Unbelievable Fuel Mileage - REAL

[hammersley]

OK - I'm not selling anything EXCEPT one thing that we all know... ... Here's the facts - and if I didn't experience it I'd say BS... ... . but I did almost duplicate it... ... .



I just got back from a 700 mile concert trip (Martina Mcbride) and here's what I discovered regarding mileage... . see how my truck is equipped... .



1. I was travelling south from Vancouver Washington to Medford Oregon - I decided to run the 1st part for mileage - as I had hours to kill.....



2. The freeway is essentially flat - the temp's were in the low 70's - No Rain - or wind -



3. I decide to go no more than 56 MPH - that's right 56 MPH! I only passed two vehicles and was passed by everybody else. However with 3 lanes and relatively low traffic -



4. I went 161 miles and noticed that the fuel gauge was obviously much higher than normal - I filled up - I mean I filled up you know the fuel is 1/2 inch from the top - just as it was when I left - 5. 85 gallons - :--) You Do The Math! HONEST NO BS.



5. Having almost needing CPR - I decided to push the speed a bit and see if it changed the result... ... So for 147 miles I didn't exceed 60 and was always around 58-59 - result --- 147 miles - and 5. 95 gallons... Oo. ...



6. After the concert I drove usual as I needed to get home before dawn - and at mu usual 72 MPH I was back in the usual just under 20 MPG.



OK - I want somebody else to try this experiment and see what they experience... ... ... .

 

[MSalvatore]

I also tried the mileake thing but kept EGT's at or below 600 and was rewarded with almost 29mpg for the ride from home to south jersey.

 

[keimmmo]

Both my trucks have "sweet spots" for fuel economy at 48 and 58 mph. I have seen over 25 a NUMBER of times on the 01. 5! I drive a lot of rough two lane roads down here in Mexico. I usually don't have any trouble keeping the speed down and enjoy the good fuel economy. I have often wondered what the truck would be capable of doing on a perfect Interstate run in the States!



Steve Keim

 

[WDixon27]

d'oh 17 is about as good as i get over a whole tank of mixed

 

[Flinty]

When we first bought the truck I had my wife deliver an empty 24' utility trailer. I told her to shift at 1800 rpm and cruise at 2000, the truck delivered 23 mpg. Then she rode with me empty and saw my 2250 shifts and got a taste of what a spooled up turbo can do. She drove the return trip and we got a disappointing 14!

 

[MHorne]

from what i believe i think you have to drive your truck to virtually an empty tank to get accuarte gas mileage ratings, if you want the most accurate you do it after every 3-4 fill ups to get your overall gas mileage and essentially the most accurate mileage. But remember i believe this is what i was taught.

 

[Nate]

Sheez! I got 18mpg doing 80mph. . from Mtn Home to Preston and back to Pocatello on 21 gallons, 388 miles. I thought that was darn good!

 

[Simplysmn]

with a fill up of 26 gals I can go from Apple Valley to Modesto Ca. and just have the fuel light pop on by time I hit Manteca area and thats running 37 in tall tires with 411 gears not to bad for a Beast

 

[Bluebird]

Average mpg...

On southern CA freeways I got 26mpg once, off-ramp to off-ramp between 60-72mph. See my signature, no hot-rod CTD . I average 19. 65-mpg combination driving, always calculating the average after a dozen fill-ups. I put fuel additive after using 60-gallons of fuel. I paid $2. 97 today :-laf hey, big deal in so CA, San Bernardino area.

Have a safe summer y'all, Patrick.

 

[SBall]

With a dually yet!

Last year I tried a similar experiment. Tanked up, and after hauling nearly 2 tons of screenings from the local quarry (driving slowly), drove empty to Hagerstown, Md. and back. This was mostly freeway driving at the speed limit ranging from 55mph to 65mph and realized 23+ mpg. Our dually is a 2wd regular cab which helps I'm sure. Yes, I was passed by almost everyone, but having that long bed and heavy axle behind me to soften the blow should I get "pushed" or rear-ended makes me feel more secure. I wouldn't dare drive that slow in our Miata, being at the bottom of the "food chain" so to speak.

 

[lmills]

Last year I tried a similar experiment. Tanked up, and after hauling nearly 2 tons of screenings from the local quarry (driving slowly), drove empty to Hagerstown, Md. and back. This was mostly freeway driving at the speed limit ranging from 55mph to 65mph and realized 23+ mpg. Our dually is a 2wd regular cab which helps I'm sure. Yes, I was passed by almost everyone, but having that long bed and heavy axle behind me to soften the blow should I get "pushed" or rear-ended makes me feel more secure. I wouldn't dare drive that slow in our Miata, being at the bottom of the "food chain" so to speak.

heyy! I know where hagerstown is.

