Fuel information

WA Fuel Watch

FuelWatch is a service provided by the Department of Commerce of the Western Australian State Government. It provides information on retail fuel prices from more than 600 retailers throughout most areas of WA.

Fuel retailers most notify FuelWatch by 2:00pm of their prices that will apply from 6:00am the next day and cannot change these prices for 24 hours. This ensures that the prices shown on the website are the same as those on site. giving motorists the opportunity to make informed choices on their fuel purchases

RAC supports the Fuelwatch service as it provides a net benefit to motorists.

Visit the FuelWatch site.

Which petrol?

While the lure of more power and a smoother drive may tempt you to fill up with more expensive high-octane petrol, only some cars need premium (PULP) or 98-octane fuels. As premium (PULP) is normally around 9 cents per litre more than ULP, and 98 RON is over 14 cents per litre more, you should give careful consideration to the fuel you use.

Here are some points to consider: 

• Try to use the petrol octane rating specified by your vehicle manufacturer. To avoid engine damage or voiding your warranty, never use a lower octane petrol than the one recommended.
• If the manufacturer recommends using only ULP, a higher octane fuel won't provide any benefit.
• If the manufacturer suggests either PULP or ULP, PULP may provide better performance and fuel consumption. However, tests by the RACV show that while Premium may provide better running in high temperatures and when towing, the improvement in fuel consumption alone is not enough to cover the extra fuel cost.

Common fuel grades available in WA

• Regular unleaded (ULP) - 91-93 octane: most new cars made or sold in Australia run well on ULP. If you have a pre-1986 car, find out if it's safe to use ULP. You can check here.
• Premium unleaded (PULP) - 95 octane: costs about 9 cents per litre more than ULP and makes up about 12 per cent of WA's fuel market. Many European and Japanese cars need PULP for best performance. Using ULP in these cars may result in a slight decrease in power and increased fuel consumption. Can be used with an anti-valve seat recession additive in many pre-1986 vehicles designed for leaded petrol.
• High-octane unleaded petrol - 98 octane: costs about 14 cents per litre more than ULP. It's required by some high performance cars to achieve best performance. Can be used with an anti-valve seat recession additive in some pre-1986 high performance cars. While it is said to optimise performance and improve fuel consumption, tests by the RACV show for most vehicles the slight improvement in fuel consumption does not outweigh the extra cost of the fuel. Some brands have an environmental benefit as they contain lower levels of benzene, sulphur and aromatic hydrocarbons.

The octane rating of petrol is a measure of its resistance to knocking. The higher the octane number, the higher the fuel’s resistance to uncontrolled burning of fuel in the combustion chamber.

A higher octane number does not increase the energy content of the fuel. However it enables an engine to operate with a higher compression ratio and therefore produce more power and or better fuel consumption. In car petrol engines the compression ratio cannot be changed without major modification and the use of an octane rating higher than recommended by the manufacturer has limited value. However modern engines with electronic ignition control can provide better performance on a higher octane fuel provided that they are designed for it.

Check your manufacturer’s handbook for the octane rating(s) suitable for your car. The best approach is to use what the vehicle manufacturer recommends. 

Diesel

Diesel engines have been around for many years, predominantly in commercial vehicles.

• On a per-litre basis, diesel fuel produces more greenhouse emissions than petrol. However, as diesel engines are more fuel efficient than petrol engines the net emissions from diesel engines are less.
• The exhaust emissions from diesel engines contain low levels of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons but they emit more particulates and oxides of nitrogen (Nox) than petrol engines. These particulates pose a cancer risk.
• Diesel fuel, like petrol, has evolved through the years and the focus at the moment is on low-sulphur content to reduce these particulate (smoke) emissions. This process began in 2000 when Western Australia introduced a new low-sulphur standard in diesel fuel for locations south of the 25th parallel. This regulation limited the level of sulphur to 500 ppm (parts per million). From 1 January 2001, this standard was extended to the remainder of WA. In 2004 50ppm sulphur fuel was introduced across WA. And from 1 January 2009 sulphur content was further reduced to 10ppm.

