How do you track your MPG?

daronspicher · 09-11-2006, 05:53 AM

I write the current car mileage on the gas receipt.

When I get home, I double click on my "Prius Miles" shortcut which is a computer program I wrote that has me input the date, car mileage I wrote on the gas receipt, cost of gas, cost of diesel (since I'm tracking against a diesel I traded in), and a comment field where I put the gas station usually.

From that, it stores a record in the database, pulls all previous records out of the database to build new web pages, then uploads those pages to my website....

It builds 2 pages. One is a cumulative summary, lifetime numbers as compared to having kept on driving the diesel. The other page is basically a grid with all the numbers for each fill up.

I watch the mfd numbers as I drive, but don't track that for anything. It's off by about 2 or more mpg so it would only be good for better bragging built upon a big mfd manufactured lie. :-)

My link is in my sig too, but click on this to check it out...

http://d.spicher.home.comcast.net/pr...timeStats.html

PA · 09-11-2006, 10:44 PM

I reset the mileage on the MFD after each fillup (except yesterday I accidentally reset it while wiping the screen --oops), and record each fillup & mileage (both MFD-computed and actual so I can compare accuracy) in a mileage book (which incidentally I had a hell of a time finding since the last time I bought one 6 years ago). I've only had my Prius for a little over a month, but I've been recording mileage & repairs on vehicles forever.

skruse · 09-11-2006, 10:51 PM

Refill at the last flashing pip. Track fuel economy using a spreadsheet that includes
1) Date 2) odometer 3) mpg 4) cost 5) cumulative mpg (life) 6) cumulative fuel consumption

I try to refill such that I can add 10.0 gallons (does not work in winter due to contraction of the fuel bladder). I let the MFD do an automatic reset. My approach has worked well for 28k mi. Accuracy of spreadsheet and MFD are highly synchronized.

I do a fresh printout at every fill-up and keep a current copy in the glove compartment.

etkal · 09-12-2006, 12:12 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dafut @ Sep 10 2006, 01:07 AM) [snapback]317243[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I'm interested in how other Prius or Hybrid drivers track their MPG stats.
[/b]

The most accurate long-term method is to track how many miles you've driven, and divide that by the total number of gallons you've used. Period. End of discussion. :-P Simply record your odometer reading at every fill-up along with the number of gallons. Your per-tank values from the MFD and from that tank will never be very accurate because of variance in the amount of fuel the tank will accept because of the bladder. However, the overall total values will average out to be very accurate over time.

For example, my per-tank calculations vary from 41 to 60 MPG, but overall I get 51. w00t!

LewLasher · 09-12-2006, 04:50 PM

For the next poll: how many people calculate MPG in their head, how many people use a calculator or a computer ...

Rancid13 · 09-12-2006, 06:41 PM

I used to reset at every refill, but I haven't reset the consumption for the last 2 or so tanks. I had a good tank (~50mpg) and wanted to see how high I could keep it, and for how long. Now it's down to 48.6 but oh well. Every time I fuel up, when I print out the receipt I jot down the miles travelled for the tank and the mpgs, then when I get to a computer I plug that info into my database on Greenhybrid.com where they give me my total average mpg readout over all tanks...

Tadashi · 09-12-2006, 08:52 PM

I calculate my MPG stats over total mialeage, yearly, monthly, as well as for each tank. I use a combination of speadsheets I got from John1701a and Michael Vaughn.

dafut · 09-12-2006, 09:41 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(LewLasher @ Sep 12 2006, 12:50 PM) [snapback]318566[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

For the next poll: how many people calculate MPG in their head, how many people use a calculator or a computer ...
[/b]

How about fingers and toes? Do love your idea for a poll...hoping that when I revisit the forum listings I'll see a new LewLasher poll...!

McShemp · 09-12-2006, 09:54 PM

Reset at each fill up. Keep track of MFD FE numbers and calculate actual FE based upon gallons pumped and miles per tank. I also keep track of where the gas was purchased.

To date, after 21 fill ups, the cumulative MFD and calculated mpg numbers are 1.5 mpg different.

