Automobile Association of Malaysia

WEIGHT AND FUEL SAVINGS

Being overweight affects your vehicle’s fuel economy. Like the human body, it’ll cause you to use more energy than what is required, slow you down or even tire you easily.

Did you know that an extra 30kg in the car causes your vehicle to consume some two per cent more of fuel?

Or, that by piling a lot of weight in the boot or the back of the car, you are actually forcing the front end of the car upward, creating more surface area, increasing wind resistance and drag which equates to more fuel being used? Extra weight also reduces mileage, especially when driving up hills or steep roads.

By instituting a self disciplined weight reduction program, you can get dramatic performance, power increases and in the process save fuel with your car.

In short, the meaning of traveling light produces a universal meaning. It’s exactly like how anyone would dread carrying too many luggage and bags, especially if you’re traveling on your own.

Common vehicle overweight problems:

Pillows and decorative toys on the rear parcel shelf. This not only adds weight which equates to increased fuel consumption but more often than not found to be obstructing the driver’s view.
Remove items that cause wind resistance, such as roof or luggage racks
Out with the golf bag! Unless you’re the type who has to be on the green daily, take the golf bag out of the boot and leave it at home or in the office.
Office spring cleaning. Most people, especially those who are constantly on the move, keep mountains of documents in the car turning their vehicle into a mobile office.
Remove the child seat unless you’re ferrying your baby.
Oversized wheels. While these may look cool, it’ll drastically affect your vehicle’s fuel economy. Imagine how much power you will require to drive a 1300cc car on 17” or 18” inch wheels.
Clear your boot, glove compartment and door pockets of unessential items. Get rid of those toll or parking receipts or file it at home for claims purposes.
Time to re-evaluate the need for that RM20,000 sound system, bass box, giant subwoofers, multiple amplifiers and mile-long wiring in the car especially if you’re the type who clocks huge mileage being on the job. The sound’s no doubt priceless but so is fuel these days. It may be fine to have it in a weekend car but not economical for a daily driver.
Remove the five 1-litre bottles of water, the leather treatment, excess engine oil, spare battery water, brake and clutch fluid bottle, wax, polish, extra bottles of coolant, etc some car owners normally like to place in a box in the car. Limit what you carry to perhaps a single 1-litre bottle of water, or even an empty bottle, and you definitely can do without the car cosmetic products being in the car.
Under inflated tyres cause plenty of drag and this in turn means you’re driving around consuming more fuel that what your vehicle actually requires.
While car pooling is a great way to reduce fuel consumption, for best results, distribute passenger weight evenly throughout car. This also gives the driver greater maneuverability.

DIET PROGRAM FOR THE EXTREME
(Be sure to first check that modifications are not deemed illegal by the Road Transport Department and do not compromise on passenger and vehicle safety)

For car or motor-racing enthusiasts, explore the use of carbon fiber panels which is a proven weight saving technique in sports like Formula One to even being used in the aerospace industry.
Replacing stock standard seats, especially vehicles with electrical adjustment, with lightweight racing seats.
Removing the entire back seat, rear parcel shelf, door panels, centre console, floor carpeting etc.
Removing even the bulky spare tyre in favour of a more convenient solution – use space saving spare wheels that normally features a narrower tyre size and is much lighter or keep a tyre mending canister in the car.
Scrapping off the sound deadening/ dampening material in the car. Racing and rally cars are known to do this and can lighten a vehicle as much as 20kg to 30kg. Bare in mind however, you’ll be sacrificing comfort for weight savings and is not the most practical solution for a daily use or on-the-road vehicle.