Abstrak

Harga petrol yang sentiasa meningkat sejak 10 tahun lalu dan sehingga ke tahun 2008 ini mendorong pengguna kenderaan bermotor terutama kereta akan berusaha mengurangkan kadar penggunaan bahan bakar pada tahap paling rendah. Langkah ini sangat perlu kerana penggunaan bahan api paling minimum dapat menjimatkan perbelanjaan petrol. Sehubungan itu, adalah penting bagi anda memerhatikan kadar penggunaan petrol kereta anda bukan semata-mata kerana harganya yang melambung tinggi ketika ini tetapi penggunaan petrol yang lebih daripada yang sepatutnya menandakan enjin kereta anda mengalami kerosakan.

Penjimatan Petrol

• Memandu dengan tenang. Sikap dan cara pemanduan kerana banyak mempengaruhi penggunaan petrol kereta. Jangan gopoh dan membuat sesuatu secara mengejut. Misalnya ketika menuju ke plaza tol atau membelok di selekoh tajam, janganlah tiba-tiba saja menukar gear daripada gear tinggi (misalnya gear 5) kepada gear rendah dan membrek sesuka hati. 

• Kurangkan berat/bebanan kereta. Anda juga perlu mengetahui apabila membawa bebanan yang lebih daripada kadar yang sesuai juga menyebabkan kadar penggunaan petrol melebihi dari tahap biasa. Jadi, jangan bawa barang yang tidak perlu (kereta anda bukan stor). Perhatikan dalam but kereta anda, mungkin ada banyak barang yang tidak sepatutnya berada dalam but tetapi dibawa ke sana ke mari. Penambahan berat sebanyak 50 kilogram meningkatkan penggunaan minyak sebanyak 2 peratus).

• Tayar diisi dengan tekanan angin yang betul. Tekanan angin mesti betul. Tekanan angin yang tidak mengikut spesifikasi mengakibatkan penggunaan minyak bertambah 5 peratus. Carta berat dan tekanan angin biasanya terpapar di tempat mengisi angin di mana-mana stesen minyak. Jangan biarkan tayar lembik dan kurang tekanan kerana ia menyebabkan kereta dipandu lebih berat dan ini tidak menjimatkan petrol.

• Lakukan penyelenggaraan dan servis berkala. Penalaan enjin yang teruk meningkatkan penggunaan minyak hingga lebih 50 peratus. Jangan malas pastikan palam pencucuh, tali kipas dan penapis udara diperiksa secara berkala.

• Kurangkan kelajuan tinggi. Lebih perlahan anda memandu, lebih jimat minyak digunakan (dan tidak disaman). Memandu melebihi 90 kilometer sejam (km/j) meningkatkan dengan ketara penggunaan minyak. Secara perbandingan, pada kelajuan 100 km/j, penggunaan minyak bertambah 10 peratus, 105 km/j (15 peratus) dan 110 km/j (25 peratus).

• Matikan saja enjin kereta jika menunggu sesuatu. Jika kereta tidak bergerak, matikan enjin jika sekadar menunggu seseorang. Menunggu suami, isteri atau kawan yang singgah di kedai runcit untuk membeli hatta satu barang kadang-kadang boleh jadi lama.  Ini kerana mungkin ada ramai orang di kedai atau tuan kedai mencari-cari duit tukar untuk memulangkan duit pelanggannya. Jadi, buka tingkap kereta dan tutup saja enjin untuk menjimatkan minyak petrol kereta anda.

• Bijak dalam penggunaan gear. Pilih gear yang sesuai dengan kelajuan. Menggunakan gear rendah untuk kelajuan tinggi menyebabkan pembaziran minyak kerana enjin menjadi lebih pantas. Jangan malu-malu menggunakan mod ‘ekonomi’ jika kereta anda memilikinya.

• Membrek secara beransur-ansur. Jika anda sudah tahu di mana hendak berhenti, misalnya di tol atau stesen minyak di tepi lebuhraya, perlahankan kenderaan secara beransur-ansur. Jangan brek mengejut.

