How to Use a Car Mileage Calculator to Save Money

One of the most common questions car buyers in India ask is, ‘Kitna deti hai?’ After all, fuel efficiency has always been a critical factor in vehicle purchases, especially in a price-sensitive market like ours!

Let’s explore how a car mileage calculator works, its accuracy, and how to calculate car mileage per km for precise estimates.

How to Calculate Mileage Online

You can now use the distance traveled and cost of fuel figures to calculate your car’s tank-to-tank mileage. Use the following mileage formula:

Mileage (km/L) = Total Distance Traveled (km) ÷ Amount of Fuel Used (L)

So, for example, if your Maruti Suzuki Brezza covered 360 km and the fuel consumed was 20 liters,

Mileage (km/L) = 360 km ÷ 20 l = 18 km/l

Not a fan of manual calculations? Don’t worry, you can calculate mileage of car online almost instantly with free online car mileage calculators. All you need to do is input these figures into the calculator:

• Distance Traveled
• Fuel Consumed
• Fuel Price

Why is Mileage Calculation Important?

Mileage, or fuel economy, refers to how many kilometers your car will travel on a single liter of fuel. Tracking your car’s efficiency can help you save money and also reduce your carbon footprint.

We bet you’re wondering, ‘Why should I calculate my car mileage?’ Even if you don’t care about fuel economy from a monetary point of view, being aware of it can have multiple benefits. Here are some reasons why you should do your mileage calculation regularly.

1. To Track Fuel Costs

By using a mileage cost calculator, you can estimate how much money you’re spending on commutes, occasional trips, etc. Once you know your car’s running costs, it becomes easier to budget and plan fuel-efficient trips.

2. To Diagnose Mechanical Issues

Getting a low car average per liter can be an indicator of underlying mechanical issues with your car. Getting it checked early on can prevent further damage to your car’s parts. Most importantly, it can prevent the worst-case scenario of your car breaking down unexpectedly.

3. To Measure Environmental Impact

When your car is more fuel-efficient, it generates fewer emissions and is much better for the environment.

How Accurate Is An On-Board Car Mileage Calculator?

Thanks to modern technology, most cars today come with a built-in car mileage calculator that displays fuel consumption and the estimated distance to empty. You can fill up your gas tank and the car’s MID will display exactly how many kilometers you’ll be able to drive before fuel runs out. But how accurate is your car’s fuel consumption calculator anyway?

According to a survey by ADAC, the on-board car mileage calculator on most vehicles tends to display slightly different distances from empty figures that underestimate your car’s actual fuel economy. This is done so that you refuel before the car runs out of gas.

However, when it comes to mileage, your MID is much more accurate; on average, car mileage calculators have a very low error rate of 2.3%. These car mileage calculators measure your mileage in real-time by analyzing your driving behavior, driving conditions, and distance until empty.

While getting a hundred percent accurate mileage reading in real-time is almost impossible, the low error rate means that your MID’s displayed fuel economy is very close to the actual mileage you’re getting.

How Accurate Are ARAI-Rated Figures?

Every car manufacturer in India uses ARAI-certified mileage figures to promote their cars and bikes. Where does this mileage check come from, and how accurate are they?

The Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) is a government body that tests if a car meets emission standards by running it on a dynamometer according to a predefined ‘Indian driving cycle’. They also calculate car fuel consumption in the process.

ARAI mileage test is done in perfect driving conditions, which cannot be recreated outside a laboratory. Hence, while ARAI mileage is useful in comparing the efficiency of different car models, it is not very accurate and does not take into account the various factors that affect mileage in real-world conditions, such as:

• Fuel Quality

Using adulterated, low-quality fuel can reduce your mileage. how to calculate fuel cost per km

• Driving Style

Aggressive braking and acceleration put more pressure on your engine and result in lower mileage.

• Driving Conditions

The terrain, traffic, and weather conditions that you drive in can drastically affect your fuel economy.

• Vehicle Condition

Typically, older cars and vehicles that have not received regular maintenance are less fuel efficient.

How to Calculate Mileage of Car

Calculating car mileage can be a really simple process. If you suspect your onboard car average calculator is displaying incorrect mileage figures or your car’s fuel economy is much lower than its ARAI mileage, you can verify it yourself by using the tank-to-tank method for manual mileage calculation.

How to Calculate Distance Covered and Fuel Cost

First, let’s understand how to calculate fuel cost per km and distance covered through the steps given below:

1. Fill the Tank

Start by filling your fuel tank completely.

2. Reset the Trip Meter

Reset your trip meter or note the odometer reading.

3. Drive as Usual

For best results, drive at the same time you normally would, so you can factor in the weather conditions and traffic.

4. Refill the Tank

When your tank is near empty, refuel and note the amount of fuel that was added.

5. Record the Distance

Check the trip meter or odometer reading and use it to calculate the distance traveled and fuel consumed.

Conclusion

While an onboard car mileage calculator can be reasonably accurate, conduct a monthly mileage check using online calculators and the tankful-to-tankful method to get even more precise mileage numbers. Adopting mindful, efficient driving habits can also help you consistently get good fuel economy.

You should generally get higher mileage numbers for highway driving and lower ones when you’re driving in congested city streets. If you keep getting lower mileage numbers than your car’s ARAI-estimated mileage, it may be a warning sign of engine damage.

Frequently Asked Questions