Fuel is the most expensive item required at frequent intervals. Develop the habit of analysing the mileage or kilometer per litre (kmpl) achieved to save your hard earned money from whittling away everyday unknowingly

To keep the fuel usage under control, follow the steps:
Odometer is an instrument for recording the total distance travelled by a car. It cannot be manually calibrated. 
Trip Meter is another instrument, placed generally below the odometer. It records the intermittent distance travelled in kilometers. It can be manually calibrated to ‘zero’.
• At the time of filling fuel in your car, put your trip meter to ‘zero’ (alternatively, note down the odometer reading) and note down the fuel quantity (in litre) and remember its exact position.
• When you arrive at the same fuel position in the fuel metre as of the last position, go for refuelling. See the trip meter reading and find out the distance (in kilometer) travelled (or deduct the last odometer reading from the current odometer reading). This method is best applicable during full tank to full tank fuelling.
• Divide the total distance travelled (kilometre) between fuelling by the fuel quantity (litre) to arrive at the kilometers per litre (kmpl) achieved by your car.
If the actual travelled distance falls drastically short of your estimate or car manufacturer’s recommendation, then there is something wrong with your car or there has been fuel pilferage.
• Repeat this process to keep a check on the fuel efficiency of your car.

Measures to check fuel pilferage
• Do not park your car in deserted places or dark places. Fuel can be siphoned out through a pipe or tube on unlocking the fuel tank. In almost every locality, there are organised rackets to siphon out fuel.
• Observe the fuel meter reading while parking your car at night. Tally the fuel meter position while taking your car out in the morning. If there is a considerable change, then your fuel may have been pilfered at night.
• Check the receipts when your chauffeur purchases fuel. If you do not check the receipts, there is a chance of misappropriation.
• Keep a small quantity of fuel in the car when sending it to the service stations to prevent its misuse.
• Opt for company owned and company operated (COCO) fuel stations for best quantity and quality of fuel.