SurebutterCringe

Every time I fill up, I reset Trip B so that I can see the performance of each tank of gas. I tried to let it get down as low as I felt comfortable with before filling up so that I can stretch it to it's limit. Before I tell you what happened, here's the background on the truck so you know what we're dealing with here:

2012 Platinum EcoBoost 4x4
3.55 gears
36 gallon tank
1,500 miles

So the trip computer stated that I had used 33.5 gallons of gas, averaged around 15.8 mpg, and driven 561 miles. The Distance To Empty computer stated that I had 12 miles left until empty. No biggie, since I figured I had 2.5 gallons left in the tank and 2.5 x 15.8 mpg = 39.5 actual miles until empty.

Here's the interesting part, when I filled up at this point, I filled it up with 35.58 gallons of gas! Which really meant that I only had .5 gallon in the tank before I was empty.

So which do think was correct, the DTE, the trip computer or even worse, the fuel pump gallons used was incorrect?

I mentioned an iPhoe app that I'm using as well and if you have an iPhone, I highly recommend it. It's called Gas Cubby. There is a free version and a paid version and I liked it so much, I got the paid version. It really breaks down your gas usage and allows you to export it and email it. The attachment is the export read out.

I've only had the truck for 3 weeks, so it doesn't have a ton of data yet, but it will grow throughout the years I own my truck.

Anyway, I'm not trying to start a MPG war, as my main focus of this post was which computer calculation was actually correct.

Tyrenz

The gas pumps are cheating us. Its the greatest fleecing of America ever. Not only do the gas companies make record breaking profits, but the local gas stations take their share by not calibrating the gas pump's flow meters. How do I know this? Like you, I use an app to calculate and record my MPG, price per gal, distance per tank, etc.... When I fill up at my local area gas stations, the truck's computer is ALWAYS at LEAST 1 gal less than what the pump says it is. For example, my truck says I used up 16.8 gallons of fuel so far, but the pump says I just put in 18.0.

I am also in the military, so when I fill up on base at discounted prices, the difference between my truck's computer and the pump is always within 0.1 or 0.2 gallons.

Someone should do something about this. Perhaps a class action lawsuit?

MadocHandyman

I use gas cubby as well. It's a great app.
Not sure if you noticed yet, but if you turn your phone to landscape you get this...

sluggo1

Agh another Canadian?

NAWalton00

Gas pumps are allowed to be off by up to 10% I believe. Seemingly all pumps I use state they pump more than what I get but never less.

SurebutterCringe

Madoc, yes I was aware of landscape mode. Here's mine:

MadocHandyman

Umm, yep! :-)
Why? Got a problem with that? ;-)

Slate 150

I dont think you can back up your gas fills to the tank at 36 gal. 36 is what its rated at a certain temp. From experience with different types of vehicles. Rated and what you can cram in there are two different things. Like you I havnt had mine long enough to max it in yet. But from my other truck once the pump clicked could always put at least another 5 gal in by reducing the flow. My last truck on long trip I decided to wait for the next gas stop only to find it was hillier than i though plus was very isolated. Wasnt all that worried as had 6 gal can in the trailer probly why I went for it. On my fill up put 33.5 gal in a 29 rated tank. Also put several 30+ gal fill ups over the years.

jcaru

Man, i'm finding this app 2years and 20k late. But i'm downloading it now. Thanks for sharing.

sluggo1

Kilometers and liters..still can't wrap my head around it..Damn metric system..