Fuel Savings - Part One

The price of fuel is skyrocketing and shows no sign of slowing.

What can you do about it? Well, you can either stick your head in the sand and pay the price at the bowser or you can take action.

In this 4-part series we’ll show you how suitable car selection, proper maintenance, a smooth driving style and aftermarket modifications can all make a world of difference to fuel costs.

Let’s start by looking at a fundamental component of the fuel cost equation – car selection.

Buying an Economical Car...

Selecting a Type of Vehicle

Your choice of vehicle is one of the biggest factors influencing your fuel bill.

It’s important to carefully consider how you will be using the car. Think about your day-to-day vehicle usage with particular emphasis on the maximum number of passengers and cargo volume. These factors will largely determine the size of vehicle that’s suitable for your needs – keep in mind that, as a rule, a relatively big and heavy vehicle consumes more fuel than a smaller vehicle.

With a basic understanding of the size of car you need, the next step is to consider details such as towing capacity, occupant safety and the benefits and drawbacks of certain body styles. For example, if you regularly transport elderly folk, a people-mover is more suitable than a high-rise 4WD.

Whatever you do, make sure that your car selection is not based on unrealistic aspirations. Too many buyers are influenced by the mere thought of occasional club racing, camping or off-roading. This leads to a vehicle purchase that’s unsuited to the person’s day-to-day requirements and invariably costs extra to run.

Don’t purchase a vehicle that will require a lifestyle change - make the lifestyle change first!

Once you’ve determined the required size and style of vehicle, it’s time to examine the suitable makes and models...

Official Fuel Consumption Data

If you’re in the market for a brand new car, fuel consumption labels provide an easy way of comparing fuel costs of different makes and models.

As of January 2004, all new vehicles sold sold in Australia have a fuel consumption label fixed to the windscreen. This is a requirement under Australian Design Rule (ADR) 81/00.

The fuel consumption label (as seen here) displays how many litres of fuel are used for a given car to travel 100km - the lower the number, the lower the fuel consumption. The figure quoted is in accordance with laboratory tests which simulate a mix of driving conditions (more on this in a moment).

As a guide, the most economical petrol engine vehicles consume around 5 – 6 litres per 100km while the thirstiest sedan-based vehicles drink in excess of 15 litres per 100km (according to the current test standard). That’s the difference between paying AUD$50 a week for fuel versus AUD$150...

A comprehensive fuel consumption database can be found at www.greenvehicleguide.gov.au This site provides the official consumption data.

If you’re looking second-hand, it’s likely the fuel consumption label has been removed (which is perfectly legal once the car is sold to its first owner). If this is the case, you can find a database of fuel consumption data for 1986 – 2003 vehicles at www.greenhouse.gov.au/fuelguide/search This database provides city and highway fuel consumption data under the now superseded AS (Australian Standard) 2877 test procedure.

How is Official Fuel Consumption Data Determined? Until the end of 2003, the official fuel consumption data for new cars was determined using the local AS 2877 "city" standard. However, since 2004, fuel consumption data has been determined using the internationally recognised standard known as UN ECE R101 (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regulation 101). It is a requirement under Australian Design Rule 81/01 that all manufacturers provide UN ECE R101 fuel consumption data with each vehicle. The UN ECE R101 consumption figures are approximately 5 percent higher than the old AS 2877 figure. UN ECE R101 testing involves a mixture of urban and highway drive cycles. The test comprises an 11 kilometre trip at an average speed of 33.6 km/h. Approximately two thirds of the test simulates urban stop-start type driving (averaging 18.8 km/h), while the remaining third simulates highway driving (at speeds over 100 km/h). The test is conducted in controlled laboratory conditions to ensure parity between figures.

The official AS 2877 and UN ECE R101 fuel consumption data are an excellent guide for the majority of car buyers - but be aware that your actual fuel consumption might not match the figure that’s quoted...

Actual fuel consumption depends on your driving style, road conditions, tyre pressure and many other variables - which we will detail in following parts of this series. For more in-depth details on fuel consumption for a particular vehicle, we suggest checking independent motoring reviews.

In Part Two of this series we’ll take a look at vehicle maintenance and its effect on fuel consumption...