7 mpg??
Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
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From: laporte in
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 120
Likes: 2
From: Newhall, California
I get a consistent 13mpg highway empty, and 7-9 towing my trailer depending on the time of year and where I’m going. Anything you tow will not only have the weight to deal with but the drag. I do have 33- 11 tires and 430 gears though and anything over 70 kills the gas mileage. Unfortunately, you sound like your right in the ball park with everyone else.
Tuned
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 287
Likes: 1
I spent some time Google'ing this morning regarding ethanol blended gasoline.
While the EPA reports that only a 3% reduction should be expected with E10 (what the heck do they know, though, right?), most of the actual reports I've seen is that a reduction of at least 10% is to be expected.
Being the engineer that I am, sounds like a controlled experiment is in order!
While the EPA reports that only a 3% reduction should be expected with E10 (what the heck do they know, though, right?), most of the actual reports I've seen is that a reduction of at least 10% is to be expected.
Being the engineer that I am, sounds like a controlled experiment is in order!
I can't find any stations here that sell 100% gas?
Going with a 5Star tune may be your best bet, it sure helped my truck get 1 mpg more.
I get 9.2 towing a 9K 5th wheel.
11.5 average empty
Just made a return trip from So Cal and got 14.7 mpg. (empty) My overhead monitor still reads 14.5.
Going with a 5Star tune may be your best bet, it sure helped my truck get 1 mpg more.
I get 9.2 towing a 9K 5th wheel.
11.5 average empty
Just made a return trip from So Cal and got 14.7 mpg. (empty) My overhead monitor still reads 14.5.
fwiw, I recently tried some premium w/o eth as thats all I have available locally, haven't driven enough to get any solid data in the truck yet, but its a noticeable improvement in smaller motors (motorcycles etc)
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 367
Likes: 0
From: Plover, WI
How much idle time did you have? What was your starting elevation? And why OD locked out at 45-50mph empty? I have 3.73 gears with 285 tires, my truck turns ~1350rpm at 45 mph, n loves it in town. I have never gotten below 9.5 mpg, hand calculated, since I've owned the truck. Either pulling 9k lbs worth of trailer, or tons of idling at or below 0*. Also, the closer I keep the truck to 65 mph, the higher and more consistent the mpg is.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 120
Likes: 2
From: Newhall, California
My truck has 430 gears and with 285’s turns about 2350 @ 70. I try not to go over 70 since the mileage takes a real hit. Still I get around 13 highway and about 9 in town empty. The only time I turn off the OD is when towing. Then when I’m on the freeway with flat ground and with no traffic I’ll turn it back on just to drop the RPM’s to 2K @ 60MPH. otherwise its 2500 RPM’s at 60, and that really hurts the mileage
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,000
Likes: 39
From: North Dakota
It really does all depend on configuration. I'm running 4:30 gears, 285/75 16 tires with 5 star tune. In 87 performance mode the best mpg I've had is 8.65 in town. If I drive it hard I get around 6mpg. Every time I hit the highway I'm towing so I never try or care to calculate my highway MPG.
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 705
Likes: 12
From: Taxachusetts
don't know about rust issues in boise, but here in taxachusetts it's bad. when I 1st got my v10 I averaged 12mpg in the winter stock everything with new exhaust manifolds. 1 1/2 years later about 8 in the summer and 5-6 in the winter or towing.
short story long, I pulled the bed to weld in some homemade bed supports and found the vent tube that connects the 2 high spots of the tank had rotted away. since I repaired it fuel "economy" is back up to 11 and power is back. from underneath I couldn't see, feel it as it's between the frame and the tank, tucked into the frame rail C . could only smell gas vapor when it was full/almost full.
good luck!
short story long, I pulled the bed to weld in some homemade bed supports and found the vent tube that connects the 2 high spots of the tank had rotted away. since I repaired it fuel "economy" is back up to 11 and power is back. from underneath I couldn't see, feel it as it's between the frame and the tank, tucked into the frame rail C . could only smell gas vapor when it was full/almost full.
good luck!
Last edited by samsdad02; Dec 1, 2012 at 09:06 AM. Reason: clarification
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,595
Likes: 0
From: IL
Star tron enzyme is the bomb for this ethanol bs. Hard to find in concentrate though. Check with your local marina's or online for the 32oz "concentrate" which will treat up to 512 gal/per.
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Tuned
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 287
Likes: 1
No issues this spring with any small engines , and thats unusual for me
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 445
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I think you all are concentrating on the wrong variable. The truck got 7 mpg so it has to be the truck right?
