Most of us don’t actively consider the role the weight of our vehicles plays in fuel consumption. If we did, we’d hit the gym more often and never put anything in the boot. The fact is, the heavier your car, the more fuel it requires to accelerate, maintain speed, and handle road resistance. This means that any additional weight is probably costing you money at the pump. Some of this weight is necessary, like car seats for your children. However, there may be some things that you can do in order to keep your vehicle free from unnecessary weight. 

Let’s look at how weight affects fuel efficiency and what you can do to lighten the load. 

Calculate Your Consumption 

When we talk about fuel consumption, we’re talking about the amount of petrol you consume while driving. It includes not only the amount of fuel you burn in the engine but also the amount of fuel that is lost in the exhaust pipe and the amount of energy that goes to waste due to incomplete combustion. Fuel consumption is measured in litres per 100km (L/100km). 

Our Fuel Consumption Calculator helps you estimate how much fuel your car or motorcycle will use at different distances in kilometers. It’s a great tool to use if you want to get a more accurate idea of your fuel expenditure. You can even use it to help you plan longer trips. 

How Excess Weight Impacts Fuel Consumption 

Essentially, there are three main ways in which weight affects your fuel consumption. For starters, more energy is required in order to move a heavier vehicle and therefore, there will be an increase in how much fuel you burn through.  

The second impact is the rolling resistance. Heavier vehicles put more pressure on tyres and this increases the rolling resistance, which causes the engine to work harder. 

Lastly, we need to consider vehicle’s aerodynamics. If the weight that you’re adding comes in the form of roof racks, trailers, or other cargo that can disrupt aerodynamics, you’ll find that your car is combatting higher drag. To compensate for this drag, the engine will need to use more power and therefore more fuel in order to function in the way that you’d like it to. 

Reduce Your Car’s Weight (And Improve Fuel Efficiency) 

It’s certainly not all doom and gloom. There are a variety of things that you can do in order to lighten your vehicle’s weight and improve your fuel efficiency.  

A few tips to help out: 

✔️ Remove Unnecessary Items – Clear out heavy equipment, excess luggage, and clutter from your boot. 

✔️ Check Your Roof Racks – If not in use, remove roof boxes and racks to reduce drag. 

✔️ Travel With Less Fuel – If you don’t need a full tank, consider filling up halfway to reduce weight. 

Feeling informed?  

Some of us are driving around, treating our vehicles as though they are mobile storage units. If you’re trying to keep on top of your fuel expenditure, then this isn’t the way to go. Keep in mind that anything you add in or on to your vehicle is going to affect how much fuel you use and quickly you use it.  

Hopefully by sharing this kind of information and bringing these tips to the top of your mind, you’ll consider how you can reduce unnecessary weight, improve fuel efficiency, extend tyre life, and save money in the long run.  

In addition to our Fuel Consumption Calculator, we also recommend checking out our Trip Fuel Cost Calculator. This way you can get a realistic idea of how much you end up spending on your day-to-day trips around town (and longer trips planned for your next holiday). 

Want more tips on getting the most out of your fuel? Stay tuned to AA Inform for expert motoring advice. Stay tuned to AA Inform, your trusted source for South African driving tips.