Forum Discussion
- I am always asked what MPGs does my dually get.
I tell them I don't really know. I did not buy it for economy. I bought it to do a job. Tow my Momentum. whatever it takes in fuel to do it is what it takes.
The follow up qustion is usually:"Well what does it get not towing?
I tell them, I don't know, as that doesn't happen often enough to track it. - And at the end of the day it actually matters, why?
You drive the speed and style that you drive and unless you’re already drivin miss daisy, you drive slower if you want to use less fuel. And you drive faster if you don’t care and want to get there sooner. - How one fills matters not unless it’s a MPG test loop returning to the same pump at the same station. In which case, fill to auto-shutoff (only).
Records are for the average over time which is the single accurate method. Each season has weather affecting MPG, and each season has family duties change somewhat. It will take 3-5k miles for that accurate average to emerge.
Truly accurate records = every fill, and with a full year of use. The annual average. All else is a subset. As above, the FUELLY app will do the work for you.
Only the Annual Average MPG matters. (Tank-by-tank always has errors resolved later by the actual average).
One wants to break it out for vacation miles then one also needs to separate travel TO an area from travel WITHIN that area visited. (Fill before arriving at destination campground).
Leave town and fill 50-75/miles out (warm-up complete) and call that the start. Same with last fill being inbound to home 50-75/miles out before hitting metro traffic. That’s the end.
“Vacation miles” need isolation in two ways:
1). Highway towing versus solo day trips.
2). Then, no DD miles included at vacation start or end.
TT towing is an aero problem. Same load in TV at same speed should indicate towing is a 40% penalty at approx 60-MPH. Over 50% and it’s time to investigate mechanical maladjustments from both vehicles brakes, both vehicles alignment, WDH, etc. MPG is a warning flag when it’s off from recorded average (tires are expensive compared to an alignment check or correcting brake drag).
WDH is scale confirmation of settings plus accurate tire pressure as well as loaded TV sans trailer.
The solo test loop is that baseline. Without it one is always in the dark as to what is true. One accurate test, one time, suffices. (TV loaded — simulated based on scale records — as if loaded for a camping trip. Run exclusively on cruise control same speed as when towing; turnaround about 100-miles and back to same pump).
. Grit dog wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
This BS of fill til it clicks and wait then same is a joke. It takes a bit but you can fill to the top if you want.
You literally have a truck that will make a mess if you try doing that, just like all other capless fuel fillers I’ve seen…. And what is the difference really? If it’s a similar flow rate pump it’s gonna foam and click off about the same (talking about diesels) yes the click off is more accurate with gas since it doesn’t foam up.
GM basically solved the "foam" problem long ago, At least by 2015 there is a wire mesh in the filler neck that drastically reduces foaming.
Don't know if ford and dodge have done the same, but wouldn't be suprised.
My 2004 foamed and I could get quite a bit more in the tank. 2015, not worth the effort, it gets it so close to full.Cummins12V98 wrote:
^^^ That is impressive but I have no idea how to so and don't want or care to understand how to do so. ^^^
Fill to top. Next time fill to top. Now divide my gallons into miles = GOLDEN
Download the Fuelly app. Really couldn’t be any easier.- 15mpg avg out of a new Ecoboost Expedition is pretty normal.
Even my leadfoot was averaging 15mpg in my old 5.3/10speed Chevy. - ^^^ That is impressive but I have no idea how to so and don't want or care to understand how to do so. ^^^
Fill to top. Next time fill to top. Now divide my gallons into miles = GOLDEN - This is good enough for me.
Grit dog wrote:
4x4ord wrote:
If you want to be more accurate with your mpg calculations just calculate less often. Instead of calculating based on 300 miles go 1200 or 1500 or 15000 miles. So fill up however you choose, reset your trip odometer, drive, keep track of all the fuel you put in, not bothering to fill up in any particular manner until the last fill up, at which time you fill up the way you did the first time. Calculate, and your going to be very close. One thing I like to do to get an accurate mpg figure is start my test with a clean DPF and end the same way.
Or to make it even simpler, although what you’re saying is good basic qualitative or quantitative analysis rules, check however you like, compare to the mpgs reading that virtually all trucks in the last 20+ years have. Get an idea of how close the digital readout is compared to your actual calcs and just use that if you must know what mpgs you’re getting at any or all times.
OR, start playing car games like slug bug or the license plate game, if you need a distraction from worrying about or calculating mpgs. And if that doesn’t work, try having a few road beers or sneak a toke if you’re retired and don’t have to pee in a cup to get a paycheck any more. It’ll chill you out.
I very rarely fill my truck up from a metered pump so getting my digital mpg read out properly calibrated is something I like to do. I think in the last year and a half I’ve only fueled up at a meted pump about three times. Sounds like riding with Grit could be fun! I don’t even know how to play the license plate game and can only imagine what slug a bug is. The road beers seems to elevate my co pilot’s stress level and sneaking a toke has never even crossed my mind.- "I" like to fill my fuel tanks to the top if possible. Not so easy and have never accomplished this with the Jeep Grand Cherokee.
"I" like to change ALL my transmission fluid, not been able to accomplish this on my AISIN.
"I" have things that "I" do for my own reasons.
"I" was known for the picky Superintendent. My Dental Clients always asked if I was available to remodel or build their next Clinic. I built/remodeled over 100 in the Greater Seattle area. Seen a Gentle Dental Clinic? I most likely built it and many more.
Some may think I am crazy but that's fine with me. I had 65,000 career hours and retired at 54 years old based on my picky nature.
I do agree having the DEF usage involved makes these highly un accurate fuel economy tests more useless.
