Calculate Gas Mileage – Easy to use formula for calculating gas mileage
As gas prices rise and concerns about CO2 emissions grow, the first step to improving gas mileage is to calculate the gas mileage in your car. After all, how can we improve our MPG if we don’t already know what it is?
There are several ways to calculate gas mileage, including real-time gas mileage trackers, trip cost calculators, and downloadable apps for mobile devices. However, for the purposes of this article, we will focus on a simple formula for calculating gas mileage.
Here are the simple steps you need to follow to calculate MPG on your vehicle:
- Save your receipt at your next fill-up at the gas station, making sure to write down the amount of gas you put in the tank as well as the odometer reading at that time.
- Do this every time you fill up, always making sure to pump the same grade of gasoline and filling about 1/4 of a tank of gas constantly.
- Record these numbers in a notebook or Excel spreadsheet, noting all necessary information such as the date, amount of gasoline pumped, odometer reading at fill-up, and amount paid per gallon, if desired. .
- Calculate gas mileage by first calculating miles driven. Odometer Reading 2 – Odometer Reading 1 = Miles Driven
- Finish Calculation: Miles Driven / Gallons Pumped 2nd Visit = MPG
By using this formula to calculate gas mileage, you will be able to see if:
- your vehicle gets the EPA-estimated MPG
- the fuel saving devices you installed actually work
- fuel additives, such as acetone, have had a beneficial impact on your vehicle’s fuel economy
- changes in driving habits, hypermiling and car maintenance increase the fuel efficiency of your vehicle