 

[Cummins Pilot]

Tell me that you guys didn't just figure out if you drive a bit slower you get better mileage.....



I agree with the sweet spots. Lyle Cummins way back when found out that 600 pre turbo on the pyro is the sweet spot on most any diesel. Also running on the peak of the torque curve is where some of the best mileage can be seen.



I also noticed that after about 30 mins I get a mileage increase (My truck has the cab comp) once everything has come up to temp and equalized while cruising.

 

[klenger]

heyy! I know where hagerstown is.

I spent a week there one day. Did some work at the old A-10 assembly hanger for the US Army back in the late 90's.

 

[wxman]

I also tried a similar experiment and the result was so astounding, that I never posted it for fear everyone would think I'm a pathological liar. But since a few others seem to be getting something nearly as good, I thought I'd go ahead and post my results here.



I took a graduate course in environmental engineering at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville this past semester. I'd noticed that my overhead computer was registering over 30 mpg when I took my time going to and from class. I assumed that the computer was way off since I have a TST PMCR on the truck.



On one of the trips there, I decided to actually check by filling up to the top of the filler tube before the trip and filling it back up to the top of the filler tube when I returned. The trip (91. 7 miles round trip) took 2. 927 gallons = 31. 3 mpg!



I tried to go exactly the speed limit the entire way. I take a state road (Rt. 11E) to Knoxville which is primarily 55 mph but has a few stretches of 45 mph. I tried to use the brakes as little as possible and generally shifted before 2000 rpm. The PMCR was on 5/1.



This is NOT embellished in any way. This is actually what it used in those 90+ miles.

 

[Willys]

Hogwash

I don't believe any of you. :-laf



I've heard rumors of Garmon's trucks, with really high timing, getting 25-35 mpg. That's probably for another thread though.



It's amazing what a change in driving style will do. My FIL and I took a trip from Atlanta, GA to Erie, PA a few years back in his '03 1500 Dodge, with the smaller standard V8(don't recall the exact size). IIRC, I averaged a cruise speed of 70-75 and took my time going up hills. He averaged around 75-80 and powered his way up the hills and onto the ramps. According to the instantaneous calculator/computer, he was pulling 12-13 mpg, I was geting 17-19. It was fun to tweak my driving style to increase the average mileage. I wish I had that on my 12 valve, it would keep me light on the throttle sort of like my radar detector keeps me from speeding. Oo.

 

[nersasian]

Wow! I've never got even close to that kind of mileage. I've got 4:10's and an automatic in my megacab. Would it be worth it to have it changed to 3:73's (cost $2,500. 00)? I have a 20' enclosed car hauler, but I drive 90% of the time not towing anything. Also, would some basic mods help my mileage? I tested it on a 140 mile trip recently and driving at no more that 2k rpm (65 mph) I only got 15 mpg. HELP!!

 

[BigPapa]

For 5 years after I bought my truck I drove 35 miles one way to work, most of it interstate averaging mid to high 60mph and got 19-20 mpg. My fuel guage doesn't work so I check my mileage every tank and fill up at the same pump 95% of the time.



In March of this year I was moved to a different location and now I drive 50 miles over back roads with a max speed of 55 mph and an average @ 40mph. I now get 24-25 mpg.



Scott

 

[hammersley]

Wow! I've never got even close to that kind of mileage. I've got 4:10's and an automatic in my megacab. Would it be worth it to have it changed to 3:73's (cost $2,500. 00)? I have a 20' enclosed car hauler, but I drive 90% of the time not towing anything. Also, would some basic mods help my mileage? I tested it on a 140 mile trip recently and driving at no more that 2k rpm (65 mph) I only got 15 mpg. HELP!!

Yep the 4. 10's kill the mileage... ... and if you don't need it - wrong ratio... ... . BUT you would be a long way off trying to save the $$$$ for the changeover ... ...

 

[hearingyourlies]

Instead of changing ratio's you could just up your tire size.



Correct me if i'm wrong, but aren't most vehicles most aerodynamically efficient at 47 mph? In other words, above this point the vehicle has to overcome both drag and headwind?

 

[surfbeetle]

I went from Sacramento to San Diego, then drove around town for 5 days. I got 720 miles on 32 gallons (22mpg) and I averaged 70 miles per hour on the long trip. I just adjusted my valves last weekend and some were tight and a couple were loose, now it runs smoother and idles better, my mileage should go up.