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.

[Ole_Man_Dan]

Never made a graph. Different kind of obsession... 😉
Last diesel I owned I kept a LOG with data on Amount of Diesel, Cost, Location, MPG, Mileage, Price, and location of purchase.
I tracked it all for 6 years. I quit when I sold it...
Haven't even thought about it with my current truck.
My tracking was pretty much a waste of time, but it was my time to waste.

I did determine that repeatedly one particular station near me gave me better MPG with their Diesel.

I determined that my Ford MPG meter reading was pretty much spot on.
I finally quit doing the math for MPG.

I determined my average MPG towing/not towing ect...
Mountains VS flat land Interstate driving.

I'M ALL BETTER NOW. GUESS I'M OVER THAT SICKNESS... 😉

[Gonzo42]

I haven't yet done it to this one, but for all the vehicles I've owned I have literally run it dry on purpose just to see exactly what it takes to fill the tank.

Also I like to see just how accurate the fuel gauge is, and most of them in my experience are extremely non-linear, partly because the tank is a weird shape to fit in the space allowed, but also because the manufacturer won't take the time to really calibrate it.

So I also track where the fuel gauge indicates and reference that as I plot the data when I fill up at different indicated levels. Call me obsessive. After that only a glance at the gauge and I know for real what I have, without calculations.

[B-A-T]

I once got to 50 miles to Empty on my F-350. I was 2 miles from home and got stuck in a traffic. By the time I got to the pumps I had 20 miles to Empty. I put ~36 gallons into my 38.x gallon tank.

From that day onward, I'm a 1/4 tank'r. If it hits a 1/4 tank I fill it up.

[DiskDoctr]

Real life situation... when you are arriving at gas station and your DTE (Distance To Empty) is reading ZERO, and you find the gas station is OUT OF FUEL...

Or another time in OH, arrived on vacation to find a statewide power outage closed all the gas stations...

Be careful walking the edge, it's a long way down 😉

Edit: I didn't see the negative posts, didn't mean to sound negative, too. I think knowing your ride well will be invaluable when you don't have a choice but to push your limits.

[Gonzo42]

Heck, you just can't offend me. Go ahead with any abuse you feel you need to unload. I find it amusing. I criticize myself worse than anyone else could, anyway.

Call me anything except late for dinner.

[westend]

I'm sure the OP has a general idea and rule about when to fill up. I'm betting the spreadsheet gets handed to the navigator that may want to know when the next stop is taking place.
I'm really bad about this kind of stuff when we're doing long drives. I like to keep momentum so I'll wring it out to the bottom of the tank. Actually, with the cost of fuel pumps, it's not that good of a decision but I have 170K on the counter and haven't run it dry yet.

[Salty_Dog]

Perhaps they should rename this forum to PLEASE RAIN ON MY PARADE FORUM. You did something nice and wanted to share it and what you got for it was ridicule (not by all but by many). Sorry, and thanks for sharing!

[PaisleyDale]

Gonzo42:

My fuel gauge seemed to move from the last two bars to none rather quick and I stopped and bought fuel when I did not need or want to. After reading the manual I found out that after all bars are gone and the "0" is flashing I still have 6 gallons left. I have tested the gauge several times and it is very accurate. So with 6 gallons left you can travel at least 75 miles before you need to buy more fuel. My fuel bars are gone right around 320 miles of travel and I know I could go to 400 miles before fueling up, but then the stress of running out takes over. Hope you enjoy your MH as much as we do ours - Dale

[Horsedoc]

If you enjoy that kind of stuff, then go for it. I do wonder with all the variables on the road how accurate it is. If you want to get really 'accurate' it would be interesting to see a meter that gives an accurate reading of the amount of flow from the tank in real time and a cumulative amount of fuel used from the time of fill up. Then you could have a better idea of the running mpg and adjust your drive for maximum benefit.

Or you could fill up when you get between 1/2 and 1/4 tank like so many of us who can hardly spell spread sheet.

[et2]

PastorCharlie wrote:

Gonzo42 wrote:
Perhaps some are missing the point. I made this to deal with the hourly hysteria coming from the right seat. This and some minor mental math takes care of it.

If this does not help you, feel free to ignore it.

:B You may need to take a different approach to the right seat. :h

Maybe it's just the lack of communication. I hear that all the time. But my wife trusts I have my stuff together. In 15 years I've never ran out of gas. Thus the half tank rule, it's a lot easier then pulling a graph out of your pocket. Even your wife can understand that. If not, sounds like your travels can be a little nerve racking, and that isn't fun.

[campigloo]

Gonzo, I thought your graph was pretty neat. Not for me, but an interesting thing. All of you with these huge tanks, pretty cool, but for me, the bladder, the knees, the hips and the back are not as tolerant as they used to be. Nowadays, when we have time, we feel deprived if we pass a rest area or fill-up spot! LOL

[PastorCharlie]

Gonzo42 wrote:
Perhaps some are missing the point. I made this to deal with the hourly hysteria coming from the right seat. This and some minor mental math takes care of it.

If this does not help you, feel free to ignore it.

:B You may need to take a different approach to the right seat. :h

[Ole_Man_Dan]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
I've never really worried about the 'miles' as mpg can change due to headwinds, terrain, traffic etc.

So when fuel gauge gets to 1/2 tank I look for fuel and fill up.
Gives me plenty of leeway to find fuel.

Unless you are familiar with the road and know a good spot to take on fuel... Start looking when you get to half a tank.
If you are close to your destination, you can wait, but don't be left on the side of the road, because you thought you could make it.
Mine seemed to use more fuel when I got to 1/4 tank.

I also like the comfort of having plenty of fuel.

Some locations have their pumps laid out wrong, and aren't worth the trouble, unless your pushing empty.

[Gonzo42]

Perhaps some are missing the point. I made this to deal with the hourly hysteria coming from the right seat. This and some minor mental math takes care of it.

If this does not help you, feel free to ignore it.