Mileage and Fuel Cost per Mile Summary

I stopped for gas yesterday despite the fact I wanted to wait a little longer. You get a more accurate mileage number when you use as much of what is in your tank as possible. I hadn't factored in yesterday's trip when I left the bigger cheaper town on Monday because I thought I would be using a different vehicle. Now I didn't know if I would make it back to big cheap town without the anxiety of that needle getting lower and lower. By keeping track of my mileage, the fact that gas gauges cannot be trusted is easier to deal with but this car doesn't give me much lee-way or warning when it get very low and truth be told, I've run out on more than a few occasions.

This morning I figured my mileage to be 29.295! That is so cool and interesting. This was cheapo Giant gas. My mileage had been going down the last few months which was depressing. Here is what I did differently:

I cleaned 25 pounds of un-needed junk out of my car.

I have been experimenting with putting the car in neutral. This requires less fuel when you can do it and gets you a little farther because the gears aren't holding you back, though I do like to use the gears to slow me down because this car eats brakes. So depending on where I am and the traffic, I think shifting to neutral will be a big help.

And of course "driving without brakes" is great to save on gas and brakes. This is what I do when lights change to red, I'm going down an incline or the speed limit is reduce. I stay as close to the speed limit. When a light changes or I know I am going to stop or turn, no more gas, or "no more speed, I'm almost there" (love that song). This is not recommended in traffic but I have noticed more and more drivers not following as closely. Maybe they are doing this as well, but if someone is right on my rear I may step it up if I get below the speed limit.

For more info check out this post on my mileage. Go here to view my mileage and cost spreadsheet. I don't know what happened to my initial formulas so if you want to use the spreadsheet delete rows 2-6.

Mileage and Introducing My Mileage Calculator

My mileage went down and I'm not quite sure why. While I had a few appointments to get to that prevented me from "Driving Without Brakes", it didn't seem to be anymore than usual, I could be wrong.

Could Sheetz gas actually be better than Sunoco? I doubt it. Check out the Mileage Calculator I made to track my mileage, my cost per mile and possible reasons for my ups and downs. If you would like to use it to track your mileage, feel free. I am no expert on Excel nor am I a mathmagician so if you see any flaws in my formulas or theory, please let me know.

Not many people like the Giant gas points program. You have to have $100 in purchases to earn $.10 per gallon. Other ways to earn is to buy a lot of particular brands to get a discount. While I would like to have a stockpile of peanut butter, spagetti sauce and cleaners, I don't want to pay almost full price for them. Then the points expire fast and I have to make sure I get there to fill up before I run out. I had somehow earned $.10 off per gallon bringing it to $3.24/gallon. Wow, that's cheap. (note sarcasm) I was able to time my empty tank and my trip to Giant to coincide and I saved a whopping $1.34 on a little over 13 gallons.

Oh, and then, when I limbed it to save $1.34 on cheap Giant gas, the tanker was there! Just my luck. I have been passing up gas stations who are getting a delivery and stirring up all the gunk in the tanks so I don't put that gunk in my car. But since I was on E and my points would have expired I fill up anyway. Everyone else was so I didn't feel too stupid plus I change my fuel filter regularly.

Here is a tip on conserving gas. When parking in a lot, drive thru so that you can just pull right out. Then you won't waste gas backing out. This doesn't work well if you have to get groceries into your trunk but if your trunk hasn't opened in 6 months because it's broke like mine then your in luck! Hey, I always try to look on the bright side.

Fuel Cost Per Mile Summary

I posted earlier about my MPG and have figured out my cost of fuel per mile as well. With Hess gas my cost was $.1286 per mile. Sheetz gas was $.1356 per mile. Sheetz was $.02 less per gallon and my mileage with Sheetz was 1.553 MPG less than with Hess. I beleive Hess to be a higher quality gas than Sheetz so it appears that you do get better mileage with better gas. It also appears that even if you spend more on better gas, it is actually cheaper.

Here is the formula I used:
MPG X Gallons Purchased=Total Miles Driven
Total Cost/TMD=Fuel Cost Per Mile

Example: On 09/04 I purchased gas at Sheetz. My MPG since my last fill up at Hess was 27.66. I multiplied 27.66 by the volume (11.9 gallons) I purchased at Hess the week prior which comes to 329 Total Miles Driven.

The cost of the gas at Hess was $42.33 which I divided by 329 for a Fuel Cost Per Mile of $.1286.

If anyone sees any flaws in this formula let me know because my mind was kind of boggled by this but I think it's right. Also, I created an Excel spreadsheet so all I have to do is plug in the numbers next time.

Let me know if you find this information interesting and useful.

Mileage

While I'm happy gas has come down a bit, I didn't do so hot in the mileage and price paid dept. this week and I'm not happy about that.

First of all, I went out Friday for some groceries and gas. On the way to the store I noticed gas at Sunoco and Turkey Hill, across the street was $3.49/gal. I didn't feel like stopping until after the store. At some point I heard a report on the radio that because of Ike prices were bound to go up. I sighed and switched stations.

When I returned to Sunoco I started pumping only to realize that the price went up 10cents in less than 1 hour! I looked across the street to see a packed Turkey Hill and $3.49 gas. What the...? Not only did I spend more money but I also felt like an idiot all by myself at Sunoco.

So this morning I figured out my mileage and got 26.09MPG down from 27.66 MPG. Why the difference? Well, I had to go to work a few days and while I didn't have a particular time to be there, I was running fairly late as usual. Not to mention I have to be back for the bus at a certain time too. So I didn't take it as easy as I would have liked. I'm not talking about speeding. I just like to, when possible, coast to stop signs or turns and down mountains. This saves gas and brakes. I know I need to prepare for my days and allow myself a few extra minutes. Just one of the habits I need to work on.

One other reason for the lower mileage could very possibly be the Sheetz gas I put in last time. I generally try to buy Sunoco gas, but if Giant or Sheetz is cheaper or I'm in a certain part of town, I fill up when and where I can.

I will figure out the price per mile as well to see if using cheaper gas is actually cheaper and post a summary of my MPG and fuel cost per mile. I've called it fuel cost per mile because it will not include all the other costs of operating a vehicle such as wear and tear and insurance. I had read a few years back that the average cost per mile was $.50. Ouch! That was an eye opener then, and I don't even want to know want it is today.

Mileage

I have been wanting to write about my mileage here and see what I can do to improve it and keep tabs on what I've done to make it worse so I can avoid it next time. I have figured that for the period of 08/22 to 09/04, I have gotten a whopping 27.66 MPG. Not too shabby, but I think I can do better. Now that I'm on track, here are a list of things I know I can do to make my mileage better or at least not make it worse:

I will check that my tires aren't low every time I drive the car.

I'm sure it could use a new air filter, after 160,000 miles, I'm not sure I ever changed this, oops.

I'll do the speed limit and coast when I can. This is a bonus because I will save my brakes too. No jack-rabbit starts either.

This tank was Hess gas. I wonder how it compares to Sunoco, Giant or Sheetz? I'll let you know.

I know there are other thing I can do but can't think of them right now. Do you know of anything I can try?