Is it necessary to reset the average fuel consumption?
3 Answers
It is necessary to reset the average fuel consumption. There are three methods to reduce vehicle fuel consumption: 1. Minimize vehicle weight: Keep the interior simple and avoid carrying unnecessary items. Every additional kilogram of load increases fuel consumption by 1%; 2. Avoid excessive modifications: Adding spoilers, protective covers, or wings can disrupt the original aerodynamic design, increasing wind resistance and consuming extra fuel. Modifying lights increases electrical usage, leading to unnecessary fuel consumption; 3. Develop good driving habits: Avoid sudden acceleration, driving at high speeds in low gears, prolonged idling, frequent lane changes or braking. Aim for smooth starts, steady-speed driving, and reduced braking.
I think resetting the average fuel consumption depends on personal habits. If you've just completed maintenance or are preparing for a long trip, resetting it is quite appropriate, as the recalculated average fuel consumption can better reflect the current vehicle condition and driving state. My personal habit is to reset it once after each maintenance, because with new engine oil and such, I want to see if there's any improvement in fuel consumption. However, if your usual driving conditions don't vary much, there's really no need to reset it frequently, as the onboard computer continuously calculates the average and updates the data. Moreover, resetting too often might obscure long-term fuel consumption trends, making it harder to grasp the vehicle's overall performance. In summary, resetting isn't mandatory, but doing it strategically can provide more valuable reference data.
I don't think resetting the average fuel consumption is absolutely necessary. The trip computer automatically accumulates and calculates the data, and the longer you drive, the more comprehensive the statistics become. However, if you've recently been trying fuel-efficient driving techniques like gentler throttle control or avoiding congested routes, resetting it to recalculate is a good idea. This way, you can more clearly see the actual effects of these changes. Personally, I don't normally bother resetting it, though I did reset a few times during the first month after getting a new car to understand its fuel consumption patterns. If you want to reset it, it's usually straightforward—just navigate through the instrument cluster menu. The exact buttons may vary by model, but the owner's manual will have instructions. For everyday driving, there's no need to obsess over this data; checking the overall trend periodically is sufficient.
