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... Is about what you can expect when driving 80mph while bucking a 20-25mph wind in 10 degree weather.
This was after about 160 miles non stop driving, and one of the few times the truck was using 6th gear. Anything on the flats or uphill and the truck was in 5th. 6th was only useful for going down hills.
My fuel economy has been in the tank with the high winds and cold weather. Last couple of days my average has been about 14.5 MPG, and that's all highway. This truck downshifts before it runs out of power, which I think is to keep the engine out of inefficient high boost pressures, so I've seen 5th gear more than a few times.
Looks like we're gonna be in the negatives next week. Yippee.
Yeah, single digits right now but ill have a pretty stiff tail wind going home, so we will see where it ends up later today.
That 9.4 might have been a bit optimistic, too. The last 50 ish miles was at 70mph with the the same winds but quartering since I turned north. Several hills that made the truck drop to 4th gear to maintain speed. But, with the slower speed my average climbed to 9.7 on the display when I got gas.
220 miles total, added 23.? Gallons (too cold to care about decimals), so doing the math shows that the actual mph might be a bit lower than the display.
But, that assumes our pumps are properly calibrated, which I wouldn't bet on. Seems like when I use our pumps, the display doesn't match the math, but when I fill up at a commercial station, It is almost dead-nuts.
I will say that I was surprised how much wind comes under the dash with 100+mph winds (combined). I stayed plenty warm, but I had to keep the heater pretty well cranked the whole trip.
I'm not even ready for any temperatures like those. Seen enough living in Missouri for almost 50 years. But we're going to see the 20's at night for the next few nights. But at least the 40's during the daytime.
Did a bit better on the return trip. I let it idle about 15 min in the morning before driving 1/4 mile and shutting it off, so after a short drive from the fuel station and the idle time this morning I hit the highway with the display showing 8.x mpg.
After 220 miles and only one stop I was showing better than 15mpg.
This was driving at 75mph with a tail wind, but low 2 digit temps.
I'm always amazed how good of fuel mileage you can get with these trucks, and at the same time how much fuel they can consume, depending on what you are doing with them.
Russ-- I often look up the temps in anchorage for fun. Most often your temps are more moderate than ours .... Which makes me wonder why the hell I live here....
Russ-- I often look up the temps in anchorage for fun. Most often your temps are more moderate than ours .... Which makes me wonder why the hell I live here....
It really depends on the year, this is the first year in 3 that we are having normal temps! But january and Febuary are our coldest months. I remeber stretches of -20F temps for highs as a kit, don't recall that as much recently.
This week started out chilly but much more tolerable now. I still enjoyed -40F in Prudhoe Bay but luckily I was just doing sales work and not working out in it!
Since we are right on the coast the ocean temps play a large roll in moderating temps.
Nah, you get used to it. Takes 5-7 days for your body to acclimate to a new climate, so after a week up here you'd be good.
Today's our coldest day so far, with a high of 14*. We'll see -10* next week. Fuel economy is down, my tank today was 16.1 MPG, which is down from my summer average of around 19. This truck doesn't idle unless necessary to defrost the windshield. Started it up at 10* this morning and drove away within about three seconds.
I like to wait until it comes off the high-idle on it's own before driving away if possible.
unless I'm only going a short distance. I've had bad luck shutting off vehicles if they don't run long enough to at least show a little heat on the gauge.
Also had bad luck driving off in really cold weather if there isn't enough heat in the engine to keep the windshield clear. with enough warm bodies in the vehicle and if it's cold enough outside, I've had problems keeping the inside of the windshield clear. that only seems to happen when the temps get well below zero though, so on those days i'll idle a while until the gauge has moved off the cold mark. usually that's within 5 minutes.
though .... with the work truck ... I've idled it as long as 12 hours straight. got a job to do, and I'm required to be there .... not going to freeze my **** off doing it, or bake to death if it is hotter than blazes out.
I've had to take off with a cold truck before, my breath caused the windshield to freeze on the inside. Had to pull over and wait for enough heat to be able to see.
I idle the hell out of my trucks, I like to go from a 68-72F building and get into the same temp truck. Costs me a few extra bucks but my windows are always clear and I'm nice and warm.
So glad I park inside overnight or else my fuel bill would be higher haha
Tail winds and head winds out in the West do make a huge difference in MPG's. Not to mention the headwinds wear you out at the wheel, I hate driving into heavy headwinds.
12-07-2016, 02:44 PM
