Why Calculate Fuel Economy and How

Calculating fuel economy

A lot of people may know how to calculate fuel economy or have a built in average gas mileage meter in their vehicle. But just in case you need some tips on how to calculate fuel economy I have a short post to follow on the subject. If your goal is to increase your miles per gallon then accurate logs of gas mileage should be kept to gage progress.

Calculate fuel economy

When getting your base line measurement of fuel economy it is best to use the same gas station and fuel pump if possible. The first step is to fill your vehicle’s gas tank all the way, and write down the odometer mileage reading and clear your trip odometer if you have one. Special note to pump until the nozzle turns of automatically and do not attempt to top off or round up the numbers.

The next step is to drive the vehicle the way you would normally for a few days and then refill the tank as stated above and record the exact amount of gallons installed. Next you write the mileage down above the mileage that you originally recorded and subtract. This will give you the miles traveled and you can check this against your trip odometer.

The final step is to divide the number of miles you went by the number of gallons you just filled up with. This will give you a very accurate mpg figure. Basically the formula is number of miles driven divided by the number of gallons at second fill up. Personally I purchased the scan gage pictured to the left that plugs into your vehicles diagnostic connector and provides both instant and average fuel economy. This motivates me to keep my foot off the gas and shows me when my hypermiling is being effective instantly.

Why keep track of Miles Per Gallon

Now we are on the same page on how to calculate fuel economy. The next question is why we should always do this. The answer is it keeps us focused on saving fuel and driving accordingly. When you see your numbers go down you know you will have to be more conservative in your driving habits. Also if you try gas mileage enhancing products or techniques you can measure results.

This procedure was information I pulled from the 08 fuel saving guide. This package includes all of the popular stuff floating around the net about the gas saving subject. Among other things included are the plans to build the hydro star system or better known as water to gas. Another handy report included in the package was all about hybrid cars. This report compares prices and fuel economy as well as tax incentives that vary greatly from model to model. Learn more about hypermiling and the 08 gas saving guides content.

Saving Money on Gas 5 Tips

Saving money on gas sounds like an impossibility, but don’t give up just yet! The best ways to save money on gas starts with changing your driving habits before you arrive at the pump.

Hypermilers get criticized for radical gas saving maneuvers, like shutting off the engine and turning without power. You don’t have to do anything that’s potentially unsafe to save gas. These are simple, safe ways to conserve gas and save money:

1. Avoid idling with the motor on. If you dash into a convenience store, don’t leave the motor running. While waiting to pick up the children at school, don’t idle in the long pickup line. Park the car and walk over to pick up the children. You’ll also get some exercise.

2. Identify the shortest, most efficient route to work, school and grocery store. The main street may look shorter but not if there’s several traffic lights. A back road, even at a slower but consistent speed might be the best gas saving route.

Saving money on gas means planning multiple stops along the way. Think twice before jumping into the car to drive across town for a $5 savings. With gas prices so high, you can spend more driving to get a sale price than in what you actually save.

3. Slide, don’t slam. Whenever possible, take your foot off the accelerator and let the car gradually decelerate before reaching a stop sign or red light. Let gravity work in your favor instead of racing to the light only to slam on the brake. That wastes gas and wears out your tires faster.

4. A well-maintained car operates more efficiently on less gas. Keep your engine tuned, oil changed and fluids at proper levels. Something as simple as keeping the proper vehicle maintenance up to date and using the right viscosity oil can improve operational efficiency.

If the engine strains to function, get an engine diagnostic scan to make certain that things like the valve timing, fuel pump and ignition are operating properly. Spending money on regular tune-ups is cheaper in the long run than the extra cost of gas plus wear and tear on the vehicle.

5. Saving money on gas means driving cautious. Changing your driving habits is the cheapest and easiest way to improve fuel economy for any type of vehicle. Don’t race away from the traffic light – instead, make a gradual acceleration. When going downhill, let gravity instead of gas power the descent, coasting is key to saving on gas. Reduce your use of the air conditioner. Open the windows to let out hot air before turning on the air conditioner.

Remember, saving money on gas starts when you fill up at the pump, make note of the amount of gas, price per gallon and current vehicle mileage. You need to monitor the gas usage to evaluate which gas saving techniques work best for your vehicle.

You can also watch the prices of gas stations on your regular driving route. The same brand name station on the Main Street or highway entrance is usually more expensive per gallon than the station that’s a few blocks off the main route.

These tips are from my friends at the 2008 ultimate gas saving guide. There package includes: 'Water2Gas' Run Car On Water Hho, Software, Hypermiling Guide, Bio-diesel Guide, Gas Saver Guide, Lowest Price Guide, Hybrid Buyers Guide, Mileage Calculator, Bonuses: Energy Saving Guide, And More!

More tips for hypermiling and the plans for the water2gas system are available at 2008 gas saver guide website