How to Calculate Gas Mileage

Every year, the Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, rates new vehicles based on their fuel efficiency. Much goes into these ratings, however, they also stress that actual gas mileage may vary. If you’re a Orland Park driver, you might be looking into how to calculate gas mileage without difficulty. Read on below as The Garage at Bettenhausen explores how to use a proper gas mileage calculator in Tinley Park.

What is Good Gas Mileage?

If you’re wondering what constitutes “good” gas mileage around Tinley Park, there’s no specific standard. If you buy an SUV, your gas mileage will be different from what you’d experience in a new compact car. The same occurs when comparing compact cars with gas-electric hybrids, as a hybrid provides superior fuel efficiency. 

Whether you’re choosing a new or pre-owned vehicle, you should always look into what’s the expected gas mileage. Always do your research and learn everything you can about the model you want to drive.

Gas Mileage Calculator

In reality, it is easy to learn how to calculate gas mileage in your vehicle. Here’s what you need to do: 

1. Fill your gas tank fully and either reset your trip odometer or record your exact mileage around Oak Forest. Make sure to also find out how much gas your gas tank holds by reviewing your owner’s manual.
2. Drive your vehicle as you would normally around Tinley Park. Depending on how you accelerate — slowly or briskly — your regular calculated gas mileage may be different than what you record.
3. Refill your gas tank and record your mileage. If you wait longer to refill, your calculation will be more accurate, as it is based on a more balanced mix of driving conditions.
4. The easiest way to calculate your gas mileage is to divide the number of miles traveled by the number of gallons of gas; your vehicle takes to refill. In summary, that’s miles driven divided by gallons of gas used. 
5. If you forget to check how many gallons you filled up your car with, determine where your tank was when you refilled (i.e. ¼, ½, or ¾). Then, divide out your total tank capacity based on the number of gallons refilled. You can then divide the miles driven by that approximation. This is far less accurate since the gas gauge in some vehicles isn’t 100% accurate. A digital gas gauge shows how many gallons of gas are in the tank and is far easier to work with than an analog gauge.

Learn More About Maximizing Your Gas Mileage in Tinley Park

Now that you know how to calculate gas mileage during your regular Frankfort commutes, you should be set to maximize your gas mileage. In the meantime, The Garage at Bettenhausen is here to support all your service needs, including car battery service and tire rotations. Check out our service specials and schedule your next tuneup with The Garage at Bettenhausen!