Petrol versus diesel
Buying a petrol or diesel vehicle is an individual choice that will depend on your particular situation. The factors that you will need to consider include:

• How much you have to spend.
• How far you travel each year.
• If power is an issue.
• If torque is an issue.
• If you are concerned about maintenance costs.
• If you are concerned about fuel economy.
• Environmental concerns.

The above factors need to be considered in relation to the following:

• Diesel vehicles are generally more expensive to purchase than petrol vehicles. The difference is normally around $4000 but ranges from $1800 to over $10 000. However the resale value could be better.
• Most medium and large 4WD and commercial vehicles have a diesel version.
• One of the main reasons consumers choose diesel-powered vehicles is for the fuel economy - from 20% to 50% better fuel economy for the diesel version, when compared to an equivalent sized petrol engine. This can also mean up to 40% lower greenhouse emissions.
• Modern turbo-charged diesel vehicles can perform to the same standard as a petrol engine vehicle and still have the advantage of better fuel economy.
• Diesel vehicles generally have better low-down torque - useful in a 4WD vehicle when climbing a steep gradient, as they are less likely to stall.
• Servicing diesel engines is different as oil changes may be more frequent and fuel filter replacement is critical.
• Major items such as the fuel system require attention, typically at around 100,000km.
• Water or dirt in the fuel is the main enemy of the diesel fuel system - it causes premature wear in the injector pump and injectors, and can lead to engine failure.
• A diesel engine needs to be more robust than a petrol engine due to the higher compression ratios used. Therefore major engine repairs to a diesel engine are more expensive than a petrol engine. However they generally last longer than petrol engines, if looked after.

LPG (liquefied petroleum gas)

LPG is an alternative fuel that has been available for some time now. Vehicles can be dedicated LPG fuelled vehicles or dual-fuelled LPG and petrol. If the LPG fuel system is properly installed, the use of LPG is safe and it is easy to refuel.

Advantages

• It is substantially cheaper than petrol and is normally less than half the price.
• LPG fitted vehicles emit around 15% less greenhouse gases.
• It is an indigenous fuel that is less likely to suffer from supply disruptions.
• Improved resale value for the vehicle.
• Subsidies are being offered by governments towards the conversion cost for private use vehicles. However, you need to check if you are eligible. and the amount of the subsidy. For example vehicles under a novated lease arrangement are not eligble. The subsidy level for conversions is being reduced each year and will cease completely on 30 June 2014.  Check details here.
• Note the WA State government conversion subsidy of $1000 ceased on 1 July 2009.

Disadvantages

• Additional fuel tank required. This can reduce boot space.
• Cost of conversion is approximately $3,000 to $3,500 for the earlier second-generation technology and up to $5000 if you use the latest vapour injection, known as fourth-generation technology.
• Increased fuel consumption of up to 30% for second-generation and 20% for fourth-generation equipment compared with petrol.
• Some vehicles not suitable for conversion.
• Not available in some country areas but is generally available on major highways and in major towns.

Many vehicles will run on either petrol or LPG (however you should check with the vehicle manufacturer). Conversion is relatively straightforward and takes from 1 to 2 days. However you may need to keep your vehicle for several years to recover the cost of conversion.

You should check with the vehicle manufacturer to see if the model you are interested is suitable for conversion to LPG. The conversion must be done by a licensed installer who will ensure that the equipment installed is suitable for the vehicle. You should choose a well-established, reputable installer.

If you are considering purchasing a new car it is possible to have the vehicle converted. Holden have a factory-fitted conversion available for the Commodore Executive, and Ford can supply a number of Falcon models as dedicated LPG vehicles. Mitsubishi and Toyota dealers can arrange for a factory-approved LPG installation on some of their models.

Biodiesel

In an age of fuel price hikes and concerns about climate change, the use of greenhouse-friendly biodiesel as an alternative fuel is a hot topic. Biodiesel is a clean-burning diesel fuel produced from renewable resources like palm oil and tallow. However, any animal fat or vegetable oil can be converted into biodiesel.

In Australia, biodiesel is produced mainly from tallow, canola oil or imported palm oil.