• Rancang perjalanan. Jangan sekali-kali memulakan perjalanan tanpa terlebih dulu merancang jalan mana untuk kita ikut menuju ke destinasi. Ini termasuklah rancangan perjalanan untuk mengelakkan kesesakan lalu lintas dan pilihan jalan yang tidak banyak lampu traffic, banyak bonggol (menyebabkan anda  perlu kerap menukar gear yang akhirnya tidak membantu usaha penjimatan petrol kereta anda)

• Elakkan kesesakan lalulintas. Ini menjimatkan masa, wang dan mengelakkan tekanan. Jalan yang sesak juga menyebabkan anda mendapat kurang kilometer. Untuk penjimatan minyak, cari jalan yang kurang sesak. Jangan mengambil jalan singkat ke sesuatu destinasi jika jalan lebih jauh satu atau dua kilometer dipastikan lebih lancar.

• Panaskan enjin kereta sebelum memulakan perjalanan. Enjin dalam keadaan panas (panas yang normal) juga boleh membantu meningkatkan perbatuan (lebih kilometer) dan prestasi kereta anda. Terutamanya pada waktu pagi, jika boleh, biarkan enjin panas sebelum memulakan perjalanan.

• Minimumkan perjalanan jarak dekat. Kurangkan perjalanan jarak dekat kerana ini mampu meningkatkan penggunaan minyak sebanyak 40 peratus. Sebagai langkah penjimatan petrol, eloklah naik motosikal atau mungkin berbasikal (jika di kampung) untuk ke surau atau kedai berhampiran.

• Gunakan saiz tayar dan sport rim yang sesuai. Saiz port rim perlu disesuaikan dengan keupayaan kereta. Kalau wira 1.3, dan kita hendak menggunakan sport rim, cukuplah setakat saiz rim 14 Inci, kerana jika kita menggunakan saiz 15 inci, kekuatan pecutan kereta akan menurun, speedometer tidak merekodkan bacaan yang tepat, kesemua peralatan penyerap hentak akan lebih pendek jangka hayatnya dan yang paling penting, minyak petrol akan lebih sedikit. Jika saiz rim dan keupayaan tidak seimbang, ini tidak membantu langkah penjimatan petrol anda.

Barang Yang Perlu Dibawa.

• Anda harus membawa barang yang perlu saja seperti alat membaiki kereta dan alat yang dapat membantu ketika kecemasan. Karier (alat membawa barang atas bumbung kereta) juga boleh menambah penggunaan petrol pada kadar 5 peratus.

• Harus diingatkan, jangan sekali-kali memasang karier sekiranya anda tidak bercadang membawa barang berlebihan atas bumbung kereta. Karier menghalang udara berlepas ke belakang dengan sempurna ketika kereta memecut.
   

Kesimpulannya

Jika anda mendapati penggunaan petrol kereta anda sebulan sangat tinggi, periksalah puncanya terlebih dahulu. Ia mungkin berpunca daripada keadaan teknikal kereta atau mungkin sikap pemanduan anda. Maka, sebelum membeli sebarang alat bantuan mengurangkan penggunaan petrol di pasaran seperti eco-power compressor. eloklah anda mengamalkan tips-tips yang dinyatakan di atas.

Top 10 Fuel Saving Tips

Whether you drive a two-seat hybrid or a three-ton SUV, chances are you can squeeze a bit more distance out of each gallon of fuel -- and at today's gas prices, an improvement of just one or two miles per gallon (MPG) can really add up. These ten fuel saving tips have served me well over the years, and they can help you improve your car's fuel economy and take some of the sting out of high fuel prices. Most of these tips will give you a very slight increase in MPG -- but use several together and the gas mileage improvements will really add up.

1. Slow down

One of the best ways to save gas is to simply reduce your speed. As speed increases, fuel economy decreases exponentially. If you one of the "ten-over on the freeway" set, try driving the speed limit for a few days. You'll save a lot of fuel and your journey won't take much longer. (Just be sure you keep to the right, so you won't impede the less-enlightened.)

