Every month motorists wait for the fuel price announcement with the resignation of people who know they can do nothing about it, and with petrol and diesel among the biggest running costs in most households, the temptation is to stretch the next car service a little further to save money. A neglected engine tends to send that saving straight back through the fuel tank.
“With the rising fuel prices it’s better to keep maintenance in mind. Maintenance is better than cure,” said Justin, who manages Car Care Clinic at The Square in Sunninghill. “A clogged up air filter, bad fuel injectors, bad spark plugs, all those things will add to your fuel bill.”
How a car service helps you save fuel
The link between an engine’s condition and its consumption is straightforward. Worn spark plugs fire weakly or misfire, so part of the fuel in the cylinder is not burnt properly and the engine works harder for the same result. Dirty or leaking fuel injectors spray fuel unevenly instead of as a fine mist, which wastes fuel and costs power, and on diesel engines the injectors are among the most expensive parts to neglect. Air filters matter too, though the effect depends on the engine: the US Department of Energy notes that on modern fuel injected engines a clogged air filter mainly costs acceleration rather than economy, while on older carburettor engines it can hurt both by a few percent.
“So because of the fuel prices it’s really important to remember to check your air filters, your diesel injectors and your spark plugs,” Justin said.
Free savings in your own driveway
Some of the cheapest savings need no workshop at all. The same Department of Energy research found that keeping tyres at the correct pressure improves fuel consumption by 0.6% on average and by up to 3% in some cases, with economy dropping about 0.2% for every 1 psi the tyres are underinflated. Using the grade of engine oil the manufacturer recommends can improve consumption by a further 1% to 2%.
At Car Care Clinic, a petrol major service includes new oil and an oil and air filter change, new spark plugs (excluding platinum plugs), a computer diagnostics scan and a timing check, which the group links directly to fuel economy and engine health. A diesel major service swaps the spark plugs for a new diesel filter. Both include the free 76 point safety check and a written report, and the group says no extra work is done without the customer’s consent.
Car Care Clinic Sunninghill is at Sunninghill Square, on the corner of Leeukop Street and Naivasha Road, on 011 202 5244 or sunninghill@carcareclinic.co.za.