View Poll Results: MPG Tracking
Yes, and I accumulated my MPG over my total mileage.	12	25.00%
Yes, and I reset my MPG about every 1,000 miles.	0	0%
Yes, and I reset my MPG about every 5,000 miles.	0	0%
Yes, and I reset my MPG about every 10,000 miles.	0	0%
Yes, and I reset my MPG stats based on a period of time.	1	2.08%
No.	35	72.92%
Voters: 48. You may not vote on this poll

09-11-2006, 05:53 AM	#11
daronspicher Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,205 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I write the current car mileage on the gas receipt. When I get home, I double click on my "Prius Miles" shortcut which is a computer program I wrote that has me input the date, car mileage I wrote on the gas receipt, cost of gas, cost of diesel (since I'm tracking against a diesel I traded in), and a comment field where I put the gas station usually. From that, it stores a record in the database, pulls all previous records out of the database to build new web pages, then uploads those pages to my website.... It builds 2 pages. One is a cumulative summary, lifetime numbers as compared to having kept on driving the diesel. The other page is basically a grid with all the numbers for each fill up. I watch the mfd numbers as I drive, but don't track that for anything. It's off by about 2 or more mpg so it would only be good for better bragging built upon a big mfd manufactured lie. :-) My link is in my sig too, but click on this to check it out... http://d.spicher.home.comcast.net/pr...timeStats.html __________________ My Lifetime MPG is: Lifetime Stats Down with VFTW, KeepTheBestIdol.com instead...

09-12-2006, 06:41 PM	#16
Rancid13 Cool Chick with a Black Prius Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Los Alamitos, Orange County, CA Posts: 2,455 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #8 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	I used to reset at every refill, but I haven't reset the consumption for the last 2 or so tanks. I had a good tank (~50mpg) and wanted to see how high I could keep it, and for how long. Now it's down to 48.6 but oh well. Every time I fuel up, when I print out the receipt I jot down the miles travelled for the tank and the mpgs, then when I get to a computer I plug that info into my database on Greenhybrid.com where they give me my total average mpg readout over all tanks... __________________ Jennifer 2006 Black Pkg #8 w/bisque leather "Max" (Prius Maximus)

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09-11-2006, 10:44 PM	#12
PA Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 396 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #4 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I reset the mileage on the MFD after each fillup (except yesterday I accidentally reset it while wiping the screen --oops), and record each fillup & mileage (both MFD-computed and actual so I can compare accuracy) in a mileage book (which incidentally I had a hell of a time finding since the last time I bought one 6 years ago). I've only had my Prius for a little over a month, but I've been recording mileage & repairs on vehicles forever.

09-11-2006, 10:51 PM	#13
skruse Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Great Central Valley, Fresno, CA Posts: 1,150 My Car: 2007 Prius Package: #6 Touring Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 2	Refill at the last flashing pip. Track fuel economy using a spreadsheet that includes 1) Date 2) odometer 3) mpg 4) cost 5) cumulative mpg (life) 6) cumulative fuel consumption I try to refill such that I can add 10.0 gallons (does not work in winter due to contraction of the fuel bladder). I let the MFD do an automatic reset. My approach has worked well for 28k mi. Accuracy of spreadsheet and MFD are highly synchronized. I do a fresh printout at every fill-up and keep a current copy in the glove compartment.

09-12-2006, 04:50 PM	#15
LewLasher Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts Posts: 156 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	For the next poll: how many people calculate MPG in their head, how many people use a calculator or a computer ...

09-12-2006, 08:52 PM	#17
Tadashi Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Fort Hood, TX Posts: 794 My Car: Package: Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	I calculate my MPG stats over total mialeage, yearly, monthly, as well as for each tank. I use a combination of speadsheets I got from John1701a and Michael Vaughn.

09-12-2006, 09:54 PM	#19
McShemp Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SA, TX Posts: 346 My Car: 2006 Prius Package: #5 Nominated 0 Times in 0 Posts TOTM Awards: 0 Friends: 0	Reset at each fill up. Keep track of MFD FE numbers and calculate actual FE based upon gallons pumped and miles per tank. I also keep track of where the gas was purchased. To date, after 21 fill ups, the cumulative MFD and calculated mpg numbers are 1.5 mpg different.