This page explains how we research, calculate, and verify the data we publish on FuelConsumptionCalc.com. All calculators and articles follow the standards described here.
Data Sources
We use the following primary sources across our calculators and articles.
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Fuel economy data, idling consumption figures, tire pressure impact data, and energy cost guidance from fueleconomy.gov.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Official MPG ratings for vehicles sold in the United States. EPA combined, city, and highway ratings form the baseline for all vehicle fuel economy comparisons on this site.
NHTSA
Tire pressure and safety data, CAFE fuel economy standards.
AAA
National and state average fuel prices used in cost calculations. We use AAA data as our primary fuel price reference and note the date of collection in each article.
Consumer Reports
Supplementary fuel pricing and real-world fuel economy data, where applicable.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Controlled test data cited in specific articles, including tire pressure impact studies at multiple speed levels.
Argonne National Laboratory
Idle fuel consumption worksheet data used in our idling fuel calculator and fleet content.
ATRI
Fleet operating cost data cited in our fleet fuel calculator and fleet anagement content.
Additional sources including FreightWaves, Motive, Verizon Connect, iSeeCars, ECIU, and Transport and Environment are cited by name in the specific articles that use them.
Calculator Methodology
Fuel Cost Formula
Fuel cost = (Distance / MPG) x Price per gallon.
We use the AAA national average fuel price as the default in calculators such as the fuel cost calculator and trip fuel calculator. Users can enter their own local price for a more accurate result.
MPG Figures
For calculators that use a default MPG, we use the EPA combined rating for a representative vehicle in that class. We note which vehicle or class the figure represents.
Users can override any default figure with their own real-world MPG. We recommend using your own fill-up data measured with our MPG calculator for the most accurate results.
Unit Conversions
MPG to L/100km: L/100km = 235.21 / MPG L/100km to MPG: MPG = 235.21 / L/100km Use our fuel unit converter to convert between MPG, L/100km, and km/L instantly.
Cost Per Mile Formula
Cost per mile = Price per gallon / MPG See our cost per mile calculator for a full breakdown including insurance, maintenance, and depreciation.
Fuel Cost Formula
Fuel cost = (Distance / MPG) x Price per gallon.
We use the AAA national average fuel price as the default in calculators such as the fuel cost calculator and trip fuel calculator. Users can enter their own local price for a more accurate result.
Content Accuracy Standards
We publish the source of each major statistic or claim.We name the organization and the year of publication. We do not use anonymous or unverifiable sources.
We update articles when source data changes. The Last Updated date at the bottom of each article reflects the most recent content or data review. When a statistic has a range (for example, 15 to 24 percent), we explain what the range represents and what drives the variation.
Limitations
Our calculators produce estimates. Real-world fuel consumption depends on driving style, vehicle condition, road type, weather, load, and many other factors that no calculator can fully account for. We explain these limitations in each calculator and in our Disclaimer.
We do not guarantee that all data is current at the time you read it. Fuel prices, EPA ratings, and government standards change regularly. Always verify critical figures from fueleconomy.gov or your vehicle manufacturer before making major decisions.
Contact
If you find an error in our data or a source we should update, email us at: fuelconsumptionscalculator@gmail.com
Visit our Contact page or read our Disclaimer for more information on how we handle data accuracy.