Amazing MPG gains... Magic fuel, or ???
I have driven 6975 miles since setting out on this cross-country trip back in early October, and I have recorded every single mile and each gallon of diesel fuel along the way (22 tankfulls so far) in...
Forum Discussion
Mark, it is a mystery all right. Unexplained great MPG.
I"ve only had one experience like that. Jeanie and I were driving from Sand Point, ID to Seattle, against the prevailing westerlies, uphill, and the gauge was barely moving. I thought, "Wow, this is great". I have the same size tank as yours was, stock and we traveled a couple hundred more miles that I thought possible, still watching the gauge like a hawk. We were going south on 5, north of Portland and hit a slight uphill when the engine went dead-pedal. Coasting over to the side, a couple hours passed before we could get towed to a Dodge Dealer. Within a couple hours they got to our rig and the tech said we were out of gas. What? He had simply thumped the plastic tank with his middle finger knuckle announcing that is was dead empty. He walked across the street with a couple jeep cans the contents of which were poured into the tank. He bled the injectors and fuel filter by cycling the lift pump. Of course, it started right up. No harm; no foul. The problem was the fuel sender. It was replaced later.
The biggest MPG detractor from my experience has been wind resistance. Some trips on the flat with a good tail wind have given us over 15 mpg with a loaded, 10K pound rolling white box.
I do agree that there is some variation in quality of No. 2 diesel fuel sold in the US. What is that value? Heptane? I would think if Diesel fuel is infused with corn oil, and had fabulous results, people everywhere would be flocking to it.
Also, I notice diesel TC's with more torque and HP tend to have a smaller variation in MPG. Our tiny little 245 HP/505TQ HO Cummins, which was the bomb in 2001, is now on the low end of power, compared to the newest offerings, and more susceptible to wind and hills.
jefe
I"ve only had one experience like that. Jeanie and I were driving from Sand Point, ID to Seattle, against the prevailing westerlies, uphill, and the gauge was barely moving. I thought, "Wow, this is great". I have the same size tank as yours was, stock and we traveled a couple hundred more miles that I thought possible, still watching the gauge like a hawk. We were going south on 5, north of Portland and hit a slight uphill when the engine went dead-pedal. Coasting over to the side, a couple hours passed before we could get towed to a Dodge Dealer. Within a couple hours they got to our rig and the tech said we were out of gas. What? He had simply thumped the plastic tank with his middle finger knuckle announcing that is was dead empty. He walked across the street with a couple jeep cans the contents of which were poured into the tank. He bled the injectors and fuel filter by cycling the lift pump. Of course, it started right up. No harm; no foul. The problem was the fuel sender. It was replaced later.
The biggest MPG detractor from my experience has been wind resistance. Some trips on the flat with a good tail wind have given us over 15 mpg with a loaded, 10K pound rolling white box.
I do agree that there is some variation in quality of No. 2 diesel fuel sold in the US. What is that value? Heptane? I would think if Diesel fuel is infused with corn oil, and had fabulous results, people everywhere would be flocking to it.
Also, I notice diesel TC's with more torque and HP tend to have a smaller variation in MPG. Our tiny little 245 HP/505TQ HO Cummins, which was the bomb in 2001, is now on the low end of power, compared to the newest offerings, and more susceptible to wind and hills.
jefe
