who has the all time best diesel mileage

[GregTaylor]

ok i was wondering if anyone could beat these numbers... my record is 31. 8 mph with my S. O. in Malibu doing 49 mph empty. . now there needs to be some ground rules. use the trip computer over the course of 5 miles on flat ground. i know that computer is not even close to accurate but i don't have the Patience for an entire tank run. so be honest flat ground only any speed any gear and mod. I would love to see if the S. O. is more efficient than the H. O. .

Greg Taylor

Thousand Oaks Calif.

ps diesel is $1. 79 a gal at the cheep place $2. 09 every where else

 

[Bertram65]

I think you will find the HOs get better mileage, at least that is what it seems like from reading the posts regarding mileage. The CA SOs seem to ge the worst, my best is just under 19MPG although it was a whole tank calcuated, no computer on the ST.

 

[Dean Upson]

Given the reported reliability of the computer, any mileage figures derived from it are pretty much useless. Real figures have to be calulated from full tank to full tank by hand.



Dean

 

[Hudsonhawk]

Personal Best is 24. 5 over 385 Miles.

 

[XJSuperman]

It "seems" the 1st half tank you will always get better mileage. If I fill up before I go below half tank. . the mileage numbers are always better than if I fill it up with a quarter or less in it.

My best 'half' tank has been 335 miles (give or take a couple miles) but the bottom half only gave me 260 miles. This was DEAD on empty and she took 33 gallons and change and was NOT 100% hwy driving.



I would almost think average mileage would be a better contest. A 50/50 hwy/city tank. This is the type of driving I do and have a best of 17. 8 MPG with an almost exact 50/50 split. I've gotten much better with a total hwy tank and quite a bit less with an all city tank.

 

[jungledave]

I got 18. 25 and 511 miles on a tank at high altitude, 7000 ft. +. I was traveling mostly in the 65 to 75 mph range and really trying not to romp on it at all, it was difficult. The trip computor showed 19. 4 and it is usually about one mile per gallon higher than it actually gets. This was mostly up and down hills and quite a bit of winding mountain roads. the way I normally drive the 04 HO it gets aroung high 15s. even babying my 02, I never got better than 16 even

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

My best was a calculated 23 mpg rolling an easy 67-70 over the course of about 500 miles. Most of the time I go 75 to about 80 in which case it drops to 20-21.



Vaughn

 

[Jeremiah]

MPGs 'n' stuff

One more time: you can't use an overhead computer that measures average MPGs to determine actual MPGs. Only a calculator can do that (miles driven divided by gallons burned).



Here's another caveat: mileage will vary according to altitude. More oxygen at sea level means more fuel is burned. But there's a trade-off here: trucks running at sea level have more power.



Bottom line to this discussion is you can't compare apples and oranges. Generally speaking, the only way to really compare MPGs is to run two trucks from very full to near empty at the same altitude, and even then it will only work if they've been filled up at the same station, same pump, same driver, same driving conditions, same person filling up the truck, etc. , etc. , etc.



Otherwise, folks trying to compare MPGs are just whistlin' "Dixie" as we used to say in the South.



But here is a question for you: how many miles to empty does your overhead computer show when you've just filled up the tank. Mine shows 675 if I take my time and "pack" the tank.

 

[KBennett]

The best I had in my 2003 SO auto 3. 73 was 24 mpg averaging 55 mph on a country road with the cruise off.

My best in the 2004 HO 6-speed 3. 73 so far (only 8K miles) is 21. 5 on the overhead averaging 65 mph with the cruise on.



I don't think the SO is any more or less efficent than the HO I just use the full power of the HO Around town the 6-speed is about 1mpg better than the auto.



I only got about 14mpg towing through the Rockies with the SO but I think this will improve with the 6-speed.



FYI, The Shell at I70 and Kipling sells diesel for $1. 44 a gallon. I have been running it all winter with no problems.

 

[GregTaylor]

apparently you guys don't understand what the challenge is. using the same trip computer we all have. who can get the best numbers i'm not asking for a whole tank run just 5 miles on flat ground. there are many threads on mpg's this is simply a challenge. and yes we all understand the trip computer is'nt accurate but it's algorithms are the same for all our trucks. so who can beat my stock S. O. ?

