MPG reality?
New User
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Not sure how you guys are getting those #'s towing anything. My 5.0 4wd scab 3:55 @70mph pulling a side by side on a 6x12(3klbs max) is getting 12mpg at best in a long flat section of florida highway.
I averaged 19.5 on a 200 mile trip of highway and traffic on I4, ran about 75 and some stopped traffic in orlando.
The trailer murdered the mpg.
I averaged 19.5 on a 200 mile trip of highway and traffic on I4, ran about 75 and some stopped traffic in orlando.
The trailer murdered the mpg.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
With 3,200 miles on the clock I'm starting to get some good data.
My driving is almost exclusively rural highway between 60-75 MPH, and my commute to work is 11 miles each way. Cold weather and wind certainly aren't helping my fuel economy, but on the nice days it's easy to get in the 20's. I'm happy with it.
My driving is almost exclusively rural highway between 60-75 MPH, and my commute to work is 11 miles each way. Cold weather and wind certainly aren't helping my fuel economy, but on the nice days it's easy to get in the 20's. I'm happy with it.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 360
From: Mts. S. of San Francisco
We drive up and down the mountain on a daily basis; about 15-20 miles each way and 2400' of elevation gain/loss. The worst we get is about 17 MPG calculating based on actual fuel used. The console is always between 1/2 ans 3/4 MPG better than what we calculate.
We just got back from a trip to Yosemite, which involved going across the San Joaquin valley and then up to ~~ 4000'. Round trip came to just over 21 MPG. It's way better than our Toyotas.
We just got back from a trip to Yosemite, which involved going across the San Joaquin valley and then up to ~~ 4000'. Round trip came to just over 21 MPG. It's way better than our Toyotas.
New User
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 20
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I got the 5.0V8, 3.31, S/C and my LOM is out by 5% on every tank . I'm getting 20.3miles/US gal for 80% highway/20% town
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
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From: Northeast, OK
I would guess that the LoM is the same unit for all trucks, regardless of engine. But, there has to be a setting that tells it how many cylinders the engine has so it can compute fuel flow.
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,889
Likes: 360
From: Mts. S. of San Francisco
You don't think there's a fuel transducer measuring thel actual fuel flow? Either that or it measures each squirt into each cylinder.
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Lead Driver
Joined: May 2015
Posts: 5,889
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From: Mts. S. of San Francisco
That would make sense, but it would seem to be really difficult to make that accurate enough. None-the-less, there should be a setting somewhere in the OBD system (or related) that allows you to adjust the calibration on that. No doubt that there is a stock setting, and that it seems like it effectively, consistently under-measures the amount of fuel being metered.
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 25,479
Likes: 742
From: Isanti, MN
Took my first trip in the new truck this weekend. It was 1410 miles to Toledo, OH and back over the course of two days. Temperatures were between 20-40 for the majority of the trip, and it was relatively windy. On the way down I cruised at 75 MPH and the gauge settled in around 17.5 MPG. On the way home today I slowed down to 70 and the LoM showed 19.6 when I got home. Actual hand-calc for that tank was 19.1.
The truck is rated for 23 MPG highway, but mine has 3.55 gears which certainly doesn't help. With the chilly temps and wind I'm perfectly happy with how it did.
FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 32,875
Likes: 48
From: Northeast, OK
I agree - it would be too expensive to use fuel flow transducer to determine how much fuel is used. So, I'd bet they use pressure and time, as was said. And, I'm sure there is a parameter somewhere in the system to tweak - if we only knew where and had access.
I'll be posting my Tulsa/STL/Tulsa results soon. But, on the way up I cruised at 73-78 MPH depending on the speed limit and the LoM said I got about 17.5 MPG. On the way back, today, I drove 67 MPG all the way in the 4wd automatic setting due to the fact that it rained every inch of the way, and HARD at times. And I know it supplied power to the front wheels as I felt it grab a couple of times and the Power Distribution display showed it powering the front wheels frequently. But, at that speed the LoM showed 19.1 at the end of the trip.
I'll be posting my Tulsa/STL/Tulsa results soon. But, on the way up I cruised at 73-78 MPH depending on the speed limit and the LoM said I got about 17.5 MPG. On the way back, today, I drove 67 MPG all the way in the 4wd automatic setting due to the fact that it rained every inch of the way, and HARD at times. And I know it supplied power to the front wheels as I felt it grab a couple of times and the Power Distribution display showed it powering the front wheels frequently. But, at that speed the LoM showed 19.1 at the end of the trip.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 24,724
Likes: 74
From: Blue Hill Township
I agree - it would be too expensive to use fuel flow transducer to determine how much fuel is used. So, I'd bet they use pressure and time, as was said. And, I'm sure there is a parameter somewhere in the system to tweak - if we only knew where and had access.
I'll be posting my Tulsa/STL/Tulsa results soon. But, on the way up I cruised at 73-78 MPH depending on the speed limit and the LoM said I got about 17.5 MPG. On the way back, today, I drove 67 MPG all the way in the 4wd automatic setting due to the fact that it rained every inch of the way, and HARD at times. And I know it supplied power to the front wheels as I felt it grab a couple of times and the Power Distribution display showed it powering the front wheels frequently. But, at that speed the LoM showed 19.1 at the end of the trip.
I'll be posting my Tulsa/STL/Tulsa results soon. But, on the way up I cruised at 73-78 MPH depending on the speed limit and the LoM said I got about 17.5 MPG. On the way back, today, I drove 67 MPG all the way in the 4wd automatic setting due to the fact that it rained every inch of the way, and HARD at times. And I know it supplied power to the front wheels as I felt it grab a couple of times and the Power Distribution display showed it powering the front wheels frequently. But, at that speed the LoM showed 19.1 at the end of the trip.
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Josh