Saturday, August 11, 2018
Does Fuel Brand Change Mileage? A Car Owner's View
Updated September 2026: in 2018 I wrote that, after trying several fuel brands in my Ford EcoSport, Bharat Petroleum seemed to give me the best mileage, and compared the EcoSport's low running costs with the high maintenance bills of my earlier Hyundai i20. I have rewritten it into a guide to fuel brands, mileage and running costs.
By that point I had driven my EcoSport about 27,000 km and spent around Rs 8,000 on maintenance, including filters, oil changes and punctures. My earlier Hyundai i20 had cost me far more in maintenance over the years I owned it, and I eventually sold it through Ford at a price I was happy with. In my experience, Bharat Petroleum fuel gave the EcoSport better mileage than the other brands I tried. I also felt that cars had become a way to show off wealth, when they should simply be a comfortable way to get somewhere.
Does the fuel brand really change mileage?
Regular petrol and diesel from the main oil companies in India are made to the same national standard, so large differences between brands are unlikely. What does vary is how much fuel is actually dispensed, fuel quality at a particular pump, and how you drive. My observation was personal and not a controlled test.
How do you measure mileage properly?
- Fill the tank to full: reset the trip meter.
- Drive normally: until the tank is well down.
- Fill to full again: divide the distance by the litres added.
- Repeat several times: at the same pump, before comparing brands.
Are premium fuels worth it?
Mostly for engines designed for higher-octane fuel. For ordinary engines, the benefit is usually small compared with the extra cost. Check the owner's manual.
What drives maintenance costs?
Service intervals, parts prices, the brand's service network and how the car is driven. Keep records of every service; they help when selling. Ford stopped making cars in India in 2022, so owners now rely on its remaining service support and independent garages, which is worth checking before buying a used Ford.
Is a car a tool or a status symbol?
That is a personal choice. Buying the car you need rather than the one others expect usually saves a great deal over its life.
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