cheap fuel for so long.
Q. I need to buy a new car – is it smarter to buy a hybrid or diesel car now?
The temptation is to go out and buy a diesel right now because of these fuel prices, but really unless you need to do a lot of mileage annually, sometimes it doesn’t work out much cheaper overall. Also there is still a stigma attached to diesel cars here, the quality of the diesel fuel is not always appropriate for modern diesel engines and the pumps are normally in the ‘truck’ section. It might take a little longer for our region to fully embrace diesel and support it with an updated infrastructure. If you’re really concerned about fuel saving, just think of buying a smaller, more economical car – a 1.2-litre motor instead of a 2.0, or a turbo four-cylinder instead of a V6 etc… Hybrids are also another option, but they tend to be less economical for our region as we do longer, higher-speed driving here, and use air conditioning constantly. They are cleaner for the environment and will save a bit of fuel, but are generally more expensive to buy.
Q. How reliable and affordable to maintain are diesel or hybrid cars?
They shouldn’t be any more or less reliable or expensive than normal cars, frankly. It’s the cost of purchase you have to worry about and putting poor-quality fuel in your diesel engine could leave you with expensive repair bills.
Q. How can I change my driving habits to make the most of my petrol consumption?
There are a number of techniques, from hypermiling (fuel-saving driving techniques) to keeping your car in good condition, keeping the weight down, removing anything that effects aerodynamic air flow, etc. Here are some options to consider: Look after your car. Your car is most fuel-efficient when it’s working at optimum levels, and the only way to ensure that is to regularlySERVICE
your car and have it checked to make sure everything is operating as it should be.
your car and have it checked to make sure everything is operating as it should be.
Also, make sure your tyres are in the best of condition, but remember that if they’re not at the correct pressure that also costs you fuel – under-inflated tyres can increase fuel consumption by up to 3 per cent! Clear out anything unnecessary from your car. It should be pretty obvious that the more weight you carry around in your car, the more fuel you will use. And yet people sometimes use their cars as extraHOME storage!
storage!
Air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent, so opening the windows at low speed and leaving the a/c off will actuallySAVE you fuel. However, above 100kph it’s actually better to use the AC and keep the windows closed.
you fuel. However, above 100kph it’s actually better to use the AC and keep the windows closed.
Lighten the power load too – using the electrics (stereo, lights, wipers, charging devices) at lower speeds also consumes extra fuel.
Park smart! Sometimes we get to a mall and drive around for ages trying to find a good spot near the entrance, when in fact you should park close to the car park exit (a shorter distance to get out), and you won’t waste fuel driving about. Park facing outwards so that you can start up and drive off immediately without having to cautiously back out and worry about other cars or pedestrians.
Q. Will I use more fuel stuck in traffic on a shorter route or without traffic on a longer route?
You tend to use more fuel stuck in traffic, particularly as we always run the AC here and don’t use the auto stop-start function on modern cars. Driving at moderate revs/speeds on longer free-flowing routes will be more economical. That’s why you should plan your journey and check rush hour times before leaving. Choose the most direct route, use apps like Google maps and the brilliant Dubai RTA Smart Drive app that shows traffic congestion, to help you. Remember getting lost will gulp extra fuel.
Q. Will it help if I turn my engine off at traffic lights?
It does, once the engine is warmed up. Cold starts use more fuel. But it means killing the a/c and most of us can’t live without that here.
Q. Will it help if I switch off the AC or stereo for part of my journey?
Yes, cutting the AC makes a substantial difference – but it’s still more economical to use the aircon than drive at higher speeds with the windows open as the draught reduces your fuel economy dramatically. Switching off electronics will also slightly reduce energy use, but don’t compromise on safety – don’t, for example, turn off your lights at night!
Q. Will going faster and getting to my destination sooner mean I used up less petrol?
No. Driving fast uses more fuel.
Q. Is there an optimum speed I should drive at to get the most for my fuel?
Drive at moderate revs and change up gears as soon as possible. Just be gentle and smooth.
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