Fuel mileage questions

I understand Thor----I came back up from FL awhile back and ran about as fast as I could go and I would wager I didn't get 4 mpg because of having to stop a lot sooner than expected. But I just don't worry about it. We have 5 vehicles + the DP and the only one I could tell you the MPG on is our 95 Saturn which gets 35mpg and I know that because it goes a long way without stopping so I checked it. Pretty cheap ride for around here local.

I just updated my 460 with banks - trip report thread as I am keeping track of fuel consumption - we have completed around 2500 miles so far. To summarize (very approximately)

Level Ground - 50-55mph - 8.5mpg

Hilly Ground - 50-55mph - 7.5mpg

Interstate - 60-65mpg - 6.5mpg

Interstate - 65-70mpg - 6.0mpg

Deduct around 0.5mpg if using dash AC

They are very approximate and you could be at 5.0 or 9.0 depending on the exact conditions and your driving style.

I know I will have to put fuel in no matter what, but if I'm getting bad, good or normal mileage, that is important so that I know if I need to make a driving change etc. It sounds like the speed was probably the main issue.

Thanks.

My question is always "does it matter?" You have to put fuel in it if you want to travel no matter what mileage it gets. I notice the cost more than anything--yesterday here in NC diesel was $3.89 and in SC it was $3.59 and since I was there anyway I filled up and at 70 gal I saved $21 which bought me lunch.....last time I filled it I was in VA and saved about the same amount....but you still have to put it in there.

I, too, keep meticulous fuel mileage records. I have every receipt from the first tank of fuel and now I have almost 62,000 miles on the coach.

I have gotten as little as 4.5 on one tank to almost 10 mpg on another. My computer average is about 7.5 mpg over the total mileage. I always note on the fuel receipt of how much I've used the generator and/or the Aqua-Hot system (estimate).

Mr. Thor, just keep a long running total on every tank and I bet you will average 5.5-6.5 mpg with a gas engine.

MM.

WyoTraveler wrote:
I was happy with my 1989 Pace Arrow with the 454 chevy if I got over 4 mpg. Towing my Geo Tracker I got less.

I'm getting almost 8 mpg with my V0 towing my Jeep & I'm happy.

Yup what I got pulling my car trailer with my 454 when I had it. SOLD IT!

rocmoc n AZ/Mexico

I found on my previous rig (97 Winne Vectra, F53) the 460 is a bit of a gas hog. We always averaged between 5.5 to 6.5 mpg and as the others have stated, you need to calculate mpg based on several long trips. Also speed, load, genset running, hills and wind direction play a large role in fuel consumption.

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy

Did you have the generator running or off?,Dash air on or off, House air on or off, all those things will make a difference!

You have to look at MPG over the long haul. I’ve driven my 98 Itasca over a 99 Ford F53 just over 48,000 miles in 8 years and have kept a meticulous mileage log. It shows single fill ups of 12.11 to 6.03 MPG with the first year average going from 8.45 to the current year’s about 8.00.

Here are just a few factors that will affect MPG, terrain (flat or hilly land), speed (the faster you go the lower the MPG), starting (jackrabbit to gradual), how level the MH is when filling fuel (leaning toward the pump or away) and the sensitive & volume of the gas pump nozzle (ease of kick off).

I’m hoping that my MPG goes up a little as the MH just hit 100,000 miles and I’ve had the plugs replaced.

Dave

As mentioned, very difficult to determine a true calculation of mileage off one refueling. To many variables. Speed, weather, terrain, coach loading and such.

What may have had the greatest effect with your numbers for this one trip is the volume of fuel that was in the tank when you started the trip as compared to the amount of fuel you added at the end of your trip. If the refueling added more to the volume of fuel then what you started with your numbers are not accurate for the trip. Since you only traveled a few miles a two gallon difference could have changed your numbers by as much as 2 MPG.

Also you need to find the power train's sweet spot. Best speed for fuel used. For my rig 2500 RPM/62 MPH will give me my best mileage of around 8 MPG or so. If I push my speed much higher fuel usage seems to increase exponentially.