Fuel Mileage Checking Oversights

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Nomen Nescio, Oct 28, 2005.

  1. Nomen Nescio

    Nomen Nescio Guest

    Most filling station gas pumps underregister the gallons to avoid code
    enforcement fines. Therefore calibrate the gas pump by pumping gas into a
    known calibrated container. This error will falsely increase your
    calculated mileage.

    Most odometers are wrong. Calibrate that against road markers. An
    overregistering odometer like mine will also false increase calculated
    mileage.

    Road surface conditions, water or snow on roadway, load in car, winds,
    grades are variables which affect mileage.

    Less critical is temperature and atmospheric pressure, and altitude.

    Tire pressure is often overlooked.

    The professional mileage contestants pump up their tires to about 60 psi
    for optimum mileage. They don't care if the tires blow out. Its the
    mileage that counts, dude.

    Some of you guys out there think you're getting 35 mpg from your Imperial,
    but you aren't because all of the above confuse the issue.
     
    Nomen Nescio, Oct 28, 2005
    #1
  2. Odometer inaccuracy is a serious problem and very common, far more
    than people realize. The automakers have a vested interest in making
    odometers read a few percent high with all the leasing that is done and
    the mileage warranties. See the following rather interesting discussion:

    http://truckandbarter.com/mt/archives/2004/06/on_the_accuracy.html
    Tire size is more important.
    You forgot winterized fuel with a higher alcohol content, thus lower power
    from it, mileage on these blends is worse.

    It should be noted, however, that MPG rates are most useful in comparing
    PAST mileage with CURRENT mileage, as a decrease in mpg indicates
    engine trouble. SO most of these factors are equalized out. mpg only
    becomes significant when comparing it to other vehicles or against the
    federal tested mpg.

    Ted
     
    Ted Mittelstaedt, Oct 28, 2005
    #2
  3. Nomen Nescio

    Greg Houston Guest

    I thought summer gas had lower fuel efficiency due to the additives used to
    reduce vapor emissions having lower energy content than gasoline. Fortunately
    the stations local to me don't use any alcohol, although I don't know how much
    longer that will continue. I agree EPA mileage figures aren't accurate, but I
    usually can do better than the claimed mileage. Since mileage can change a lot
    just due to driving style and type of roads driven, it's probably not reasonable
    to boil it down to one number fits all--except for comparison only.
     
    Greg Houston, Nov 6, 2005
    #3
Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments (here). After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.