Best fuel economy yet at 88,800 miles

[Crunch]

I've gotten good fuel economy before if I keep my foot off the accellerator, but this really surprised me. Running empty, from Joplin to Fort Worth (about 409 miles), with a tail wind I got 24. 59 MPG. I tried to keep the RPMs at 2000 or below, ecxept when I was passing someone or getting out of blind spots. I took highway 69, which passes through a lot of small towns with 45MPH signs and stoplights. I thought the small towns would kill the fuel economy, but I guess not. It took less than 1/2 tank of fuel for that whole leg of the trip. The hand calculated fuel economy for the two previous fill-ups were 19. 3 MPG and 19. 1 MPG. I have to say that for a lead-foot driver who doesn't like that the cruise control maxxes out at 85 MPH, these numbers have forced me to re-examine my perspective on this. Any fuel economy over 20 MPGs is getting into hot damn! territory.

 

[Newt]

It's amazing how $3+ fuel changes your perspective.

 

[jjdiesel]

Is it a 2 or 4-wheel drive truck?

 

[Midnight]

The pics gallery says 2 wheel dr.

 

[JSchooley]

Great mileage, must have been a pretty good tail wind.



I just completed a round trip run from San Diego North County to a place just North of Palm Springs. No winds to speak of. Fairly good traffic allowed me to cruise at 75 mph most of the way on the freeway.



My overhead computer registered 21. 6 for the trip. It registers up to 1 mpg high, but that still leaves me with the best mileage ever for this truck.



I will get 14 mpg towing if there are no winds and I keep it under 65 mph, but a stiff cross or head wind can knock me down to 11 mpg.



John

 

[DonFitzwater]

I just went on a hunting trip yesterday, ran in 4 wheel drive the whole way. A few hills, one mountain pass and no wind to fight with... ... ... . 22. 1 mpg. One thing I don't understand is when I run Cummins/Valvoline fuel system cleaner, the truck idles like crap and never breaks 20mpg. ??? This past weekend on a trip to Anchorage the mpg was 23. 4 and approx half of that trip was in 4 wheel drive. I just leave the EZ on level 3 all the time. I'm really glad that I got that thing.

 

[Crunch]

Yep... paid $3. 09 on the up-trip, $3. 17 on the return. Filled up in Fort Worth again for $3. 29. Sure does change the perspective...



As for the truck, yeah. It's 2WD, and all the other options that tend toward the better fuel economy. I have a friend with the 4WD and he can't crack 16 MPG. I'll be doint the same trip once more this year, so I'll check the fuel economy when I have a strong head wind.