Online MPG Trackers

[RningOnFumes]

For ease of tracking your MPG, a few sites allow easy to use online programs to help you track your MPG.

These three sites are very useful:

For tracking:
www.gassavers.org
www.cleanmpg.com
https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=garage
http://gasbuddy.com/ (not yet reviewed by me, but I've seen it around, quite similar to the epa version.)
Ecomodder.com

Offline tools:

Excel template download

Federal Numbers for input into your tracking info (setting up):
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/feg2000.htm


First of all, TN has no endorsements of any of those sites listed, if you are able to give input and list a few more (with quick reviews); they will be posted also. Those listed are merely tools for the general public; TN has no other afiliation with these sites than the link.

Once you have registered, most of these sites ask for car info and federal epa mpg ratings for the initial set up. Once you are finished with that step, you can imediately begin! If you have your tank mileage and your total fuels used, you could start right away.

Quick cliffs notes on MPG:

Tank Mileage / total gallons = xx.xx MPG

Tank Mileage: Total mileage from full tank to your next fill up. MPG calculations will be more accurate if you wait until at least half of your usual tank to fill up again.

Total Gallons: Gallons of gas/petrol/diesel used to fill up the tank to full with +/- 1 or 2 clicks after auto shut off.

If you are first starting, "throw-away" your first data and recognize the second time you fill up, that tank will be more accurate as you sorta know how much you filled on the tank before and can see that you got close to the gallons filled. One can not say they have an average of xx.xx MPG until at least 3 or 4 tanks worth.

Quick reviews:

www.gassavers.org and https://www.fueleconomy.gov/mpg/MPG.do?action=garage are very simple to use. As noted before, after set up, you mostly enter the date, the mileage, and the gallons, sometimes price. There is a part to give quick comments about the current you are entering.

www.cleanmpg.com is a more comprehensive system. You will have what is already listed above and includes more data inputs such as weather, temp, and max speed.

Originally Posted by Daox

Ecomodder.com also has a simpler logging feature in their garage. It has nicer graphs too IMO.

I am not too familiar with the EPA's version but as for the other two, the data you put in allows the programs to make a graph for you. The graph is a very helpful tool! If there are enough data points, you can gauge patterns, increases, and decreases at a glance. The next great feature is that they allow links which you post into your signatures here on TN using the IMG -- pic post button. Your sig will show everyone your MPG quite nicely.



Fumes

[Tigerotor77W]

Quick question here. Given that the fuel shut-off varies so dramatically between pumps (I averaged 42 MPG on one leg of a trip and 32 MPG the second leg, for instance, even though the terrain was hillier in the first leg and the two distances were the same), without a ScanGuage, how do I know how much fuel I'm putting in when I'm doing miles/gallons used?

I can't exactly "just add" 0.5 gallon once the pump stops, so...

[bandit]

Another is http://gasbuddy.com/.

Click your state and at the top, place your mouse over GAS PRICES and than go to FUEL LOGBOOK.

[deezeejoey]

Someone made a Excel Sheet to keep track of your gas mileage/usage. I modified it some and it's what I use. I'll have to upload for all to use.

[RningOnFumes]

Originally Posted by Tigerotor77W

Quick question here. Given that the fuel shut-off varies so dramatically between pumps (I averaged 42 MPG on one leg of a trip and 32 MPG the second leg, for instance, even though the terrain was hillier in the first leg and the two distances were the same), without a ScanGuage, how do I know how much fuel I'm putting in when I'm doing miles/gallons used?

I can't exactly "just add" 0.5 gallon once the pump stops, so...

No, you don't account for the extra 0.5 by adding that much more. You just fill up to the click and stop. If you try to adjust at the pump you are corrupting the data. That's why the procedure I posted says to wait to fill at least after you've spent half your tank of gas and to then use the average of at least 3 tanks. We are trying to see how much your gas took you not trying to fit the miles into the gallons used. The + or - clicks and the average over at least 2 tanks will help to smooth out the varying dramatic shut off points between pumps. And if the variations do bother you that much, try to get gas at the same pump each time.

As for the discrepancy between the 42mpg with hilly terrain vs 32mpg flat... same distances, many variables can explain it. Could be you were coasting down the downhill while on the 32mpg flat, you just accelerate through. Should you get the same numbers 2 or so more times, we'll have to look at the variables.

Originally Posted by dcemureviews

Another is http://gasbuddy.com/.

Click your state and at the top, place your mouse over GAS PRICES and than go to FUEL LOGBOOK.

Thanks dce, added.

Originally Posted by deezeejoey

Someone made a Excel Sheet to keep track of your gas mileage/usage. I modified it some and it's what I use. I'll have to upload for all to use.

You're right, There's formats you can download from the net, if you can find them I'll add them.
Edit: I've found and added a link from this thread: Logs, calculators and spreadsheets

[Tigerotor77W]

Originally Posted by RningOnFumes

No, you don't account for the extra 0.5 by adding that much more. You just fill up to the click and stop. If you try to adjust at the pump you are corrupting the data. That's why the procedure I posted says to wait to fill at least after you've spent half your tank of gas and to then use the average of at least 3 tanks. We are trying to see how much your gas took you not trying to fit the miles into the gallons used. The + or - clicks and the average over at least 2 tanks will help to smooth out the varying dramatic shut off points between pumps. And if the variations do bother you that much, try to get gas at the same pump each time.

As for the discrepancy between the 42mpg with hilly terrain vs 32mpg flat... same distances, many variables can explain it. Could be you were coasting down the downhill while on the 32mpg flat, you just accelerate through. Should you get the same numbers 2 or so more times, we'll have to look at the variables.

You make valid points, most of which I'm aware -- there's not much point to my arguing with them, as I can't duplicate that situation any time soon, so we'll see what happens the next time. Like you said, I think this is just an anomaly that will be averaged out as the size of my dataset increases.

[Daox]

Ecomodder.com also has a simpler logging feature in their garage. It has nicer graphs too IMO.

[RningOnFumes]

Added, thanks Daox.

[ToySter]

I did not know there was a fuel section and posted in another section.
Fuelly.com.... see my sig for info... they have about every car group to compare

Fuelly

[SuperchargedMR2]

Originally Posted by ToySter

I did not know there was a fuel section and posted in another section.
Fuelly.com.... see my sig for info... they have about every car group to compare

Fuelly

+1

I started using fuelly.com & it makes it fun to track your mpg & the graphs are easy to see & understand.