Your fuel and efficiency questions, answered

We know rising fuel prices are putting real pressure on Tasmanians right now.

We've been hearing from many of our members about the impact, and we want to help. Below, we've answered some of the questions we're receiving most often.

What can I do to get more kilometres out of the fuel I buy?

RACT recommends:

Buy only the fuel you need, when you need it.   

Panic buying or stockpiling fuel just makes the problem worse for everyone, particularly in regional areas where resupply can take longer due to distance. Stockpiling fuel at home is dangerous. 

Make some small changes to how you drive. 

We can improve fuel economy by around 15 per cent by changing how we drive:

• Practice smoother driving to reduce braking and acceleration.  This has the largest single impact on fuel consumption. 

• Check tyres are inflated to the recommended pressure. 

• Use cruise control on open roads.  

• Remove roof racks to improve aerodynamics and remove excess weight from your vehicle. 

• Plan your trip – try and do two or three things to reduce overall travel. 

• Turn off air conditioning in mild weather. 

Reset your trip meter after filling up and monitor how many more kilometres you can travel by changing how you drive. 

Shop around for the best price using the RACT Fuel Saver app to find the lowest prices in your area and take advantage of membership discounts and fuel with purchase offers. 

Be Kind and respectful to your local service station staff.  They do not set the fuel price; they are just there to help you get where you need to go. 

I am hearing that some of the new fuel supply is dirty fuel. Is it safe to use? 

On March 12 the Federal Government announced that it would allow fuel with a higher sulphur content to be released into the Australian market.  This fuel is refined in QLD and would have been exported.   

This fuel has a sulphur content of 100 ppm (parts per million) and was in regular use in Australia until about six months ago when regulations to reduce sulphur content to 50ppm in Australian fuel came into effect.  This fuel is also blended into the broader fuel supply.  

The fuel does not have negative effects on a vehicle’s engine. 

Concerns about Fuel Security 

Should I buy fuel now and store it just in case? 

No, panic-buying only causes additional problems that impacts the broader Tasmanian community.  Stockpiling fuel or panic buying has caused some local service stations to temporarily run out of supply, especially in rural and remote areas.  

If a fuel station needs to make an unscheduled urgent resupply this can take some time and can result in increased prices due to out of schedule delivery charges.  

Stockpiling fuel is dangerous.  If you do have fuel stored at home for mowers, make sure it is in certified containers and not stored under the same roof as your home. 

Our message to our members and the community continues to be buy fuel when you need it, and please don’t stockpile petrol at home.

Are there fuel shortages in Tasmania? 

The majority of fuel stations have not had disruption to their regular supply of fuel.   

There have been some localised fuel shortages usually on a specific type of fuel.  This is being caused by increases in demand at a particular location.  It is a short-term issue while an additional fuel delivery can be arranged. 

If people are seeing localised shortages, it is only a matter of time until they are resolved.

Will fuel prices continue to increase? 

This is the most frequently asked question, and it is the hardest to predict.  

There are many factors that impact fuel pricing. The duration and breadth of the impact of the war in the Middle East is unknown. Long-term fuel prices will depend on the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and other interruptions to global oil supply.  

Iran has effectively closed the Strait to most shipping resulting in ships taking a large, costly detour. If this supply route continues to remain closed, it will drive up the cost of crude oil further and ultimately lead to increases in the price of fuel at the pump.  

RACT continues to advocate about the impact the pace of fuel price increases is having on Tasmanians at the weekly State Fuel Security Meeting and other forums, including the ACCC.  

Should I consider buying an Electric Vehicle? 

RACT encourages Tasmanians to purchase the safest, most efficient vehicle they can afford that suits their circumstance.  Over the past two years RACT has been part of a program called Real World Testing, which tests efficiency and vehicle emissions across EVs and combustion engine vehicles on typical Australian road driving conditions compared to the advertised levels. 

EVs continue to evolve to improve range and charge times. With more new manufacturers entering the market it is becoming an option for more Tasmanians. 

What is RACT doing? 

RACT is a mutual, which means we exist to represent the interests of our members. We have been monitoring Tasmania’s fuel prices closely since the end of February and will report any issues we observe. We represent our members and community a various national forums outlining the impacts of the crisis on our regional island community.  We are in regular forums and communication with government, our sister clubs, fuel suppliers, Tasmanian industry groups, to understand emerging challenges and advocate for the interests of our members.