How Far Can We Go?

[Gonzo42]

Before I got reliable numbers on our new toy I was worried about running to Empty. I even stopped for $20 of Diesel when I was only 20 miles from home and I still had 2 bars out of 10 on the fuel gage.

So I worked up a spreadsheet based on the fuel mileages I thought I could expect and the capacity of the tank per manufacture. I then came up with this graph. I can see by my odometer how many miles from fillup and per my fuel gage estimate miles left until empty.

[mlts22]

I am reminded of the Prius forums where people make very extensive, detailed calculations of how much gas/electricity is used, at what wind speeds, at what roads...

On one hand, it is interesting to watch what they do. On the other hand, and this is just me, I just put that aside when on a trip and think about other things.

[Rollnhome]

Factory installed computer tells me all that and more. Don't trust it either. When gas gauge hits 1/4 tank I pee a little so I keep it quite a bit above 1/4 tank.

[Grumpy374]

That sheet is fine and dandy, but it really dosen't mean a thing due to all the variables that occur from tank to tank. Uphill, downhill, headwind, tailwind, load, slow traffic, ect ect ect.
I really do enjoy reading the posts on "How many mpg will I get" or "If I go this fast, how many gallons will I use to go this far?" To me it's humourous that there are some who are so fixated about their milage they forget why they own a box on wheels.
Grumpy

[ependydad]

Grumpy374 wrote:

It dosen't matter at all what one driver get's over another, cause every rig is different and we all drive differently. I didn't buy a 31 foot box on wheels expecting good gas milage, or to worry about a mpg more or less.

Grumpy, who was debating their mileage? The OP simply created a cheat sheet that, based on his mileage at the time, lets him decide how far a tank will take him.

[Gonzo42]

OK, I admit it! I use my spreadsheet for EVERYTHING, and believe me, I do stuff it was never meant to do. I track stuff that would make normal people go crazy. However, this makes it a little simpler when I get, instead of, "are we there yet", I get "are we going to run out of fuel before we get there" every hour or so.

So I thought I would share this with anyone else that might have some hysteria from the right seat.

[JamesBr]

I am a 1/4 tank person. I prefer not to let the vehicles go under 1/4 tank unless I have to.

[Allworth]

I don't understand the purpose of trying to outsmart your fuel gauge.

[Grumpy374]

I really, really love these milage posts.
"I get 12.39877 mpg at 46.8 mph".
"Well, I get 12.34287 mpg at 51.2 mph at 3408.7 feet altitude".
It dosen't matter at all what one driver get's over another, cause every rig is different and we all drive differently. I didn't buy a 31 foot box on wheels expecting good gas milage, or to worry about a mpg more or less.
I maintain the speed limit, towing a dingy, and when the tank gets down to a third, I gas up. It is what it is, and I don't worry about getting or losing a mpg. Too busy looking at the scenery and the sights to monitor my gas guage every second.
Sorry if I ruffled some feathers, but what you get or don't get has no bearing at all on my driving habits or my rig or my mpg.

Grumpy

[ependydad]

Aridon wrote:
Its so variable that we don't screw around and we have a pretty huge range. I consider 1/2 a tank to be "lets find out where the next truck stop is" and 1/3 to be "I need Diesel NOW".

I don't ever want to be in a situation of needing to shoe horn the rig in some tiny podunk station.

I don't have a huge range. 35 gallon tank, 10mpg average. But the quoted message above describes us pretty well to a "T".

[Veebyes]

donn0128 wrote:
Run that diesel out of fuel one time and guaranteed you will never do it again.

Been there. Done that. Onboard my boat miles offshore. Forgot to switch tanks. Old style diesel that required loosening of injectors to bleed.

Our new engines are fairly easy. Slaken bleed screw. Pump till fuel comes out. Hit starter til air is cleared from high pressure lines & usually Vrooom she goes.

[mlts22]

X2. You will hate life if you run out of fuel in a diesel rig.

I'd do as above -- 1/2 tank, start looking for an easy to pull into place to fill up, 1/3 is to find it ASAP, and 1/4 is when you pull over, grab the Jerry can from the hitch mounted cargo rack and empty that in the tank for 3-5 more gallons of range. (I have a habit of carrying 1-2 5 gallon fuel cans with me and rotating the fuel out at least monthly.)

Sprinter chassis tanks are tiny. You have a 26.4 gallon tank, which means you have about 23-24 gallons of usable fuel. On a long trip, if you are running toadless, I highly recommend a hitch mounted carrier and at least one 5 gallon diesel container, if not several.

[WeBeFulltimers]

gbopp wrote:
You need a spreadsheet to know when you need fuel?
Really?

And does the spreadsheet make it any cheaper to fill up? :h

[2012Coleman]

Gonzo42 wrote:

Gonzo42 wrote:


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Oh yea - I understand now... I think

[gbopp]

You need a spreadsheet to know when you need fuel?
Really?

[craig7h]

My question is WHY? Like another post said you do not want to run the diesel out of fuel. I think you should try that once and you will figure out why diesle people start looking at 1/2 tank.