How to Compute Miles Per Gallon
Figuring out the mileage on your car is important for budgeting, and also as a maintenance item. If your mileage is going down on a monthly basis, there may be something wrong with your car, or you may be driving more aggressively or in worse conditions. Keep monthly records of your mileage to keep track of your car's performance, and you'll keep on top of any minor problems before they turn into major ones.
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Instructions
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1
Go to the gas station. Make a note of the exact mileage on your car's odometer. This will be the beginning mileage number.
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2
Fill your gas tank until the automatic cutoff switch clicks, but do not add any more gasoline after that. This will give the most accurate reading of tank fullness.
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3
Drive your car normally for at least three or four days, or until you reach about half a tank of gas.
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4
Go back to the gas station. Make a note of the exact mileage on the odometer on the same paper that you used before, so that you have both figures.
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Fill your gas tank, allowing the shutoff switch to engage but not adding any gasoline after that point. Make a note on the same paper of the exact number of gallons you have added to your tank. The gas pump will at least show the amount to the tenth of a gallon.
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Subtract the first mileage figure from the second. This will tell you exactly how many miles you have driven.
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Divide the number of miles you have driven, including any tenths of a mile, by the number of gallons you have added to your tank, including any tenths of a gallon. This will tell you the gas mileage your car is currently getting.
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Tips & Warnings
Repeat this process at least two times, add the three final totals and divide by three. This will give you a more accurate average miles per gallon for your car.
