How is average consumption calculated?

Average fuel consumption indicates how much fuel a vehicle uses for every 100 km. This is one of the main factors that are considered when buying a new car. How is average fuel consumption calculated?

How are the calculations made?

In many modern cars, the dashboard has a small display that displays the average consumption at the time of the trip. These data are used by many motorists to select the optimal driving style for this vehicle.

What to do to those car owners whose cars are not equipped with such a sensor? Calculation of the average consumption is easy to do yourself. Two indicators are taken as the basis. The first is the mileage since the last refueling. To do this, you need to record the mileage indicator on the odometer. It is much easier to do this using a daily mileage counter. Even in mechanical devices, it can be reset to zero.

When the car is refueling, this indicator is reset. When the time comes for the next refueling, it is necessary to remove the indicator from the daily counter. This will be the first digit (distance s), which will help calculate the average fuel consumption. After the tank is refilled, the second indicator is how many liters were filled (the amount of gas m).

Formula for calculating average consumption

The rest is just the final calculation. The formula is quite simple: the number of liters must be divided by the mileage, and the result (x) must be multiplied by 100 (m / s \u100d x * XNUMX). Here is an example:

Distance: 743 km

Filled: 53 liters

53 l / 743 km = 0,0713 x 100 = 7,13 l per 100 km

Calculation accuracy

It should be borne in mind that an accurate indicator of the average consumption of a car can be obtained only after several refueling. The gun at the gas station understands that the tank is full when the system does not record the air outlet from the gas tank.

This function is configured differently for each gas pump. Along with possible air bubbles in the tank, it may happen that the tank does not actually fill up to its highest level - and plus or minus five liters already lead to changes in the average consumption rate of 0,8 liters. up or down when running about 600 kilometers. The average amount of a “full tank” and the corresponding correct average consumption can be calculated only after a few thousand kilometers.

To make this indicator as close to reality as possible, it is necessary to summarize the results after each calculation, and then divide by the number of test measurements. Some motorists use the services of one gas station for greater accuracy throughout the entire calculation period.

Questions and answers:

How to calculate the average consumption of a car? A certain amount of fuel is poured into the tank. The daily counter is set to 0. As soon as the fuel runs out, you need to divide this figure by the distance traveled. Multiply the result by 100.

How to calculate actual fuel consumption? Many modern cars already have an electronic system that independently calculates the consumption per 100 km. If there is no such system, calculations can be made using the above formula.

How much is gas mileage per 100 km? It depends on the design features of the engine (naturally aspirated or turbocharged), the type of fuel system (carburetor or one of the types of injection), the weight of the car and the driving style.