Empty Or Fully Loaded: A Truck’s Fuel Consumption Can Vary Tremendously
Average fuel consumption rates published by automakers and established by Natural Resources Canada procedures are obviously calculated when vehicles are empty. But the extra weight of whatever you’ve got in your truck, pickup or trailer will naturally cause your vehicle’s fuel consumption to increase.
The harder your vehicle’s engine works, the faster it turns and the more fuel it requires. The idea is easy enough to understand. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to accurately determine what the impact will be, since the increase depends on several factors, such as your driving style, how aerodynamic your trailer or the gear in your pickup’s bed is, tire pressures and the vehicle’s speed.
What’s more, in the case of pickup trucks, you can choose from several different axle ratios. A higher ratio (like 4.10 or 4.30) will give you faster acceleration, better hill-climbing ability and greater towing capacity, but since this generally means the engine will turn faster (and will consequently be noisier too), it will be less fuel-efficient. If you don’t expect to haul heavy loads on a regular basis, a lower axle ratio (like 3.08 or 3.23) is better—if the choice is available, that is.
The most important factor, however, is the driver. According to the American Trucking Association, the most fuel-efficient drivers use up to 35% less fuel than their more careless counterparts. It’s safe to assume that the same gap exists among light truck drivers, especially those transporting or towing heavy loads. Last but not least, the more you increase the vehicle’s speed beyond 90 kilometres per hour, the more fuel it will burn, so you can save at the pump by simply easing off the accelerator.