Greg Taylor

PS diesel is now $1. 85 per gal at the cheep station $2. 19 every where else

 

[catoiler]

I win!!Average is 12. 35 mpg. Just input the last tank into the program and it came back at 12. 65 and a avrage of 12. 35 from the day i got the truck on sep. 1st.

 

[Crunch]

Originally posted by GregTaylor

apparently you guys don't understand what the challenge is. using the same trip computer we all have. who can get the best numbers i'm not asking for a whole tank run just 5 miles on flat ground. there are many threads on mpg's this is simply a challenge.

Using the trip computer is a valid way to measure mileage across many owners, but the 5 miles on flat ground is not a sufficient test. What you are getting out of that is simply the highest MPG numbers on the trip computer using a brief sampling. I haven't seen numbers as high as yours, but I have hand calculated mileage out to be 20. 7 over 505. 6 miles and running empty between 75mph and 85mph over the tank. I'm a lead-foot, so I doubt I will ever see numbers much higher than that.



For what it's worth, I have seen my DTE (Distance to Empty) as high as 563...

 

[FastEddie0]

26. 6 mpg (middle setting on bullydog box) is my record. I actually took a picture of it with the camera on my cell phone. This was before the FASS was installed and I noticed a significant increase in mileage after I installed it. ~ 3 mpg AND last tank the trip computer said 18. 3 and the calculated mileage was 18. 1 (loaded w/trailer) I believe the FASS brought the calibration of the fuel economy back into spec with the Bullydog box on middle setting (70hp).



But I haven't made any trips with no load since.



By the way, there isn't one single flat 5 mile stretch in PA.



get yourself a FASS! they do work! but the bracket is next to worthless installing on a 3gen short bed. let me know if you need install tips...

 

[1rumrunner]

I drive from LA, Ca to Lake Havasu City on a regular basis and I average 24. 7 MPG @80-85 MPH for 600 miles+.

('03 2500 Quad Cab, Gear Vendors 22% OD, 4" pipe, BD box)

My wife and I saw 28MPG @ 70-72 MPH for 200 miles.

 

[draymorris]

What the heck is a FASS?

 

[1rumrunner]

I was wondering the same thing.

 

[PBeaudoin]

I have to say besides blowing black smoke, I think some are blowing BS too. With cruise set at 60 MPH with no load and not real level highways, temp 50* no winds, the BEST I could do is 19-20 MPG by the computer. I cannot see how some people are getting better then 22 mpg with perfect conditions. And going 70 MPH I cannot do better then 17????? This is my second new body truck, 1st being an 03' So auto

I see on these thread 25,28, and some claim better then that?? You must coast in neutral to record that. I once got 99 when I just filled it and coasted to the next light

I not disclaiming peoples MPG but these big trucks are getting close to my VW TDi MPG around town??? Something got to give.

 

[CFenton]

Originally posted by FastEddie0



By the way, there isn't one single flat 5 mile stretch in PA.

Sure there are! They are very flat. In fact towing east at 65 mph on I-80, wife driving, the trip computer registered well beyond 60 mpg for more than 5 miles. It was flat alright, but not level..... down hill all the way... . I couldn't resist, sorry!



We have a daughter in her third year at West Point and know very well the length and detail of I-80 through PA. going to visit her from MI. Having had a Chevy Astro at the limits of capacity on the same route the '03 HO is nothing short of amazing by contrast. 65 mph all the way and never once came out of overdrive. Average 15 mpg with less than 5K on the odometer. The Astro wouldn't do 65 in PA and never got better than 9 mpg at 60 mph on the flat, er, I mean level.

 

[Jeremiah]

5,000 miles per gallon!!!

PBeaudoin, you have just hit the nail on the head. Most men lie when their wives ask them if a new dress makes them look fat, when they're out of town and a woman asks if they're married, and when they talk about the fuel mileage their Turbo Diesel truck gets. Yep, you got it right, their trucks blow smoke and so do they. Hee!

 

[DFrank]

what is a FASS? Clearly I MUST need one.