Petrol price questions

Clear answers about petrol prices, fuel grades, report times and price cycles.

Match the question to the right check

A national average, a city chart and a station report answer different questions. Choose the one that answers yours.

Which fuel price information to use for common fill-up questions
Your question	Check this	Why it matters
Where should I fill?	Same-grade station prices, distance and report time	This shows the prices you can reasonably reach.
Which fuel should I use?	Owner’s manual or fuel-flap label	Vehicle compatibility comes before the bowser price.
Should I fill now?	Current city cycle and nearby station reports	Cycle timing changes; there is no permanent cheapest weekday.
Is a detour worthwhile?	Price gap × litres, then return-trip cost	A headline saving can disappear after extra driving.

Prices, grades and report times

Open a question for the practical answer, then use the linked price page for current data.

Which petrol grade should I use?

Use the minimum RON and fuel type shown in the owner’s manual or on the fuel-flap label. Do not downgrade from 95 or 98, and check whether E10 is approved for your model.

Does a lower E10 price always cost less to run?

No. E10 has less energy per litre than regular unleaded, so the result depends on the price gap and your vehicle’s fuel use. Check compatibility first, then compare cost per kilometre.

Should I fill up now or wait?

Check the current city cycle and today’s station prices. Cycle length varies, and a cheaper nearby station can matter more than waiting for a particular weekday.

How often are station prices updated?

Timing depends on the government, retailer or station source. Read the report time on the station listing and confirm the bowser price if the report is old.

Is the cheapest station worth a special trip?

Multiply the price difference by the litres you plan to buy, then compare that gross saving with the return distance, fuel used and time.

Why are nearby stations priced differently?

Transport and operating costs, brand pricing, local competition and the current retail cycle can all produce a gap between stations in the same area.

What does a city or state average tell me?

An average helps you compare one area with another, but it is not a price you can buy. Open the local station list to see the prices available to you.

Does premium fuel automatically improve economy?

Not necessarily. Use the minimum grade required by the vehicle manufacturer. A higher RON can cost more without reducing fuel use enough to recover the price difference in a vehicle that does not require it.

Why can the listed price differ from the bowser?

A station may change its price after the source last reported it, or a displayed discount may require a condition. Check the report time and read the price board before filling.

How do I report a price that looks wrong?

Send the servo name, suburb, fuel grade, listed price, price seen and approximate time to support. Those details help trace the source record.

Calculate the saving before a station detour

Calculate the maximum gross saving first. Then subtract the fuel and time needed for the return detour.

A lower price per litre only saves money when the tank saving is larger than the cost of reaching the station.

Calculate the gross tank saving

Multiply the price gap in cents by the litres you expect to buy, then divide by 100 to get dollars.

Use the amount you will actually buy, not the vehicle’s full tank capacity.

Account for the whole detour

Include the return distance, not only the distance shown to the station.

If the remaining saving is small, a station already on your route may be the more useful choice.

Worked example

A 4 c/L gap on a 40-litre fill

This is a hypothetical calculation, not a current station-price claim.

Reported price gap: 4 c/L
Litres bought: 40 litres

Calculation

4 × 40 ÷ 100 = $1.60

The most you save at the bowser is $1.60 before the return detour.

Compare that $1.60 with the extra fuel used and your time before changing route.

Sources and limits

Sources, update times and limits

Sources

Freshness

Station pages show the source report time where it is available. Cycle charts and market figures update on their own schedules, so check the date beside the figure you use.

Limitations

A reported station price can change before the source publishes the next update.
City and state averages do not represent every station or the price on your route.
Vehicle compatibility and the price displayed at the bowser take priority over general guidance.

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