How to Calculate Gas Mileage

The Environmental Protection Agency rates the gas mileage of every vehicle on the streets of North Wales, and their ratings are nearly accurate, but there’s room for variation. If you’re suspicious of your model’s EPA rating, follow our gas mileage calculator method to get a more accurate reading of your MPG. If you’re surprised by how much your gas mileage has fallen, your vehicle may be having trouble, in which case we recommend that you schedule a service appointment at North Penn Mazda in Colmar. Don’t forget to check out our service specials! 

What is Good Gas Mileage?

“Good” gas mileage is relative to the type of vehicle you’re driving and what kind of driving you’re doing. An exceptionally efficient truck can’t offer the gas mileage of an average sedan, and if you’re doing most of your driving in the dense urban traffic of Lansdale, you’ll rarely experience the full efficiency of your vehicle. The best metric for analyzing its efficiency is to compare it to others in its segment. 

Furthermore, if you do most of your driving on the highway, emphasize highway fuel economy in your comparison — city drivers should take particular note of city fuel economy. That said, take those ratings with a grain of salt — remember when we told you that MPG ratings were nearly accurate? If you’re curious about the true efficiency of your vehicle, it’s also important to know about how to calculate gas mileage, yourself. 

Gas Mileage Calculator

To get a good sense of what your vehicle’s real gas mileage is, follow these steps: 

• Fill up your gas tank. Afterwards, write down your exact gas mileage. Also, check your owner’s manual to see your fuel tank’s capacity. 
• Over the next few days, drive your car as “normally” as you can muster. If you happen to go off-roading, you’re going to burn an unusual amount of fuel and throw off your calculation. 
• Once you’ve driven your vehicle for a few days, note the number of fresh miles you’ve added to the odometer compared to when you first filled up your tank. Then, look at your fuel gauge, subtract the number of gallons left in your tank from the max fuel tank capacity, and divide the number of miles you drove by the number of gallons you used up.

Have Questions About Our Gas Mileage Calculator?

If you’re struggling with any of our steps on how to calculate gas mileage on Chalfont streets, don’t hesitate to call our mechanics at (267) 956-1160. We can help you troubleshoot any issues your having, and if you’re surprised by how bad your fuel economy is, we can set you up with a diagnostic. While you’re here, take a moment to explore our service tips for other helpful reads like our guide on when to change your oil filter!