If the truck received a serious reduction in MPG by pulling a small open trailer then I would suspect an issue with the trailer.
Does the trailer have electric brakes? If yes, are they dragging?
How about the wheel bearings?
Is the axle on the trailer in proper alignment. How about the trailer tires? are they in good condition?
Is there a ramp on the trailer? If yes, Is the ramp solid or of a mesh design?
In other words, I would make sure the trailer is fine first before spending $$ trying to resolve a problem with the V10 that doesn't exist.
My V10 gets 7.5 MPG towing a 7000 lb travel trailer in 3rd gear. In OD I get 8.5 mpg.
Something appears to be wrong IMHO.
If the truck received a serious reduction in MPG by pulling a small open trailer then I would suspect an issue with the trailer.
Does the trailer have electric brakes? If yes, are they dragging?
How about the wheel bearings?
Is the axle on the trailer in proper alignment. How about the trailer tires? are they in good condition?
Is there a ramp on the trailer? If yes, Is the ramp solid or of a mesh design?
In other words, I would make sure the trailer is fine first before spending $$ trying to resolve a problem with the V10 that doesn't exist.
My V10 gets 7.5 MPG towing a 7000 lb travel trailer in 3rd gear. In OD I get 8.5 mpg.
Something appears to be wrong IMHO.
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Elder User
Joined: Jul 2005
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No brakes on the trailer.
I just re-packed the bearings on the trailer this year, they're fine.
There's no ramp on the back at all, it's a 7x12 flat-top.
Axle alignment is good. The reason I know this is that one of the bolts securing the leaf springs to the axle broke this past summer during a ride down a rough gravel road. So I had to fix that and ensure good axle alignment during the repair.
What are the stats on your truck? (your sig is missing) Year, model, 2 or 4wd, axle ratio, tire size, stock software or 5-star?
I'm convinced that in order to improve my mileage at all, I need to a) get Mike's tunes (I'm planning to get this done during the current year-end sale) and b) perform an axle swap from 3.73 to 4.30 or 4.56.
I called 2 local shops last week and they both quoted me right at $2000 for both front and rear axles for 3.73 to 4.30 swap. I need to start pricing out the parts and tools required to know how much it would cost me to do it myself.
I just re-packed the bearings on the trailer this year, they're fine.
There's no ramp on the back at all, it's a 7x12 flat-top.
Axle alignment is good. The reason I know this is that one of the bolts securing the leaf springs to the axle broke this past summer during a ride down a rough gravel road. So I had to fix that and ensure good axle alignment during the repair.
What are the stats on your truck? (your sig is missing) Year, model, 2 or 4wd, axle ratio, tire size, stock software or 5-star?
I'm convinced that in order to improve my mileage at all, I need to a) get Mike's tunes (I'm planning to get this done during the current year-end sale) and b) perform an axle swap from 3.73 to 4.30 or 4.56.
I called 2 local shops last week and they both quoted me right at $2000 for both front and rear axles for 3.73 to 4.30 swap. I need to start pricing out the parts and tools required to know how much it would cost me to do it myself.
More Turbo
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 705
Likes: 12
From: Taxachusetts
I have the same truck CC 4x4 lb auto 3.73 with the stock 235/85/16 tires.
I too convinced myself I needed mikes tunes. they did not make a difference for fuel economy, power was slightly up with the 93 performance tune. the tranny does shift better. I try to get the best economy I can, altough if I need to merge or pull in to traffic I ain't scared (anymore) but thats not to often, although pulling into traffic with a one legger on the 93 performance tune usually results in more tire spin than acceleration.
I have changed most of the sensors on the engine, both o2s, all the brake calipers, all the fluids to synthetics, all the plugs twice, all the coils, cat converter, ujoints, I'm sure I forgot stuff. the only that brought my mpgs back to what (almost) is replacing the vent lines on the air expansion parts of the tank.
I too convinced myself I needed mikes tunes. they did not make a difference for fuel economy, power was slightly up with the 93 performance tune. the tranny does shift better. I try to get the best economy I can, altough if I need to merge or pull in to traffic I ain't scared (anymore) but thats not to often, although pulling into traffic with a one legger on the 93 performance tune usually results in more tire spin than acceleration.
I have changed most of the sensors on the engine, both o2s, all the brake calipers, all the fluids to synthetics, all the plugs twice, all the coils, cat converter, ujoints, I'm sure I forgot stuff. the only that brought my mpgs back to what (almost) is replacing the vent lines on the air expansion parts of the tank.
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