Most effective way to boost MPG

[curatchko]

Pulled for the first time this weekend and was disappointed in my mileage. Truck gets great mileage unhooked, at around 20, but shoot I only got 10 pulling 5500 pounds, and it seems like the boost gauge was pegged the whole time... No power struggles or anything just poor mileage... was between 70-75 mph...



So has anyone seen mileage with a muffler, or filter, or anything? I guess a search could give me the answer... . just a little miffed...

 

[Fireman]

I know you don't want to hear this, but slowing down will yield the greatist mileage gains.



Fireman

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by Fireman

I know you don't want to hear this, but slowing down will yield the greatist mileage gains.



Fireman

Ditto. Maximum fuel mileage should be achieved between 35 and 40 mph. I know that's way too slow, but how about dropping to 60-65? It'll cost you nothing but time.

 

[curatchko]

Well... .



It ain't no fun on a holiday weekend going slow, when you see EVERYWHERE them Fords and Duramax trucks pullin their trailers up the grades... Can't resist passing them by with the big on my face!!!!



But still... . that's only on occasion. LOL!!!

 

[RTuvell]

Most effective ways to boost MPG:



Maintain correct tire pressure



Keep your top speed (and/or rpms for MT) within the range where you get the best MPG



Don't accelerate quickly

 

[rbattelle]

Originally posted by curatchko

Well... .



It ain't no fun on a holiday weekend going slow, when you see EVERYWHERE them Fords and Duramax trucks pullin their trailers up the grades... Can't resist passing them by with the big on my face!!!!



But still... . that's only on occasion. LOL!!!

If you want to play, you have to pay. It's just that simple. Obviously, they are unconcerned with fuel mileage.

 

[DPKetchum]

Keep it under 2000 rpm! Even 1950 shows good mileage. Above 2k it falls off.

 

[coobie]

Originally posted by curatchko

Pulled for the first time this weekend and was disappointed in my mileage. Truck gets great mileage unhooked, at around 20, but shoot I only got 10 pulling 5500 pounds, and it seems like the boost gauge was pegged the whole time... No power struggles or anything just poor mileage... was between 70-75 mph...



So has anyone seen mileage with a muffler, or filter, or anything? I guess a search could give me the answer... . just a little miffed...

I pulled about 3,000 lb trailer this past weekend. I kept my speed around 60-65. I was avg. around 15. 6 miles to a gal. my truck had about 7,800 miles on it. coobie

 

[EEngel]

MILEAGE

curatchko,



You could always go with the 6' fiberglass nose cone.

 

[Beast2B]

I actually increased my MPG with my first EZ box (and boost elbow) as long as I drove sanely. 55-60 was better, anything over 65 was WAY down on MPG, but WAY up on grin factor!

 

[NDanecker]

Originally posted by DPKetchum

Keep it under 2000 rpm! Even 1950 shows good mileage. Above 2k it falls off.

I noticed that also. I think something happens with the fuel curve (fuel usage) above 2k rpms... . something that isn't linear and I'm not referring to power required to overcome the trucks air drag!

 

[JMusso]

Chris, I pulled the trailer for the first time this past weekend also and I got the same results. 30ft tag 5500lbs. My truck did seem like it struggled up a couple hills but there was a strong wind that weekend.

 

[curatchko]

Joe how many miles on the truck? You shouldnt have any power problems especially with the 4. 10 gear. I can accelerate up a pretty good grade from 75-85 by the time I get to the top... Not sure how she's gonna like the 11k pound racecar trailer though... I'm starting to miss my 99 cummins with the bombs.

 

[RedDieselDawg]

I agree with the speed/milage ratio. At 70-75 I get 16-17 empty, if i go 60-65 i can get 20mpg.

 

[JMusso]

Originally posted by curatchko

Joe how many miles on the truck? You shouldnt have any power problems especially with the 4. 10 gear. I can accelerate up a pretty good grade from 75-85 by the time I get to the top... Not sure how she's gonna like the 11k pound racecar trailer though... I'm starting to miss my 99 cummins with the bombs.

I have a little over 4000 miles now. The truck actually lost a mph going up 2 decent hills. I started at the bottom at 70 mph and eased into full throttle. At the top I was reading 69mph. Like I said before it was a very windy day so I'm sure that played a role. Similar situation as you 30ft Pace GT unloaded 5500lb, loaded will be around 10,500.



Also, my first tow with a dually and man was it great. Highway stability was awesome and I didn't even have my tow bars on. No side to side with the wind or getting sucked over when you pass a semi.

 

[jochocki]

End of Feb. '04, we came back from Lake Havasau, AZ to MN. 2003 HO with 3. 73 pulling 5th wheel camper, 100" wide and 12' 6" highs and weighs just under 12,000 loaded. Drove 65 all the way and got 12. 8 mpg.

 

[HOCummins04]

Pulled 8000# camper last week. Central Indiana where things are fairly flat. Speed 65. Hand calculated 11. 4 MPG. 2700 miles on the clock. Tire pressure 60# all around.

 

[sschu600]

Has any one tried to change to a higher gear ratio (3. 54:1 or LOWER) for better mpg at higher speeds? Big rigs do it all of the time.



I will use my truck to commute 1 hour, 1 way to work and I don't like to drive slow. I don't pull enough to need alot of power. Surely the almight Cummins 600 can make plenty of power at a lower rpm.

 

[CAgnoli]

I know some guys have put bigger tires on them, effectively lowering the gear ratio, and not seen any increase in economy.



My truck has stayed in the 17-18mpg range, but I haven't taken a highway only trip, always 52 miles a day in city driving as part of a 186 mile commute.



I am wondering if the Cayalytic converter can get "plugged up" by lugging the motor and always starting out slow, and easing in to the throttle? I'm a Network engineer, talk to me about servers, and your speaking my language, mention gear ratio's, EGT's, or Boost and I start to get weak in the knees..... I love the truck though.



Also, wouldn't you have to replace the entire rearend to get that ratio? I thought the only options with the new trucks was 3:73 and 4:10. (Again, I have no idea what those number are, just that the lower they are, the better your highway mileage..... )

 

[OTRPU]

It's all relative, mileage is inversely proportinal to speed. Towing a Raptor Toyhauler 5er, CAT scaled truck & trailer GCVW at 22,100 lbs, 60 lbs air all around, Indiana, 55, Illinois, 55, Iowa, 60, . . . starting to get bored, . . . going into Gretna, NE, got to playing with the big trucks again. Little demon on my left shoulder got the best of me again and tattletale GPS high speed function showed 80, but mostly 60. Topped the tank off at Gretna Flying J, hand calculated used slightly over 53 gallons from Gary, IN to Gretna, NE Flying J's. Slightly over 9. 437. It's always windy in NE. Don't have 10k on the new Cummins yet. MT I'm already getting double that mileage.



Cheers,

Steve J