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March 14, 2019

Why Your Vehicle’s MPG Matters

Your car’s MPG, or miles per gallon, reading measures the distance your car can travel with one gallon of fuel. It gives you an idea of your automobile’s fuel efficiency. The higher the MPG rating of your car, the more benefits it can provide you and the environment.

Before we explain its importance to you, it’s imperative that you’re completely aware of your vehicle’s MPG rating. Since it is affected by a number of factors, among which are the condition of your car and your driving style, gas mileage varies for every vehicle.

Here’s how you can calculate your vehicle’s MPG rating:

  1. Fully fill up your gas tank.
  2. Record the master odometer mileage.
  3. Drive as you normally do until your gas tank consumes at least half of a tank of gas.
  4. Fill your tank at the gas station again.
  5. Record the amount of gas it needed to replenish your tank.
  6. Record the new odometer mileage or the elapsed trip miles.
  7. Subtract the original odometer reading from the new one.
  8. Divide the miles by the amount of gas it took to refill your car’s tank.

Simple formula: Miles traveled ÷ gallons used = MPG

Remember: By consistently keeping track of your gas mileage, you can improve your car’s fuel efficiency.

Why Your Car Should Have a High MPG Rating

Here are 4 good reasons why your vehicle’s MPG rating matters:

  1. It saves you more gas and money.

High gas mileage means fewer gallons of fuel used. Less fuel means less pain in your wallet.

  1. It reduces costs and oil dependency.

Cars that require high petroleum consumption are among the biggest factors that cost our economy billions of dollars. About a quarter of the oil our vehicles used is imported from the Middle East.

  1. It helps sustain energy.

Since oil is a non-renewable resource, using it sensibly gives us more time to look for other technologies and fuels to make our energy consumption more sustainable.

  1. It lessens global climate change.

Diesel and burning gasoline emit carbon dioxide that contributes to climate change. By reducing your use of carbon fuel, you reduce your vehicle’s greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in a much safer environment for everybody.

Tips to Reduce Fuel Consumption

The best way to use your fuel wisely is by driving your car less and driving it carefully. It’s also important that you don’t allow your car to sit idly in your garage just to warm it up as this has been found to waste fuel. Here are some other ways to save gas.

  • Drive smoothly.
  • Do not brake or accelerate excessively.
  • Keep your speed down.
  • Do not operate your car in 4WD unless it’s completely necessary (for four-wheel drive owners).
  • Keep your tires properly inflated.
  • Avoid driving on congested roads.
  • Turn off your engine during long stops.
  • Do not drive with open windows as much as possible.
  • Use the right fuel.
  • Maintain your car regularly.

A Great Way to Get Rid of an Old and Run-down Car

Is your car’s poor gas mileage causing you financial troubles? Are you thinking of finally disposing of your old car? Donate it to Veteran Car Donations then!

By doing so, you not only get rid of it for free, but you also get the opportunity to be a benefactor to our former troops who are facing difficulties in transitioning to civilian life. Your donated vehicle, regardless of its age and mileage, will be used as a source of funding for our charity partners such as Soldiers’ Angels, Heroes on the Water, Healing Arizona Veterans, and American Freedom Foundation.

The funds generated from the sale of the donated vehicles we received are used to sustain the critical programs and services being rendered by these IRS-certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. They provide needy veterans and their families with mortgage-free and specially adapted homes, free health care services, employment opportunities, job training, transitioning assistance, tutoring support and education scholarships, financial assistance, and many other benefits.

In return for your charitable contribution, you will get a 100% tax-deductible receipt that will enable you to claim the maximum tax cut based on the selling price of your donated vehicle at auction or its fair market value.

All you have to do is contact us by either calling us at our toll-free 24/7 hotline 877-594-5822 or filling out our online donation form. We’ll then take care of the rest, including the processing of all your documents and the free towing of your car.

For more information on our car donation program, check out our FAQs page. For inquiries, just call us or send us a message online. We accept vehicle donations wherever you are in the United States since we have car donation programs in all 50 states.

Your Car Donation Matters—In a Big Way

Now that you know why your vehicle’s MPG rating matters, you should also know that your car donation also matters in a much more meaningful way. Call at 877-594-5822 and make a difference in the lives of our nation’s heroes with your car donation!

 

Last Updated: March 8th, 2023

Veteran Car Donations operates in all 50 states.

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Or call (877) 594-5822!