How to Evaluate Excessive Gas Consumption in Cars
According to a study from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the average mileage for a passenger car in 2009 was 27.5 miles per gallon. However, there is tremendous difference in the gas consumption of different cars. Based on the information provided by fueleconomy.gov, you may check the average mileage for the model of your car. If you then calculate the actual mileage, you may determine if your car is using an excessive amount of gasoline.
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Instructions
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Navigate to fueleconomy.gov and click on "find a car" in the upper navigation menu. Select the model year of your car, followed by the make and model of the car. The search results will tell you the average mileage for your car based on freeway or city driving. Record the results.
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Fill the gas tank when you next put gasoline in the car. Record the reading on your odometer.
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Let the gas tank run to at least half empty. Fill the gas tank to full and record both how much gasoline you put in your car and the odometer reading. Subtracting the first odometer reading from the second odometer reading. This will determine how many miles you drove.
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Divide the number of miles driven by the gallons of gasoline pumped in your car on the second fill-up. This will give you the actual reading for how many miles your car can drive on a single gallon of gasoline. Compare that to the number from fueleconomy.gov to determine if your car uses excessive gas.
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Tips & Warnings
For the most accurate reading of gas mileage, it is best to do this calculation while primarily doing a single type of driving---all city, for example, or all highway.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Refuelling by gasoline of the modern car image by terex from Fotolia.com
