Site icon Droom

What is Odometer in Vehicle?

Droom
what is odometer

The odometer in car is probably the most unknown and yet most visible component. If you go out and ask any random car owner about the odometer, there are chances that he/she might not be even aware of it. Beneath the steering wheel, on the dashboard, is the odometer which displays the distance a car has run for.

Odometer reading comes in very handy if you are looking to sell your car or even to calculate the mileage. How you do that? We are going to cover that and more in this blog.

So, let us get going to understand the importance and use of this one underrated car component.

Key points:

For what purpose Odometer is used in vehicle?

An odometer for automobiles records the distance a car has run for. The amount of distance a car has travelled is used for an array of purposes. So, the question comes what does an odometer of an automobile measure?

The Kilometers a car has traveled for is one of the most important factors which go into deciding its resale value.

You can reset the days reading to evaluate the car fuel efficiency. For office goers or people using their vehicle for the daily commute, this is a hugely beneficial feature. You can evaluate your finances and set your monthly budget accordingly.

The car tire goes through regular wear and tear. Every tire has its own shell life determined by the kilometers it has been used for. This running life can be between 10,000 km to 50,000 km, depending upon the brand tire you opt for.

When you purchase a new car, you get free servicing from the company. The servicing period is determined by the kilometers a car has run for. What better reminder than the odometer reading straight in front of your eyes?

These are all basic and well-known uses that somehow escape the observation of many. A simple feature that ensures that your car remains in top condition. So, make sure that you keep a tab on it.

What is the difference between speedometer and odometer?

Let us settle the odometer vs speedometer debate once and for all. People tend to confuse the Odometer with a speedometer. The odometer displays the distance a car has traveled for and the speedometer, as the name suggests, displays the traveling speed of a car. Just beneath the steering wheel on the dashboard, you can find the odometer telling you about the km’s a car has traveled for and the needle pointing towards numerical figures, 10,20,30,40,50,60…, is your speedometer.

Can the odometer be reset?

You probably want to stay away from resetting the odometer as it is deemed as a fraud. However, you probably would have heard that changing the engine resets the value. Wrong! If you think by changing the engine you might get higher resale value for your car, you might be committing a mistake. To reset, you have to replace the entire car components from the engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, alternator, wiring, and anything else you can imagine or have been told to.

What is the difference between odometer and mileage?

Odometer and mileage are two separate entities altogether. The odometer is used to measure the distance traveled while the other, mileage, is the fuel consumption per kilometer. The distance you have traveled with a car helps you to find out the mileage. Now, if you are wondering how to calculate mileage with it? Here is your answer!

How do you calculate mileage with an odometer?

The simple mathematical formula to find out the mileage with an odometer is to divide the distance traveled by the amount of fuel used. How do you do that?

Suppose the current reading displayed is A. Fill up N amount of fuel to the tank. Now, when you see the same fuel gauge reading when you had filled N amount of fuel, write down the displayed reading.

Herein, let us suppose that to be B.

Now, to find out the mileage, use B (minus) A divided by N.

Here,

A= Odometer reading before adding fuel.

B= Odometer reading after fuel consumption.

N= Amount of fuel you had filled in the tank.

It is better to drive your car at a stretch rather than driving for a little distance every day. This simple formula can help you monitor the mileage to manage your traveling expenses.

Does a car’s odometer measure position or displacement?

No. Displacement is defined as the change of position. However, the odometer is all about monitoring the distance a vehicle has been driven for i.e., the distance traveled from point A to point B. However, displacement is simply a change in position from point A to point B.

What is the role of the odometer in buying/selling a used vehicle?

It is value displayed in the odometer which a buyer looks for to make a final decision. Your car is a machine, components of which go through a lot of wear and tear. The average life of most of the car components is dependent upon the distance a car has covered. Be it the car parts or the overall appeal, it is the value displayed on the odometer which is taken into consideration to determine the final selling price.

Online automobile marketplace such as Droom with their Orange Book Value tool takes in the kilometers a car has been driven for to generate a fair market price of a vehicle.

The odometer mileage statement is used to determine the car performance which is an important factor when buying/selling a used vehicle. Now, that you are aware of everything pertaining to odometer, make sure you help your peers understand its use an importance.