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Old 01-06-2005, 12:42 AM
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Where did my mpg go?

Evening folks,

So my family made it to illinois and now were back in cali for the rest of my enlistment, but my mpg has gone to H#$@, and im not joking, i've lost more then 60 miles off the tank......Could it be like the earlier thread....just winter time gas?
I just turned over 17000 miles, and now im lucky to get 300 a tank, was getting 350/375 by time the light came on.....
2004 heritage
AirHog filter
Flowmaster 40s.
   
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Old 01-06-2005, 10:24 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bucks-heritage
Evening folks,

So my family made it to illinois and now were back in cali for the rest of my enlistment, but my mpg has gone to H#$@, and im not joking, i've lost more then 60 miles off the tank......Could it be like the earlier thread....just winter time gas?
I just turned over 17000 miles, and now im lucky to get 300 a tank, was getting 350/375 by time the light came on.....
2004 heritage
AirHog filter
Flowmaster 40s.

You and I are in the same boat. My truck averaged a record (for me anyways) 15.5 mpg last tank from full to empty. That's over 350 miles...this time I'm looking to get around 300 miles. I don't really get it either, but these newer model V6's seem to have a mind of their own.
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Old 01-06-2005, 12:16 PM
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It very well could be the quality of gas you are buying, the different types of additives they use in different states. I know that when they switch from Ethanol to MTBE, it can affec your gas mileage. The funny thing is, my '00 Supercab, which has more hp than the newer ones (205, vice 202), just got 398.7 miles on 20.4 gallons of gas. Thats 19.5 MPG. I could easily go over 400 miles on a tank, as a I didnt even have the gas light on. I dont really know what to tell you.

Garrett

PS Before anyone asks, here are my current mods:
Zirgo electric fan
MAC Headers
Gibson cat back
Poweraid TBS (still havent taken it off)
Volant intake
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Old 01-06-2005, 04:13 PM
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Quote:
Poweraid TBS (still havent taken it off)

Heck at over 20 mpg's I wouldn't take it off either!
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Old 01-06-2005, 05:31 PM
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I only have 3 bolts in it...so I should do something about it.....

But...what ponders my noodle, is, why does my supercab truck get so much better than a lot of the other regular cabs? I weigh nearly 4500 or so with me in it. And I carpool with a 260 pound guy. SO, in reality....why does a near 5000 pound truck out perform ( in a mpg manner) other smaller, lighter trucks?

Garrett
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Old 01-06-2005, 06:36 PM
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mines a super cab, i was told thatford truck run betteroff crappy gas....any one else here that
?
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Old 01-06-2005, 09:38 PM
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lets see here....

I've got a 00 RCAB 5spd, and lately i've been getting around 300-325 when the light goes on. Normally i get 350-375 till the light, and 400 when I start getting really nervous.

I have noticed, though, that I don't warm up as well as normal, the cold weather keeps me in bed longer, therefore leaving for work later. I have also lost my patience a bit, and have been gunning it a bit more.

Garrett, how you get such great mileage is unknown to me. I've got the RCAB, and I'm only 190 lbs (which is a lot since i'm only 4'8")

Buck, i've never heard of crappy gas running well in ford trucks. There's a place in poway with real cheap gas, I'll fill up and try it!

***off topic*** buck, i've decided to lift my truck, and save the bags for when i get an SUV. i still want to do some shaving, and roll pan, if you're down to help.

rman
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Old 01-07-2005, 10:34 AM
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Garrett, that stirs my noodle (or lack thereof in some cases) also...

Of course, now that I have the 4.10's in my MPG is going to SUUUUCK. But hey, I knew that going in to it.

I think it's because you have a studmuffin truck, and we all have pimp-mobilz. stupmuffins get better mileage but no chics...pimpmobilz get chics but no mileage!
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Old 01-07-2005, 10:37 AM
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Im going to break down and put the high octane in, see what happens...


4.2, sure, i just injoy doing the stuff.......getting paid dosnt hurt either....
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Old 01-07-2005, 11:09 AM
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Buck, i think you heard that the trucks run better on low octane gas, not crappier gas, which is true. The trucks ECU is programmed to utilize 87 octanes flash point, combustion something, etc. Using higher octane doesnt necessarily bet you better performance or mileage, unless you are programmed for it.

Manster, I dont get it either. I mean...I do have some mods..as listed above, with 3.55:1 gear ratio. I dont think its driving habits so much, as I go up to 80 on the way to and from work, in order to pass hay trucks.

Brian, if you are around, any ideas????

Garrett
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Old 01-07-2005, 11:35 AM
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this is true......but where is the good gas.....i fill up mut of the time on base (camp pendleton) or at AMPM......the shell station is WAY to expesive......
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Old 01-07-2005, 12:00 PM
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There are only like 6 actual manufacturers of gas. It is really from the same place, its just what level of the tank each distributor gets.

When I was stationed on a boat, we had fuel testing equipment for our Helo's. I took a sample of chevron 87 octane and compared it to the quality of the no-name gas station down the street. As far as quality, the gas is the basically the same. The biggest difference was the impurities. The chevron had < 2ppm, whereas the no name place had < 5ppm. Basically, it was dirtier gas. Sediment and other things can hurt your fuel enconomy and performance.

We too have a gas station at Petaluma. Simply go ask the clerk what gas they have in their contract. We get chevron up here. Chances are, you get the same quality gas on-base, that you would 3 blocks away.

Garrett
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Old 01-07-2005, 02:26 PM
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The shell station is right off the highway, thats why there $.50 more, if i knew that 2 blocks down it was that much cheper, and had just filled up....talk about upset....
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Old 01-07-2005, 03:24 PM
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Hmm, that would explain why my gas sucks...I use nothing but 93 octane.
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Old 01-07-2005, 03:46 PM
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$0.50 more?!? that's a lot!
The miramar base is usually never more than .10-.15 cheaper than off base. I think they have to keep some prestige ever since the whole maverick and goose incident. I never gas up there though, i'm a dependant, and can't get on base anymore since I've turned 24. But that's where my parents still gas up.
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