dodge guy wrote:
sparechange wrote:
dodge guy wrote:
I think the big thing that some of us are saying is too stop with the HP wars, hold them where they are at and work on mileage instead. I see no reason why the new crop of diesels can't get at least 3+ more MPG! If they they put the effort into that instead of power lots more people would sit up and take notice.
Years ago they said a gas V-8 would never get better than 20 mpg. Guess what mid 20's is what they are now getting!
I agree with most everything you said accept the modern v-8 getting over 20. There's a website that tracks user uploaded mpg by vehicle and year (fuelly.com) and from what I've seen most on average are worse than diesels. Usually around 15-16 combined. I could be wrong but I spent a lot of time looking around on there and talking to guys at work with halftons a couple years ago when I was truck shopping
I had a 97 grand marquis that had no problem getting 26 mpg on the highway it had 2.73's. I also had a 93 mustang with the 5.0 and auto with 3.27 gears that would do 25 on the highway. Yes, these aren't trucks but a very modern V-8 or should not have a problem with low 20's in a truck! Even a diesel should be knocking down upper 20's by now. That is of course if they focused on mileage instead of power!
It's a lot about constant cruise. I find if I can keep my rpm at a constant rpm (sometimes easier said than done, but easier where I live ...the flat prairies) that mpg shows a significant improvement.
My wife and I did a 'test' a few years ago. At the time we had a 2007 Toyota Matrix with the 1800cc Toyota 4 cylinder and a 2007 Buick LaCrosse (still have the Buick). The Buick has a 3800cc V6.
On a prairie highway that has very few curves, no stops and on this day, no appreciable wind we found that by setting cruise control on both vehicles (@ 60 mph) and keeping our foot off the gas and the brake...the Buick came within about 1.5 mpg of the Toyota.
Why....the big Buick engine ran at much lower rpm than the smaller Toyota engine, the Buick is low, albeit wide, but has a more streamlined design in the front...the Matrix, kind of narrow, but high.
By keeping both engines at a constant cruise rpm...with little if any fluctuation, the Buick came very close to the Toyota...due to lower rpm (gearing), snippier shape.
Now in town it was a different matter with many a stop and go. The Buick had to move close to a 1000 lbs more from a dead stop...over and over again in heavy traffic. This is a MPG killer.
