What is the difference between the fuel consumption published by MIIT and the actual fuel consumption?
2 Answers
Joint-venture models generally have a difference of 1-2 liters between the fuel consumption published by MIIT and the actual average fuel consumption reported by car owners, with some models even achieving a difference of less than 1 liter. However, certain domestic brand models show a gap of more than 2 liters between the MIIT-published fuel consumption and the actual average fuel consumption reported by owners. Below is additional information on vehicle fuel consumption: Reasons for high vehicle fuel consumption: Engine carbon deposits: During long-term operation of a vehicle, the combustion process of gasoline inevitably leads to carbon deposits and sludge. If these deposits and sludge are not cleaned promptly, they can cause an increase in fuel consumption. Another possible cause is faulty spark plugs. The function of spark plugs is to generate a high-voltage electric spark to ignite the air-fuel mixture. If they are damaged, the ignition energy will decrease, leading to uneven combustion of the mixture, which can result in slower acceleration and increased fuel consumption. Solutions for high vehicle fuel consumption: You can clean the engine carbon deposits or replace the spark plugs or clean the carbon deposits from the spark plugs.
I've been driving for over a decade, and the fuel consumption figures from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology are just ideal values—far from reality. Official tests are conducted in labs, simulating specific speeds with no air conditioning, no traffic jams, and perfect conditions. But on the road, it's full of surprises: traffic jams, red lights, using AC in summer, aggressive acceleration habits—all these push fuel consumption up. Typically, the difference is 15% to 30%, and it's even more noticeable with cold starts in winter. From my own records, highway driving is closer, about 10% off, but city driving doubles the gap. Don’t blindly trust the fine print when buying a car—check real owner feedback in forums. Driving habits like slower acceleration and gentler braking save fuel and improve safety. Maintenance-wise, keeping tire pressure right and air filters clean can narrow the gap a bit and reduce car issues. In short, treat official figures as references, not gospel—real-world testing matters more.
