On 5/31/2007 9:53 AM Tegger spake these words of knowledge:
> "spam" <nimbusters.RemoveThis@centralpets.com> wrote in
> news:465ec342$0$30608$4c368faf@roadrunner.com:
>
>> Tegger, how do I calculate more accurately? thanks
>
>
> 1) Fill the tank up to the top. When it clicks off, wait a few seconds,
> then add more at half-speed until a second click is obtained. This
> minimizes the effects of slosh on the first click-off.
>
> 2) Record the odometer reading and the amount of gas you put in.
>
> 3) Drive around until the next fillup.
>
> 4) Repeat from #1. Do this at least five times or so. You MUST fill up
> all the way, and the same way each time. It is not necessary to use the
> same pump each time.
>
> You will end up compiling a list of fillups with mileage and gallons.
>
> It is easiest to record each fillup's details on one line on a single
> piece of paper. Each succeeding fillup will get recorded below the
> previous one, forming a table with rows and columns.
>
> 5) Fill up all the way one last time, recording as usual.
>
> 6) Add up the miles driven since the first odometer recording (very last
> reading minus the very first).
>
> 7) Add up the gallons, but DO NOT include the gas from the very first
> fillup! That very first fillup was an "index", zeroing the count before
> beginning the study.
>
> 
Divide miles by gallons. That's your mileage.
>
> The more fillups you include in your calculations, the more accurate
> your result will be.
Good advice -- and I don't want to confuse the OP, but the fact is that
as long as you record how much you put in and how many miles you've
gone, whether you completely fill up or partially fill up is irrelevant
except for the initial time, when you completely fill up and record your
starting mileage, and the last time, when you completely fill up and
record your ending mileage.
As long as you know how much gas you put in in between the first and
last complete fillups, you can correctly calculate your mpg (miles per
gallon) over that period.
In other words:
a.) Fill up as Tegger advised in 1.) above. Record the odometer
reading at that time.
b.) Faithfully record how much fuel you put in the vehicle every time
you put some in, whether it's a fill up, 10 gallons or $6 worth (note
that "$6" is not an amount of fuel unless you know the rate, i.e. $6 at
$3.09 per gallon).
c.) When you want to know your fuel consumption rate, fill up again as
Tegger advised in 1.) above. Record how much fuel you put in, and the
odometer reading.
d.) Add together all the fuel amounts you recorded in b. above, and the
one amount you recorded in c. Note: do not include the amount of fuel
in the original fillup from a. above.
e.) Subtract the odometer value you recorded in a. above from the
odometer value you recorded in c.
f.) Divide the value of miles from e. by the total number gallons from
d. The resulting quotient is your accurate miles per gallon for those
miles.
Sounds complicated to read - it's complicated to write clear, meaningful
instructions - but it's really not complicated or difficult to do.
Another way would be to download my mileage spreadsheet (Excel) from
Tegger's site and enter in your figures; it'll do all the calculations
for you.
RFT!!!
Dave Kelsen
--
"Economic independence is the foundation of the only sort of freedom
worth a damn." -- Henry Louis Mencken
>> Stay informed about: gas tank size in 2000 accord 
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i will use these instructions.