This recommended practice provides a standard test procedure for comparing the fuel economy of components or systems of the type which can be switched from one vehicle to another in a short period of time. This test procedure is also ideally suited for comparing the fuel consumption of one vehicle to another, and one component of a combination vehicle to the same component in another. This procedure is specifically designed to be completed in one day. The test utilizes two medium to heavy duty in-service vehicles operated over interstate type highways. The relative fuel economy of the component, system, or vehicle under test is expressed as a percentage improvement or as a percentage of fuel saved. This factor is calculated using relative fuel consumption while operating with and without the test component, system, or vehicle under evaluation. Accuracy obtained from the use of this test procedure can be +/-1% when properly executed. This procedure is not intended to replace SAE J1264 oCT86, Joint RCCC/SAE Fuel Consumption Test Procedure or SAE J1321 OCT86, Joint TMC/SAE Fuel Consumption Test Procedure Type II, but will enhance a fleet's or manufacturer's ability to do a wide variety of fuel consumption tests on highway. The following basic rules must be applied to this procedure to ensure valid test results: a) A single test is inconclusive. A single test result may be an indicator. Test results must be repeatable to have validity; b) The more variables controlled, the more conclusive the results; c) All test procedures are accurate within prescribed limits. If the component, system or vehicle being tested by a given procedure shows a degree of improvement which is equal to or less than the accuracy limit of the procedure, an additional number of tests should be conducted to prove validity.
SAE J1526-1987 Referenced Document
SAE J1264-1986 Joint RCCC/SAE Fuel Consumption Test Procedure (Short Term in-Service vehicle) Type I
SAE J1321-1986 Joint TMC/SAE Fuel Consumption Test Procedure Type II
SAE J1526-1987 history
2022SAE J1526-2022 SAE Fuel Consumption Test Procedure (Engineering Method)
2015SAE J1526-2015 SAE Fuel Consumption Test Procedure (Engineering Method)
1987SAE J1526-1987 Joint TMC/SAE Fuel Consumption In-Service Test Procedure Type III