Fuel Consumption Converter

The MPG scale is not linear in terms of fuel saved per distance. Improving from 10 to 20 MPG saves much more fuel over a given distance than improving from 40 to 50 MPG. This is why L/100km, which is linear with fuel used, is often considered a more intuitive measure of efficiency improvement.

Aggressive driving (fast acceleration, hard braking) can decrease fuel efficiency by 15-30% at highway speeds and 10-40% in stop-and-go traffic.

A vehicle's aerodynamic design (how easily it moves through air) plays a significant role in its fuel efficiency, especially at higher speeds. Lower drag coefficients generally lead to better MPG or L/100km.

Hypermiling is the practice of driving in a way that maximizes fuel efficiency. Techniques include maintaining steady speeds, minimizing braking, reducing weight, and ensuring proper tire inflation, often exceeding a vehicle's official MPG ratings.

Under-inflated tires can significantly increase rolling resistance, forcing the engine to work harder and reducing fuel economy by several percent. Regularly checking tire pressure is an easy way to improve efficiency.

An idling engine consumes fuel without covering any distance. Depending on the engine size, a car can consume between 0.5 to 1.5 liters (or 0.15 to 0.4 gallons) of fuel per hour while idling.

Hybrid and electric vehicles improve overall efficiency by using regenerative braking. When the driver brakes, the electric motor acts as a generator, capturing kinetic energy that would normally be lost as heat and using it to recharge the battery.

While cars are measured in L/100km, the fuel consumption of massive cargo ships is on a different scale. A large container ship can consume over 150 tons of fuel per day, but its efficiency per ton-kilometer of cargo is far greater than any other mode of transport.

The fuel efficiency ratings provided by manufacturers (like the EPA rating in the US) are determined under standardized laboratory conditions. Your actual mileage will almost always vary depending on driving style, road conditions, weather, and vehicle load.

New car engines often have a 'break-in' period for the first few thousand miles. During this time, the engine components settle, and fuel efficiency may gradually improve.

Gasoline blended with ethanol (like E10 or E85) has a lower energy density than pure gasoline. This means vehicles running on higher ethanol blends will typically experience lower fuel economy (fewer MPG).

The Volkswagen XL1 was a limited-production plug-in hybrid car designed to be one of the most fuel-efficient cars ever made. It had an official fuel consumption rating of just 0.9 L/100km (or 260 US MPG).

A large passenger jet like a Boeing 747 consumes an enormous amount of fuel, about 10-12 tons per hour of flight. However, its efficiency is best measured per passenger-kilometer, which can be comparable to or even better than a single-occupant car.

Fuel efficiency can drop by 15-25% in cold weather. Engines are less efficient when cold, and winter gasoline blends can have slightly less energy. Additionally, using the heater and defroster consumes energy.

For every 100 pounds (about 45 kg) of extra weight a vehicle carries, its fuel efficiency can decrease by 1-2%. This is why removing unnecessary items from your car can save fuel.

In the US, the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards are regulations that require automakers to meet a certain average fuel economy for their fleet of vehicles sold. This drives innovation in engine design, materials, and aerodynamics.

Diesel fuel has a higher energy density than gasoline, meaning a liter of diesel contains more energy. This, combined with the higher efficiency of diesel engines, is why diesel vehicles often have better fuel economy (higher MPG or lower L/100km) than comparable gasoline vehicles.

In engineering, a more precise measure is Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC), which is the rate of fuel consumption divided by the power produced. It's often expressed in grams per kilowatt-hour (g/kWh) and allows for a direct comparison of engine efficiency.