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How to Use Our Gas Mileage Calculator

3 min read

How to Use Our Gas Mileage Calculator

Knowing your actual gas mileage helps you budget for fuel and identify when your vehicle may need maintenance. Our Gas Mileage Calculator computes your miles per gallon from simple fill-up data.

How to Track Your Mileage

The most accurate method uses two fill-ups:

  1. Fill your tank completely and note your odometer reading.
  2. Drive normally until you need gas again.
  3. Fill up completely again and note the gallons pumped and your new odometer reading.

Enter into the calculator:

  • Miles Driven -- The difference between the two odometer readings.
  • Gallons Used -- The amount of fuel from the second fill-up.

The calculator divides miles by gallons to get your MPG.

Understanding Your Results

Miles Per Gallon (MPG) -- Higher is better. Compare your result to your vehicle's EPA rating. If your actual MPG is significantly below the EPA estimate, it may indicate:

  • Underinflated tires (can reduce MPG by 3%)
  • A dirty air filter
  • Aggressive driving habits (rapid acceleration and braking)
  • Need for a tune-up or maintenance

Cost Per Mile -- Enter your local gas price to see what each mile actually costs you. At $3.50/gallon and 25 MPG, you are spending $0.14 per mile on fuel alone.

Tips to Improve Your Mileage

  • Maintain proper tire pressure
  • Remove unnecessary weight from your vehicle
  • Use cruise control on highways
  • Avoid idling for extended periods
  • Combine short trips into one longer trip

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