Are your mpg figures accurate?

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Nomen Nescio, Jul 23, 2004.

  1. Nomen Nescio

    Nomen Nescio Guest

    I went to fill an empty five gallon Jerry can and it took only 4.6 gallons
    as indicated on the pump.

    This is not uncommon as filling stations will pay a hefty fine for pumps
    that over-read.

    Thus, any mpg calculation I might make using this particular pump will
    result in 8.5% better than true mileage.

    Besides using a calibrated fuel measure, temperature is a small, but
    measurable factor also. How many of you take that into consideration?

    Then there is the calibrated odometer. If it over-registers, you mileage
    deviates higher than true.

    There are so many other factors including density altitude, winds, road
    conditions, tire pressure, just to mention a few, it is futile to get any
    meaningful measurements.

    Besides, the factories pump up the tires to overpressure levels to boost
    their figures not to mention other tricks like leaning out the mixture,
    stripping out the spare and jack and even adding streamlining to massage
    the advertising specs.
     
    Nomen Nescio, Jul 23, 2004
    #1
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