2. Check your tire pressure

Under-inflated tires are one of the most commonly ignored causes of crummy MPG. Tires lose air due to time (about 1 psi per month) and temperature (1 psi for every 10 degree drop); under-inflated tires have more rolling resistance, which means you need to burn more gas to keep your car moving. Buy a reliable tire gauge and check your tires at least once a month. Be sure to check them when they are cold, since driving the car warms up the tires along with the air inside them, which increases pressure and gives a falsely high reading. Use the inflation pressures shown in the owner's manual or on the data plate in the driver's door jamb.

3. Check your air filter

A dirty air filter restricts the flow of air into the engine, which harms performance and economy. Air filters are easy to check and change; remove the filter and hold it up to the sun. If you can't see light coming through it, you need a new one. Consider a K&N or similar "permanent" filter which is cleaned rather than changed; they are much less restrictive than throw-away paper filters, plus they're better for the environment.

4. Accelerate with care

Jack-rabbit starts are an obvious fuel-waster -- but that doesn't mean you should crawl away from every light. If you drive an automatic, accelerate moderately so the transmission can shift up into the higher gears. Stick-shifters should shift early to keep the revs down, but don't lug the engine -- downshift if you need to accelerate. Keep an eye well down the road for potential slowdowns. If you accelerate to speed then have to brake right away, that's wasted fuel.

5. Hang with the trucks

Ever notice how, in bad traffic jams, cars seem to constantly speed up and slow down, while trucks tend to roll along at the same leisurely pace? A constant speed keeps shifting to a minimum -- important to those who have to wrangle with those ten-speed truck transmissions -- but it also aids economy, as it takes much more fuel to get a vehicle moving than it does to keep it moving. Rolling with the big rigs saves fuel (and aggravation).

6. Get back to nature

Consider shutting off the air conditioner, opening the windows and enjoying the breeze. It may be a tad warmer, but at lower speeds you'll save fuel. That said, at higher speeds the A/C may be more efficient than the wind resistance from open windows and sunroof. If I'm going someplace where arriving sweaty and smelly could be a problem, I bring an extra shirt and leave early so I'll have time for a quick change.

7. Back off the bling

New wheels and tires may look cool, and they can certainly improve handling. But if they are wider than the stock tires, chances are they'll create more rolling resistance and decrease fuel economy. If you upgrade your wheels and tires, keep the old ones. I have fancy sport rims and aggressive tires on my own car, but I keep the stock wheels with a good narrower-tread performance tire in the garage. For long road trips, the stock wheels give a smoother ride and better economy.

8. Clean out your car

If you're the type who takes a leisurely attitude towards car cleanliness -- and I definitely fall into that category -- periodically go through your car and see what can be tossed out or brought into the house. It doesn't take much to acquire an extra 40 or 50 lbs. of stuff, and the more weight your car has to lug around, the more fuel it burns.

9. Downsize

If you're shopping for a new car, it's time to re-evaluate how much car you really need. Smaller cars are inherently more fuel-efficient, and today's small cars are roomier than ever -- one of my favorite subcompacts, the Nissan Versa, has so much interior room that the EPA classifies it as a mid-size. Worried about crash protection? The automakers are designing their small cars to survive crashes with bigger vehicles, and safety features like side-curtain airbags and electronic stability control are becoming commonplace in smaller cars.

10. Don't drive

Not a popular thing to say on a car site, I know, but the fact is that if you can avoid driving, you'll save gas. Take the train, carpool, and consolidate your shopping trips. Walking or biking is good for your wallet and your health. And before you get in your car, always ask yourself: "Is this trip really necessary?"

Filling up is a fact of every driver's life, but for some drivers it is a necessary evil. If you are one of those people who gulps every time you have to fill up your vehicle, there's good news: there are some simple things you can do to improve your fuel economy no matter what type of vehicle you drive.

Monitoring your average fuel economy regularly is a good idea, too. (Some vehicles have a handy computer that computes this for you.) If you notice a significant change, then something has changed with your vehicle.

Here are 10 things you can do today to get better gas mileage right away.

