Auxiliary Equipment Fuel Calculator
Auxiliary Equipment Fuel Calculator. Include specified non-driving fuel use. Enter your values and view the result.
Auxiliary Equipment Fuel Calculator
Include specified non-driving fuel use.
Use the calculation engine below to model your exact costs with custom fuel prices, distances, and vehicle efficiencies:
Auxiliary Equipment Fuel Calculator: inputs
Adjust sliders or enter exact figures
Monthly Fuel Budget
Real-Time Visual Breakdown
Comparing your expense against alternative vehicle classes
Price Fluctuation Stress Test
See how unexpected gas price surges would impact your monthly budget
How Auxiliary Equipment Fuel Calculator Works
This tool works by adding the fuel used by non-driving equipment, such as power take-off (PTO) units, generators, and refrigeration units, to the fuel used for driving.
- Step 1
Enter driving fuel
Type driving miles and MPG, or the gallons used for driving.
- Step 2
Add equipment run time
Enter hours per day for each piece of equipment that draws from the vehicle tank.
- Step 3
Enter equipment burn rates
Use gallons or liters per hour for each unit.
- Step 4
Read the full fuel cost
The calculator shows driving fuel, equipment fuel, the total, and the equipment share.
Auxiliary Equipment Fuel Calculator Formula
The formula adds equipment fuel, priced by hours and burn rate, to driving fuel.
Equipment Fuel = Σ (Equipment Hours × Gallons per Hour)
Total Fuel Cost = (Driving Miles ÷ MPG + Equipment Fuel) × Price
Equipment Share = Equipment Fuel ÷ Total Fuel
- Equipment Hours
- = run time of one auxiliary unit in the period
- Gallons per Hour
- = fuel burn rate of that unit
Worked Example
- A service truck drives 1,800 miles (2,897 km) per month at 12 MPG and runs a PTO crane 2 hours per day for 22 days at 0.8 gal/hr.
- Driving fuel = 1,800 ÷ 12 = 150 gal × $3.90 diesel = $585.00.
- Equipment fuel = 2 × 22 × 0.8 = 35.2 gal (133 L) × $3.90 = $137.28.
- Total = $722.28 per month; equipment share = 19.0% of fuel.
Auxiliary Equipment Fuel Calculator Conversion Table
The table lists planning burn rates for common auxiliary equipment, with fuel cost per hour and per 100 hours at $3.90 per gallon.
| Equipment | Gal / Hour | L / Hour | Cost / Hour | Cost / 100 Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Truck auxiliary power unit (APU) | 0.2 | 0.76 | $0.78 | $78.00 |
| Portable generator, half load | 0.5 | 1.89 | $1.95 | $195.00 |
| Refrigeration trailer unit | 0.8 | 3.03 | $3.12 | $312.00 |
| PTO crane or hydraulics | 0.8 | 3.03 | $3.12 | $312.00 |
| Heavy truck high idle | 1.0 | 3.79 | $3.90 | $390.00 |
Burn rates are planning values. Use the equipment manufacturer’s rate or fuel card data for exact budgets.
What is an Auxiliary Equipment Fuel Calculator?
An Auxiliary Equipment Fuel Calculator is a commercial fuel tool that includes non-driving fuel use in the vehicle fuel budget.
Work trucks burn fuel when parked. PTO-driven cranes, lifts, pumps, refrigeration units, and onboard generators draw from the same tank as the engine. MPG-based budgets miss that fuel. The Auxiliary Equipment Fuel Calculator adds equipment hours so the budget matches the fuel card total.
The equipment share shows where fuel goes. A share above 15% points to savings from electric equipment, APUs, or shorter run times.
What are the uses of an Auxiliary Equipment Fuel Calculator?
There are 4 main uses of the Auxiliary Equipment Fuel Calculator, including work truck budgets, job pricing, and equipment upgrade decisions.
Budget work trucks
Include crane, lift, and pump fuel in monthly budgets.
Price jobs
Bill customers for equipment fuel on site.
Decide on equipment upgrades
Compare fuel use of an APU or electric PTO with engine idle.
Explain fuel card totals
Match fuel purchases with miles driven plus equipment hours.