Driving habits

[BLillquist]

How many of you have changed driving habits due to high diesel prices???

I know I don't stomp on the throttle like I used to. I think on terms like how much is it costing to see that big puff of black smoke!! certainly has taken a lot of fun out of driving a bombed truck

I'd like to hear what all of you think about this??





1994 2500 SLT 4X4 370'S 191 DV'S O' PLATE SLID FORWARD ALL THE WAY

BHAF.

 

[Mundgyver]

Yep, been that way for about a year now. Have been thinking about a Prius :{ No plans on selling my baby though. I have too much invested and it would cost too much to replace her with something else that might not bring the satisfaction that I have with what I already got. It the Prius came in a diesel, we could have more fun Oo.

 

[Nate]

Nah. If I was that worried about the cost of fuel, I would have keep my little Subuaru.

 

[JLEONARD]

I haven't changed... the smile after that puff of smoke is worth the $1 per tankfull to me

 

[TboneMan]

I have also been "babying" my truck for the past year. I have gone from MPGs in the 17 range to MPGs around 20. I had a single tank high of 23. 6 on a 400 mile trip that involve NO highway driving.



By my calculation, I'm saving about $11/week (average commute) at current fuel prices.



I'm not sold on the whole hybrid trend. For my commute (75% highway) there aren't enough gains to justify the extra cost and maintenance.



I was in Europe this summer, they have some really neat small cars over there. I just wish the US auto industry would smarten up and start producing a few very fuel efficinet (50-60mpg) cars. Price them in $8,000-$12,000 range so that you can own a couple of them for commuting purposes, and keep our bigger SUV/trucks for trips/hauling/home store trips... .

 

[nickleinonen]

i'm working one shift overtime a week... i was doing that before to save for a house, but now it goes to fuel [1 shift for fuel, 3 shifts for house per month]



i'd do more, but no one is allowed to work more than 48 hours a week right now. the company got their pee pee slapped cause there were some guys who regularly had 30 hours overtime a week [40 hour regular week] and labour canada didn't like that.

 

[BNH4221]

Naah,

Still blasting around like they was giving fuel away.



I paid a ton of money for this truck. I knew getting into it that it was going to cost me in fuel. So I can't complain.

I drive 60 or so miles to work each way, all of it highway. I wouldn't be caught dead in one of those tin can Prius or Civic things. I want all the steel and airbags I can get around me with the way people drive around here. A few extra bucks in fuel cost is the price you pay to keep yourself, your kids and yes, even your wife, safe.



That being said, it still hurts at the pump. So I just don't look.



Steve

 

[Dieselnut59]

Yep, been that way for about a year now. Have been thinking about a Prius :{ No plans on selling my baby though. I have too much invested and it would cost too much to replace her with something else that might not bring the satisfaction that I have with what I already got. It the Prius came in a diesel, we could have more fun Oo.

Why buy a gutless Prius when you can get and BOMB a VW TDI and STILL get better fuel economy, lots more power and still have a good little smoke show!? I don't understand this "hybrid" craze when there are diesel options that offer better economy AND more power with less cost and less complexity.

 

[nps]

I've changed. I have to put the credit card into the pump twice to get a full tank. Otherwise - everything is still the same. Why can't they lift the $50 credit limit at the pump?

 

[fkovalski]

... I don't understand this "hybrid" craze ...

The funny thing is that the 'lectricity generated (in the case of electric vehicles) put some emissions somewhere... plus there has to be some power loss in the transmission (of the elect. )... so... is the gallon of fuel when burned to produce power which eventually winds up in a hy brid's battery more efficient that if the gallon were burned at the source of transportation??



Hybrids: I reckon it's more for the eco- nazi, tree huggin crowd... It gives 'em the "warm fuzzy's". Kum Ba Ya'... eh?

 

[bmoeller]

I haven't changed anything. Truck doesn't really care how you drive. Mileage is pretty much the same no matter what, short of running winter fuel. Lose some with it.

 

[george]

$50 limit

I've changed. I have to put the credit card into the pump twice to get a full tank. Otherwise - everything is still the same. Why can't they lift the $50 credit limit at the pump?

That's a good question, try filling a 100 gallon tank at $50 a wack

 

[Texasrattler]

I increased my tire air pressure from 50/40 to 55/55 and get about 2 mpg better. Also, smooth out my driving for a little more mpg.



Pete

 

[bmoeller]

That's a good question, try filling a 100 gallon tank at $50 a wack

Or filling a pair of 100 or 120gal tanks on a big truck.



There is a FS station near me, that has just the card reader, no building for a cashier. It will allow you to go to $250. At least for the diesel, anyhow. Never bought gas there.

 

[TKingsbury]

I pulled my 35s off and put on stockers for a towing trip a couple of months ago. I did it for better gearing/power in the mountains, but I've left them on (for now ) because my mileage is better and lower EGTs with the small rubber.

Travis. .

 

[FATCAT]

I still "stomp" on it ... in my VW. As long as I'm getting at least 52 mpg. I'm not worried about how fast I'm driving.

The truck is used for weekends only now ... going to the dump, towing the Backhoe to the gun club to mow the fields, tow the dump trailer, etc...



Strange thing the other day ... on the way home from work one evening coming up the highway from Mass to NH, a new F350 6. 0 zipped by me in the fast lane doing about 75 (I'm driving my VW TDI) so I decide to jump in the fast lane and get up to him. Both of us in fast lane, slow lane wide open, so I jump back into the slow lane and stomp on it (now this is the VW remember) going from 75 to 95+ in a few seconds (like 5 or so). Then I see him trying to catch up to me so I increase it a little more.

He never got close ... . was that a sick 6. 0 I happened to run across? Or maybe 6-speed with 4. 10's so he could not go that fast?

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

I've made a major change. I've always been a 65 mph grandpa driver - my CTDs love being at 2K rpms anyway.



But I've sold my 04 for a 97 12v for my trucking needs, e. g firewood, hunting, camper hauling, and winter snow punching. I am going to be looking for a fuel efficient used car for all the rest of the stupid driving tricks. The only car I've had was my first vehicle, a $75 VW. Other than that it has been trucks, Land Rovers, Willys wagons, and the like. So my driving habits are making big changes.

 

[Bill Lins]

I went from 20 mpg to 49 mpg! (And only lost 2 wheels)! ;-)

 

[Bart]

I sure did. I sit in the slow lane doing 60-65 trying to get as much mpg as I can. I DON"T like watching my play money going into my communting tank.

Forgive my soap box here but if everyone slowed 'em down to the speed limit or less, the fuel prices would go down because there'd be too much fuel left at the pumps. Also we'd put the hurt on the cities and states when they didn't get the ticket revenue. Wouldn't that be wonderful Oo.

But to answer the question YES I've slow way down.

 

[Drewhenry]

Yeah I've slowed way down. Shifting around 1600 and starting in 3rd when unloaded(hope this does not cause premature wear on the clutch). At 3/4 of a tank my dte used to be 300, now it is 400-425.

Remember the old slogan " 55 saves lives "----It saves fuel too!--I rarely exceed 60. I'll drive 65 on a long trip(like Dallas to Corpus Christi).