Relying on the electronic data from a truck’s engine computer may not be the most accurate gauge of fuel economy, according to a report from Performance Innovation Transport Group (PIT Group).
According to Today’s Trucking, the report details electronic control module (ECM) data precision and accuracy between engine manufacturers and among engine models from a single manufacturer.
The study compares engine ECM data with actual test track fuel consumption and was conducted in the fall of 2014 on 14 different vehicles with engines from four manufacturers. The test track evaluations, which followed the Joint TMC/SAE Fuel Consumption Test Procedure Type II, compared fuel consumption data provided by the engine ECMs, while the procedure is generally regarded as an industry standard for testing.
“The ability to measure fuel consumption accurately and precisely and defend the results is critical for writing vehicle specifications, for establishing effective maintenance practices, and for training drivers to operate vehicles as fuel efficiently as possible,” said Yves Provencher, director of PIT Group. “Our tests show that engine ECMs present different levels of precision and accuracy, and that ECM data should be used with caution for evaluating the impact of a fuel saving technology or operational practice.”
A copy of the full PIT Group technical report is on its website
