MPG Gauges Can Help Save Fuel, Money and the EnvironmentMost drivers know the advertised miles per gallon (mpg) fuel economy ratings of their vehicles. (If you don't, visit Fueleconomy.gov.) But in many cases, you'll rarely realize those published numbers during everyday driving, regardless of how accurately you calculate your actual mpg each time you fill up the fuel tank.

Diverse driving conditions, dirty air filters, low tire pressure and mechanical issues can all contribute to lowering your overall fuel economy. But one of the most overlooked factors is the one behind the wheel: the driver.

The U.S. government reports that aggressive driving habits such as rapid acceleration and aggressive braking can decrease fuel economy by as much as 33 percent. With mpg readings based on a full tank of gas, the effects that your driving style has on fuel economy are not so obvious. To see instantaneously how your driving impacts your overall gas mileage, you need a fuel economy meter: a gauge that displays mpg in real-time.
Watch How You Drive

Owners of cars with fuel consumption meters often notice that their gas mileage improves as a direct result of changing their driving style based on feedback from the fuel economy gauge. By adding an aftermarket mpg meter to your car, you can begin to see how a heavy foot on the gas and brake pedals sends your mpg readings way down. Conversely, you'll notice what driving habits increase your mpg.

Together, these visual indicators can change your driving habits for the better, increasing your average mpg while also saving you money and lowering your impact on the environment.