Key takeaways
- In stop-start traffic, smooth driving and looking ahead save more fuel than anything you pour in the tank.
- Check tyre pressure, remove spare weight, and service on schedule first. A worn or neglected engine can burn more fuel.
- XADO says engine wear can raise fuel use and lists fuel savings as a benefit of its revitalizant. Those are XADO's statements, not a promise or a percentage.
CTE at 6pm, PIE after a breakdown, a mall car park exit: Singapore driving is a lot of crawling, stopping and moving off again. Fuel use climbs in that pattern. Below are habits and checks that help, in the order worth trying, and where XADO fits in.
Which driving habits use less fuel in a jam?
- Look ahead and keep a gap. If you leave room, you can roll at a slow steady pace instead of stopping and accelerating over and over.
- Accelerate gently. Hard throttle from a standstill burns more fuel. Build speed smoothly.
- Brake early and lightly. Lifting off the pedal early lets the car slow without wasting the speed you built.
- Avoid long idling. If you are parked and waiting, switch off. Modern engines do not need long warm-ups; drive gently for the first few minutes instead.
- Combine short trips. Several cold starts use more fuel than one longer trip.
What should you check on the car first?
- Tyre pressure. Check cold, against the label on the driver's door jamb or in the owner's manual. Soft tyres make the engine work harder.
- Extra weight. Take out roof racks, boxes and heavy items you do not need.
- Service on schedule. Fresh oil of the correct grade, a clean air filter and good spark plugs (petrol cars) help the engine run as designed. Many makers class stop-and-go traffic in a hot climate as severe service, so check your manual.
- Dashboard warnings. A warning light or rough running can mean a fault that wastes fuel. Have it diagnosed.
- Aircon use. The aircon draws power from the engine. Use it as you need for comfort, and do not run it colder than necessary.
Can a worn engine use more fuel?
XADO says that as engine parts wear, the result can be lower compression, more noise, rising fuel consumption and oil burning (see how XADO works and protecting your engine in the COE era). Stop-start traffic is a high-wear pattern: our article on how Singapore's stop-go traffic wears out your engine explains why. If fuel use has crept up and the car is older, ask a workshop to check the basics before assuming it is wear.
Where does XADO fit in?
XADO describes its revitalizant as designed to use the energy of friction to rebuild a protective ceramic-metal (cermet) layer on worn metal surfaces, and its site lists fuel savings among the benefits. XADO does not give a fuel-saving figure for Singapore cars, and neither do we. Results depend on engine condition, oil and maintenance history. A XADO treatment is added at a normal oil service and does not replace it: see does XADO replace an oil change?
Fuel use creeping up on an older car? Ask an authorised XADO workshop to check the car and plan any treatment with your next service.
Find a workshopHow to get it done in Singapore
- Check tyres and weight today. It costs nothing.
- Book your usual service with an authorised XADO workshop and tell them your fuel use has changed.
- Ask which XADO product suits your car using the XADO product guide.
Want XADO at your own workshop? XADO Singapore will contact them.
FAQs
How can I use less fuel in Singapore traffic?
Drive smoothly, look ahead so you brake less, keep tyres at the pressure on the door label, remove heavy items you do not need, and service the car on your maker's schedule. These habits matter more than any additive.
Does idling in a jam waste fuel?
Yes. An engine that is running uses fuel even when the car is not moving. In a long stop many cars with a start-stop system switch the engine off by themselves; ask your workshop how yours behaves.
Does tyre pressure affect fuel use?
Yes. Under-inflated tyres roll with more resistance, so the engine works harder. Check pressure cold against the label on the driver's door jamb or in the owner's manual, and adjust for a full load if the label says so.
Can a worn engine use more fuel?
XADO says wear in an engine can show up as lower compression and rising fuel consumption, and it is one reason to have an ageing engine checked by a workshop. Spark plugs, filters and sensors can also be the cause, so get it diagnosed first.
Will XADO save fuel?
XADO lists fuel savings among the benefits of its revitalizant and says it is designed to reduce friction. These are XADO's statements about its products; results depend on engine condition, oil and maintenance history, and XADO Singapore does not give a figure here.
