1996 Mercury Sable Owner's Manual - Page 298

2. Then, every time you buy fuel, fill the tank completely and write down the number of miles (kilometers) that you have driven and the number of gallons (liters) of fuel that you buy. Keep a record for at least a month. This will give you a more accurate estimate than figuring the fuel economy based on only one or two readings. 3. Divide the total number of miles that you have driven by the total number of gallons that your vehicle has used. In metric, multiply the number of liters used by 100 and divide the answer by the number of kilometers traveled. This will give you the number of liters used per 100 km. Comparisons With EPA Fuel Economy Estimates EPA fuel economy figures are obtained from laboratory tests under simulated road conditions and thus are estimates which may not reflect the actual conditions you experience or your style of driving. In addition to your individual driving habits, optional equipment such as air conditioning can have substantial effects on fuel economy. Other factors that may affect fuel economy include vehicle load and tire inflation pressure. The EPA fuel economy estimate is not a guarantee that you will achieve the fuel economy shown. Improving Fuel Economy Fuel economy is affected by a number of variables which can reduce efficiency. You can improve fuel economy by understanding these variables and minimizing their effect. 271