How to Check Mileage of Car Manually – DIY Guide (Step-by-Step)
Do you want to know how fuel-efficient your car truly is? Here’s a simple Do-It-Yourself (DIY) method to manually check your car’s mileage (km/l or miles/gallon) without any gadgets or apps.
This method works for petrol, diesel, and CNG cars.
✅ What You’ll Need:
- Full tank of fuel
- Pen and notebook (or your phone’s notes app)
- Odometer reading (or trip meter)
🧪 Step-by-Step: Manual Car Mileage Test
1️⃣ Fill Your Fuel Tank to Full
Go to a petrol pump and ask the staff to fill the tank up completely (till auto cut-off). Note the odometer reading or reset the trip meter to 0.
📌 Tip: Use the same petrol pump and nozzle for more accuracy during future checks.
2️⃣ Drive Normally
Drive your car as you normally do—no need to change driving habits. Cover at least 100 km to get a reliable result. The more you drive, the more accurate the mileage calculation will be.
3️⃣ Refuel Again to Full
Go back to the petrol pump and again fill the tank to full. This time, note how many litres of fuel were filled (you’ll see this on the fuel dispenser).
4️⃣ Note the Distance Traveled
- If you used the trip meter, just note the number directly.
- If you noted the odometer reading, subtract the previous reading from the current one.
5️⃣ Calculate Mileage
Now use the simple formula:
Mileage = Distance Travelled (km) ÷ Fuel Used (litres)Example:
- Distance: 120 km
- Fuel filled: 8 litres
- Mileage = 120 / 8 = 15 km/l
🔁 Repeat for Accuracy
To get an average mileage:
- Repeat this method 2–3 times and take the average of all readings.
- Do it in different driving conditions: city traffic, highways, mixed.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not filling the tank to auto cut-off both times.
- Checking mileage over very short distances (like 10–20 km).
- Using different petrol pumps or nozzles.
🚘 Bonus Tips to Improve Mileage
- Keep tire pressure optimal.
- Avoid sudden acceleration or hard braking.
- Regularly service your car.
- Don’t overload your vehicle unnecessarily.
Manually checking your car’s mileage is simple and highly accurate when done right. It helps you monitor fuel efficiency, detect engine issues early, and even save money in the long run.
You don’t need a mechanic or an app—just a full tank and a little attention!
FAQs – Car Mileage Manual Check
Q. How do I calculate car mileage manually?
Fill the fuel tank, drive a certain distance, refill, and divide distance by litres filled.
Q. How accurate is manual mileage checking?
If done correctly over 100+ km and same petrol pump, it’s very accurate.
Q. How much distance should I drive to check mileage?
Ideally 100+ km for better accuracy.
Q. Does A/C affect car mileage?
Yes, running A/C can reduce mileage by 5–10% in some vehicles.