When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Ok, here are the final MPG results. Basically we got 11.0 MPG for the whole trip, which is good in my opinion. But, I'd like to point out a significant difference. The 1st and last legs covered much the same ground and there's not enough elevation change to make much difference. In fact, on the last leg the boat was ~250 lbs heavier and we had significant side winds. But the 1st leg got 10.02 and the last got 11.26 MPG. Why? I believe it was in the fuel - 89 vs 91 octane.
Great report Gary! I might argue that a cross wind is almost the same as no wind, unless it's a quartering head-wind. None-the-less, this is an excellent bench mark to compare with our own rigs.
Thanks. I hope it answers a few questions, such as the effect of octane and altitude. Octane has a big effect and altitude doesn't, at least on the power output. I couldn't tell a bit of difference at 7000' vs 700'.
But I disagree on the wind. As the wind came up during the day I could see the MPG edge down. And I could feel the extra drag. Remember, I was babying it and not using cruise, so I could tell even minute differences. Plus I was monitoring boost, and could see it trending up as the wind came up.
I think you said somewhere in there that you were doing ~~ 65 MPH for most of the trip? In CA, vehicles pulling a trailer are limited to 55 MPH, (except where posted). Kind of an antiquated law, but it is what it is. I'm wondering if our mileage will be quite different at that speed? I actually run closer to 60 MPH, and the CHP seems to be quite lax on enforcing the law, but I don't like to push my luck. I haven't gotten a ticket in about 40 years or so...
Yes, I ran 65 MPH. I don't know what other states have as laws, but 65 was slow enough as we were passed many, many times by 18-wheelers going far faster than that.
But your MPG should be better at the slower speeds.
Yes, I ran 65 MPH. I don't know what other states have as laws, but 65 was slow enough as we were passed many, many times by 18-wheelers going far faster than that.
Actually, CA limits both vehicles pulling trailers AND big rigs to 55 MPH. So my clue about what speed is "acceptable" in a particular area is influenced by what the 18-wheelers are actually doing. If they're going 70, then the hammer can go down.
Well, drag is basically frontal area (or drag coefficient) times the square of the speed, so yes, slowing down will have a much bigger effect when towing than when not towing.
