{"id":852985,"date":"2026-03-08T13:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-08T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=852985"},"modified":"2026-03-06T17:27:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T15:27:54","slug":"5-ways-motorists-can-save-petrol-in-south-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/motoring\/852985\/5-ways-motorists-can-save-petrol-in-south-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"5 ways motorists can save petrol in South Africa"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>South Africans are at risk of higher fuel prices in the coming months amid the crisis in the Middle East.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The USA and Israel launched military strikes on Iran over the last week, which have led to over 1,000 deaths, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Iran responded by launching attacks in several nearby Arab nations that house US military bases, including Qatar, the UAE and Kuwait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On top of the physical risks to South Africans living in the region, the conflict is set to have a massive impact on fuel prices, given the region&#8217;s vast oil reserves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Data for the end of the first week of March showed massive under-recoveries for petrol and diesel prices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Petrol prices are showing an under-recovery of R2.40 per litre, while diesel prices are in the red by about R4.50 per litre. These are the projected levels at mid-month:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Petrol 93:<\/strong>\u00a0increase\u00a0of R2.28 per litre<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Petrol 95:<\/strong>\u00a0increase\u00a0of R2.41 per litre<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Diesel 0.05% (wholesale):\u00a0<\/strong>increase\u00a0of R4.39 per litre<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Diesel 0.005% (wholesale):<\/strong>\u00a0increase\u00a0of R4.50 per litre<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Illuminating paraffin:<\/strong>\u00a0increase\u00a0of R6.60 per litre.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The CEO of MasterDrive, Eugene Herbert, said that the uncertainty around current economic events and the possibility of ongoing price increases make saving fuel at every opportunity vital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While there are several other well-known methods to save fuel, such as avoiding speeding or not idling, Herbert provided a host of other, less commonly discussed ways to ensure optimal fuel consumption. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Low-quality engine oil<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Oil-barrels.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Oil-barrels-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-840916\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Oil-barrels-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Oil-barrels-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Oil-barrels-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Oil-barrels.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Using oil with the wrong viscosity will put pistons and other moving parts under more pressure, which requires more fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Check your manual or ask your dealership for the correct engine oil and do not neglect to change your oil at the correct mileage,&#8221; said Herbert. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Tyre condition<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Burst-car-tyre-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"625\" src=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Burst-car-tyre-1-1024x625.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-807540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Burst-car-tyre-1-1024x625.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Burst-car-tyre-1-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Burst-car-tyre-1-768x469.jpg 768w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Burst-car-tyre-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Bad tyres also have less traction and use more fuel as they spin faster to maintain speed. Low tyre pressure and misaligned tyres may also increase fuel consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is on top of the other risk factors associated with tyres in poor condition, including reduced grip and a higher risk of blowouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Avoid short trips<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/cars.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/cars-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-775701\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/cars-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/cars-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/cars-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/cars.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Trips less than 5km consume more fuel because the vehicle has not warmed up yet, which is especially the case for older engines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, modern fuel-injected vehicles also run richer and less efficiently during the first few minutes of operation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Where possible, combine your errands and get all your chores done on the same day to get more kilometres from your tank,&#8221; said Herbert. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Car servicing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/chinese-cars-1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/chinese-cars-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-835095\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/chinese-cars-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/chinese-cars-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/chinese-cars-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/chinese-cars-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Bad car services, which include failure to replace spark plugs or fuel and air filters, can increase fuel consumption. Worn fuel injectors can also cause fuel to burn faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Do not neglect to replace faulty parts or neglect to service your vehicle on time.&#8221; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Bad driving<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a  data-lightbox=\"post-image\" href=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/alberton-e1771248841877.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/alberton-e1771248841877-1024x577.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-851130\" srcset=\"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/alberton-e1771248841877-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/alberton-e1771248841877-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/alberton-e1771248841877-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/alberton-e1771248841877.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Driving in the wrong gear, accelerating harshly from a standstill, or driving in high gears up hills or around corners all lead to increased fuel use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Manual vehicle drivers with bad clutch control or worn clutches can also lead to increased consumption. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Every effort one makes to conserve fuel makes a difference. When all of these are combined, the effect will be even greater,&#8221; said Herbert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>South Africans should brace for higher fuel prices following the US and Israel&#8217;s attacks on Iran. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":95,"featured_media":796944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11119],"tags":[10620],"class_list":["post-852985","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-motoring","tag-masterdrive"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/852985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/95"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=852985"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/852985\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":853113,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/852985\/revisions\/853113"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/796944"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=852985"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=852985"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=852985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}