Fuel Cost Calculator

How to Reduce Car Fuel Consumption

As fuel prices fluctuate, many motorists search for ways to improve their vehicle's efficiency. While we can't control petrol prices, we can take steps to reduce our cars' fuel consumption and save money.

Here are some practical tips to help you get more miles per gallon:

1. Plan efficient routes. Combine errands into a single trip to reduce overall mileage. Use sat nav apps to find the most direct routes and avoid traffic.
2. Share the ride. Car sharing to work or events can significantly cut your fuel expenses. While a car with passengers uses slightly more petrol, it's far more efficient than multiple vehicles making the same journey.
3. Choose the right vehicle. If you're in the market for a new car, consider a smaller or more fuel-efficient model. A small car or hybrid can often halve the fuel costs of a large 4x4.
4. Maintain your engine. Regular servicing keeps your engine running efficiently. Address any maintenance issues promptly – a well-maintained car can use up to 40% less fuel than one with serious problems.
5. Mind your tyres. Check tyre pressure weekly and inflate to the manufacturer's recommended level. Proper inflation can boost fuel economy by up to 3%.
6. Streamline your vehicle. Remove roof racks or cargo boxes when not in use. These accessories increase drag and reduce fuel efficiency.
7. Use the right oil. Choose the motor oil grade recommended by your car's manufacturer. The correct oil can improve fuel economy by 1-2%.

What Determines the Fuel Price

1. Government policies and global politics. Countries use taxes and subsidies to influence fuel consumption. Tensions or leadership changes in oil-producing regions may disrupt supply chains, leading to sudden price hikes. International relations often have a direct impact on what we pay at the pump.
2. The global oil market sets the tone. Crude oil prices on the international market provide the foundation for fuel costs. These prices shift based on supply and demand, with industry watchers keeping a close eye on benchmarks like Brent and WTI.
3. Geographic factors. Areas close to oil reserves and refineries typically have lower prices while remote areas often face higher prices because of increased logistics expenses.
4. Natural disasters. Major weather events or natural disasters can damage oil infrastructure, causing supply shortages.

How to Calculate Fuel Consumption

To calculate fuel consumption, you'll need three key pieces of information:

• Journey Distance: The total distance you plan to travel
• Fuel Efficiency: Your vehicle's fuel economy
• Petrol/Diesel Cost: The current price of fuel in your area

Here's how to use this information:

1. Determine your journey distance in miles.
2. Find your vehicle's fuel efficiency. In the UK, this is typically expressed in miles per gallon (mpg).
3. Calculate the amount of fuel needed for your journey by dividing the journey distance by your fuel efficiency.
4. Multiply the fuel amount by the current petrol price to estimate your total fuel cost.

For example:

UK measurements:

• Journey: 300 miles
• Efficiency: 40 mpg
• Fuel needed: 300 / 40 = 7.5 gallons
• If petrol costs £1.50/litre (£6.82/gallon), the total cost would be 7.5 * £6.82 = £51.15

Metric system:

• Journey: 500 km
• Efficiency: 7 L/100km
• Fuel needed: 500 * (7/100) = 35 litres
• If fuel costs £1.50/litre, total cost would be 35 * £1.50 = £52.50

Use our free Fuel Cost Calculator for a quick and accurate calculation, especially when planning longer journeys or comparing different routes. It takes these factors into account automatically, saving you time and helping you budget more effectively for your trip.

How to Calculate Fuel Efficiency

• Record the details: Note the distance travelled (from your trip odometer) and the amount of fuel added to your tank.
• Do the maths: Divide the miles driven by the gallons of fuel used. This gives you your miles per gallon (MPG).

For example, if you drove 300 miles and used 10 gallons of petrol, your fuel consumption would be 30 MPG (300 / 10 = 30).

If you prefer metric units, you can calculate litres per 100 kilometres. Multiply the litres of fuel used by 100, then divide by the kilometres driven.

For the most accurate results, calculate your fuel consumption over several fill-ups. This will help to account for variations in driving conditions and provide a more reliable average.

How to Calculate Miles Per Tank

MPT = MPG × TS

Where:

• MPT is Miles Per Tank
• MPG is Miles Per Gallon
• TS is Tank Size in gallons

To calculate your miles per tank, multiply your vehicle's miles per gallon (MPG) by its tank size in gallons.

For example, if your car achieves 30 MPG and has a 15-gallon tank, your miles per tank would be:

30 × 15 = 450 miles