Advantages

• Can reduce greenhouse emissions. The amount of reduction depends upon the blend and the source of the feedstock. In some cases, emissions can be higher. In the case of a B20 blend using palm oil, the net emissions can be four times higher than mineral diesel if the palm oil is sourced from plantations on recently cleared land.
• Can be made from a variety of products. It can also be produced in a small processing plant, such as on a farm. However you should be aware that the quality of fuel produced under these conditions could vary and its long term use may damage your engine. If you produce the fuel, it could also attract fuel excise. More information at ATO.
• In comparison with mineral diesel fuel, exhaust emissions are reduced for hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and particulates but are increased for oxides of nitrogen.

Disadvantages

• Increases fuel consumption.
• Many engine and vehicle manufacturers have not endorsed its use. Use of biodiesel could therefore void your warranty. Some manufacturers will allow a B-5 blend (i.e. 5% biodiesel and 95% conventional diesel). However many vehicle manufacturers oppose using any biodiesel in their vehicles.
• As yet there is no accepted standard for biodiesel blends in Australia. The European diesel fuel standard allows up to 5% biodiesel. However the current Australian fuel standards do not cover biodiesel blends.

Warranties and biodiesel

The RAC is concerned that motorists could be denied warranty coverage over the use of biodiesel sold at the pump. Many engine and vehicle manufacturers do not endorse the use of biodiesel in their engines. This can lead to problems with any warranty claims related to engine or fuel system failures.

Before using a biodiesel blend in your vehicle you should check with the vehicle manufacturer about whether biodiesel is acceptable for your vehicle.

Although engine problems arising from fuel use are normally the responsibility of the fuel supplier, when there is a problem the vehicle owner can be left in the middle of the dispute between the fuel supplier and the vehicle or engine manufacturer. In order to avoid this occurring you need to determine if: 

• the engine manufacturer will void their parts and workmanship warranty when biodiesel is used 
• the fuel producer or marketer will stand behind its fuel should a problem occur.

More research needed

International research into the effects on engines with the use of biodiesel has identified a number of problems, such as damage to seals, fuel system components and engine lubricant. The risk of these problems occurring varied with the amount of biodiesel in the fuel. Indications are that fuels with 5% or less biodiesel, had a much reduced risk compared with higher-level blends.

Unlike the 10 percent limit on ethanol in petrol, there is no limit to the amount of biodiesel that can be blended with mineral diesel under the Australian diesel fuel standard. The ethanol limit was set after a study showed that ethanol blends greater than 10% could cause vehicle operability problems. There has been no comparable study for biodiesel.

The RAC view is that more research is needed on the effects of biodiesel fuels on Australian passenger car diesel engines before we can be confident in their use.

Gull biodiesel

A B20 biodiesel blend is now sold in WA by Gull Petroleum. 

• Gull biodiesel, or BIO-D, is a B20 blend - 20% biodiesel with 80% conventional diesel. 
• Gull Petroleum has advised the RAC that the company "assures motorists that Gull BIO-D, a blend of up to 20% biodiesel and 80% mineral diesel, fully complies with the regulated specifications for automotive diesel. These specifications set all of the operability and environmental performance criteria against which every diesel vehicle sold in Australia is manufactured". The RAC however is concerned that the standard referred to is for mineral diesel and is silent on some aspects of biodiesel blends.

The RAC advises members that use of Gull BIO-D could void their vehicle warranty. If you want to use Gull BIO-D and are concerned about your warranty, check with your vehicle manufacturer whether they approve its use.

The history of lead in petrol

Lead compounds were first introduced into petrol in the 1920s when it was discovered that they increased the octane rating significantly.

The introduction of lead compounds eliminated the problem of engine knock that had been plaguing engine designers for some time. They also found out later that lead provided a lubricant for the engine valves.

During the mid 1980s, it became compulsory in Australia for all new cars to run on unleaded fuel. This was in response to a global concern about the health effects of lead on children. Lead in petrol was phased out in Australia at the start of the twenty-first century.

Leaded petrol has not been available in Western Australia since 1 January 2000 and was phased out in all Australian states on 1 January 2002. A LRP (lead replacement petrol) was sold initially, however it is no longer available.

If you still have a car that requires leaded petrol then you must purchase an anti-valve seat recession additive to use in your petrol. The additive known as AVSR additive is supplied by service stations.