1.       Follow the Recommended Maintenance
A vehicle that is well maintained means it will operate with greater efficiency. This not only improves your overall vehicle performance, but it will improve your fuel economy as well. Fouled spark plugs or a clogged fuel filter will affect your fuel economy. Proper maintenance also means using the right octane gas and the recommended grade of motor oil. Using the recommended types for your vehicle will give you optimum fuel economy — and can save you money as well. Check your owner's manual for your vehicle's recommendations and have maintenance performed regularly by a dealer or reputable mechanic.

2.      

Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated
Underinflated tires require more energy to roll, which translates into more frequent fill-ups. You can improve your fuel economy by about 3.3 percent if you keep your tires inflated properly, according to the DOE. The psi number noted on the sidewall of your tires is the maximum pressure of the tire and is not the proper inflation level for your car. Your vehicle manufacturer will list the recommended tire pressure in your owner's manual or a sticker on the doorjamb of the driver-side door. Buy a tire-pressure gauge and check your tires monthly, adding air as necessary.

3.      

Take a Load Off
Heavier vehicles require more energy to move, so carrying around excess weight will also affect your mileage. Empty out your trunk (or even your backseat) of unnecessary items. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk will reduce your fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent in the typical vehicle. If you have a roof rack or roof carrier, install it on your vehicle only when absolutely necessary. Not only does the carrier add extra weight, but it also increases the aerodynamic drag on the vehicle, which further contributes to a loss of fuel economy.

4.       Don't Drive Aggressively
We're not talking road rage here, but the type of driving many people do when they are in a rush. Mashing the accelerator pedal from a stoplight, braking hard and speeding all contribute to a decrease in fuel economy. Give yourself extra time to get to your destination and think "steady and smooth" as you drive. On surface streets, driving at the speed limit will give you mostly green lights, which improves your gas mileage as well as reduces the wear on your brakes. On the highway, the DOE says that every 5 mph you drive over 65 mph represents a 7-percent decrease in fuel economy.

5.       Use the Highest Gear Possible
Cars are designed to start in the lowest gear possible because that's where they have the most power, but that power translates to an increase in fuel consumption. To improve your fuel economy, drive in the highest gear possible when you are cruising at a steady speed, such as on the highway. If your vehicle has an automatic transmission with a "sport" mode, it's most likely that this is a computer program designed to shift later (and therefore keep you in a lower gear longer). While this gives you greater performance, driving in "sport" mode will also decrease your fuel economy.

6.       Use Cruise Control — Selectively
Using cruise control can improve your gas mileage by helping you maintain a steady speed, but only if you are driving on mostly flat roads. If you are driving in hilly terrain, using cruise control typically causes your vehicle to speed up faster (to maintain the preset speed) than it would if you were operating the accelerator yourself. Before you push that cruise control button, think about the terrain ahead.

7.       Think Clean
Keeping your car washed and waxed improves aerodynamics and therefore affects fuel economy. Engineer Tom Wagner, Jr. reported to Stretcher.com (as in stretching your dollars) a 7-percent improvement in fuel economy, from 15 to 16 mpg, during a 1,600-mile road trip.

8.       Avoid Excessive Idling
When a car is idling, it is using fuel, yet not going anywhere. This translates to 0 mpg. When you leave your car running while you are waiting in line at the drive-thru, or as you wait outside your kids' school, you are wasting fuel. It is more efficient to turn the engine off while you wait and then restart the car. If that's not practical (like in the line at McDonald's), then park the car and go inside instead.

9.       Think Before You Vent(ilate)
Running your air conditioner does cause your vehicle to consume more fuel, but driving with your windows rolled down can be even worse due to the increase of drag on the vehicle. If you are driving slowly, such as around town or in city traffic, then you are better off leaving your windows open, if at all possible. For highway driving, roll up the windows and turn the air conditioning on.

10.    Combine Your Errands
A little planning can make a big difference in fuel economy. When your engine is cold, it uses more fuel than when it is warm. Combining errands can improve your gas mileage because your engine will be warm for more of the trip. It might also mean you travel less total miles. According to the DOE, several short trips all begun with a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a single, longer trip that covers the same distance.