Canadians help me out

[rgrugg]

I'm seeing references to the imperial gallon but Canada changed to the metric system many years ago. I believe the imperial gallon was 4 quarts plus another 4/5 of a quart. If I'm wrong please correct me. What measurement are people using as the imperial gallon today? I'm assuming that it's unofficial. I know that a U.S. gallon is 3.785 liters. Thanks from a curious guy.

[Alf S.]

Originally Posted by rgrugg

I'm seeing references to the imperial gallon but Canada changed to the metric system many years ago. I believe the imperial gallon was 4 quarts plus another 4/5 of a quart. If I'm wrong please correct me. What measurement are people using as the imperial gallon today? I'm assuming that it's unofficial. I know that a U.S. gallon is 3.785 liters. Thanks from a curious guy.

Hi: rgrugg... Imperial Gal. is 4.54Ltrs. US. Gal. in ozs. is 128, Imp. Gal. in ozs. is 160. That's how we measure up!!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[john warren]

hmmm well, i am not canadian,,,but i think i have a solution for you.

i have a gallon jug. if you will pick up an imperial gallon of oh i don;t know,,,some 12 year old whiskey and bring it to me,,,,we can pour it into the gallon jug. this will allow us to measure what is left in the imperial gallon.
well since we have broken the seal,,, you won't be able to transport it,,,, so,,,,
i know its a burden, but this is in the interest of science.

[rgrugg]

Running a proportion ounces to liters I get 4.54 l equalling 153.5 ounces. 160 ounces is exactly 5 quarts. IF I'm right that the old imperial gallon was 4 4/5 qts, it comes out 185.6 ounces. Is the 4.54 liters an official or unofficial measure? In our Canadian travels in the last 20 years I've only seen liters, not imp. gallons. I need enlightening. Not trying to be contrary, just probably have too much time on my hands. My wife says I need a job. NOT GONNA HAPPEN!!!!!

[Daniel A.]

I think where it really matters on the board is reference to gas mileage.

Enter Mileage and Fuel used since last fill-up:

Distance covered:- miles
Litres of fuel used :- litres

Consumption: Miles per Imperial Gallon
Miles per US Gallon
Litres per 100km
Kilometres per litr

Miles per Gallon

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by rgrugg

In our Canadian travels in the last 20 years I've only seen liters, not imp. gallons. !

Its actually been 42 years since the metrication of Canada which began in January 1970. By 1977 every road sign and all new car odometers where switched to metric. Gas sales in metric was a bit of a hold out with some "hot spots"in eastern Canada holding out selling it in both imperial and metric into the early 80's. Outside of the USA the Imperial Gallon is still very much in use by most counties that have not converted to metric for fluids.

When converting you need to look at fluid ounces vs dry ounces which are based on weight and just to confuse the rest of the world. Again to confuse the rest of the world you also need to consider if its a US ounce or an Imperial ounce


1 liter = 33.8140226 US fl ounces
1 liter = 0.2641602 US Gallon
1 US liquid Quart = 0.946352946 liters
1 US Gallon = 3.78541 liters
1 Imperial Gallon = 4.54609188 liters.
1 Imperial Gallon = 4.8038 US Quarts
1 Imperial Gallon = 4 Imperial Quarts & 8 Imperial Pints
1 Imperial Quarts = 38.4304 US fl Ounces
1 US Quart = 32 US fl Ounces
1 Imperial Pint = 19.2152 US fl Ounces
1 Imperial fl. Ounce = 0.96 US fl Ounce
1 Imperial fl. Ounce = 0.052 US dry ounces

Confused yet? the important number to keep in mind when traveling in Canada and trying to figure out the cost of gas vs US price just multiply the price by 3.8 which is close enough but make sure you also consider that Canadian dollar is stronger by 3 cents on the US dollar so make sure you have someone close by to help pick yourself up off the pavement when you do the calculation.

[john warren]

i still like my method best,you just drink up any that doesn't fit in the gallon jug.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by john warren

i still like my method best,you just drink up any that doesn't fit in the gallon jug.

That would reduce the pain of the price for sure

[RRJR]

We here in Canada are buying our gas by the liter, 4 of our liters are equal to 1 US gal. So @ $ 1.35 a liter x 4 = $5.36, a US gal is around $ 3.90 so we (Canadians) are paying $1.46 more for the equivilant US gal.

[Daniel A.]

One US gallon is = 3.785 L not 4

[rgrugg]

So Carol, you have those figures all memorized, right? Last time we were in Canada was in 2004 on our way to & from Alaska. At that time there was a U.S. benefit in the money exchange. B.C. is beautiful. Recently saw a film taken from the air that made both of us decide that we had to go back and cover a lot more of the province. Thanks to those of you replied to my original question. I guess I'm more informed than I was before. BTW, I never look at the metric speeds on our speedometer. They're small & hard to see. It's easier to just multiply or divide depending on which way I'm converting. However, changing Fahrenheit to Celsius or the other way is something that I can't do very easily in my head.

[Carol H]

Originally Posted by rgrugg

So Carol, you have those figures all memorized, right?

LOL I wish - I went to school prior to metric so I had to learn the hard way. I still use fairly often a cheat sheet I keep on the inside of my kitchen cabinets to convert US recipes etc. Hide it so the younger generation doesnt see I need to actually check it from time to time!

An easy temp conversion is to take Celsius, Double it, Add 30 = Farenheit plus or minus a degree or 2

[David Tilston]

Originally Posted by rgrugg

However, changing Fahrenheit to Celsius or the other way is something that I can't do very easily in my head.

I just think of Celsius as a percentage from freezing to boiling. 50 Deg C is half way there.

Carole's estimate is good for summer temps, but when it gets down to -40, they are the same.

[Alf S.]

Originally Posted by David Tilston

I just think of Celsius as a percentage from freezing to boiling. 50 Deg C is half way there.

Carole's estimate is good for summer temps, but when it gets down to -40, they are the same.

Hi: David Tilston... I think my dad put it best when he said
30 is hot
20 is nice
10 is cool
0 is ice
And of course -40 is -40 on either scale!!!
Alf S. North shore of Lake Erie

[Mireille L]

1 gallon iUS= .85 imp. gallon

[Sue and Henry]

Originally Posted by john warren

i still like my method best,you just drink up any that doesn't fit in the gallon jug.

I like this solution best too, and I don't even like whiskey.

[alan in alberta]

Well, this has been covered fairly well.

Maybe it is time we explained metric time and the 10 hour day........

[Mireille L]

[kprpap]

Originally Posted by john warren

i still like my method best,you just drink up any that doesn't fit in the gallon jug.

I wish I had you as my math teacher many years ago!

[Jim Bennett]

95% of the world uses the metric system, according to the CIA World Fact-Book. Wouldn't it be great if the other 5% would use it too. The United States is now the only industrialized country in the world that does not use the metric system as its predominant system of measurement. Used alone, the metric system is so much simpler, let alone having to do all the conversions. But, it is mostly in North America that these conversions need to be done.

That said, I am quite proficient at converting measurements when travelling in the US to metric, or back again.