Notices
6.0L Power Stroke Diesel 2003 - 2007 F250, F350 pickup and F350+ Cab Chassis, 2003 - 2005 Excursion and 2003 - 2009 van

Gas Mileage vs. Throttle Usage

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 17, 2006 | 10:41 AM
  #1  
PSDiesel60's Avatar
PSDiesel60
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL.
Gas Mileage vs. Throttle Usage

I thought this would be an interesting thread to start, to see the most efficient way to drive. Has anyone compared their mileage driving like grandma with very little acceleration to driving with more accelearation. So the scenarios are...

1. Use little acceleration to get up to speed, so you spend more time accelerating, therefore burning fuel for a longer period of time.

2. Use heavier acceleration, so you get up to speed quicker, but burn more for a short time.

Just a thought that would be interesting to know... I can't keep my foot out of it anyway, so I'm a bad tester
 
Reply
Old Dec 17, 2006 | 10:44 AM
  #2  
phish555's Avatar
phish555
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 400
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Try using the tach for you test. Keep it under 2k for city. I try to do that as much as I can. It works pretty good. On the Highway at 75mph, Im just over 2k.
 
Reply
Old Dec 17, 2006 | 11:06 AM
  #3  
eb2006's Avatar
eb2006
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Snohomish, WA
I don't think I could ever drive "like a grandma" enough to calculate my mpg, it would drive me crazy! However, the one thing I did try, that was very difficult, was to drive no faster than 65mph on a 320 trip (all freeway in a 70mph zone) and then do the same trip going 72mph (both times with cruise on). Going 65mph I got 19.5mpg and when I did 72mph, I got 18.7mpg. I have only tried this once however I believe the results. Wind drag makes a difference!

I think will will continue putting my foot in it to make sure my turbo stays clean!
 
Reply
Old Dec 17, 2006 | 11:14 AM
  #4  
Beachbumcook's Avatar
Beachbumcook
Got Diesel?
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,345
Likes: 21
When in top gear the magic number is 2,000 rpm's.

I find that if I cruice at 70mph (tach is at 1,900 - 2,000) then I get 18 - 19mpg highway in the summer.

If I cruise at 75 - 80mph and the tach is at 2,200 - 2,600 rpm's, I get 16mpg highway.

I have just learned to lock it in at 73mph with the cruise as this (with a 3.73 rear-end) gets me my best mileage and just fast enough that I can cruise in the right lane or even pass a few people.

With a 3.73 rear-end... 2,000rpm's is the max for bet mileage... and of course... if one drove 55 - 60mph then they would get better mileage... but who's going to drive that slow.
 
Reply
Old Dec 17, 2006 | 02:22 PM
  #5  
NavyPowerstroker's Avatar
NavyPowerstroker
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
From: Mililani, Hawaii
2000 should be the magic number as stated. This is where our trucks produce the peak torque. So with that said that would be where the least amount of load is on the engine, giving you better fuel mileage.
 
Reply
Old Dec 17, 2006 | 06:57 PM
  #6  
50calmike's Avatar
50calmike
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
From: Eastern Ohio
I have tried keeping under 2000rpm in town but is insanely slow to get to speed, and besides that it is just too hard to not put my foot in it. I Filled up today and averaged 10mpg empty and am hoping that the 35's have something to do with that. I've got some stock michelins on the way hopefully they will help remedy this.
 
Reply
Old Dec 17, 2006 | 08:44 PM
  #7  
tex25025's Avatar
tex25025
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 10,626
Likes: 7
From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Unfortunately having the 4.10 gears, I can't do 70 and keep it at or under 2000 rpms, I have to do between 60-65 in order to stay at that magical number. I have found out that I can do that when I'm pulling the horses or anything extremely heavy, but I just can't do that when I'm empty or pulling some trees. I'm not getting any younger, besides that, someone has to let the car driving people know that diesels have more horsepower then their dinky four cyclinders(and even some drivers of stock v8 cars have had wide eyes as I have gone by)
 
Reply
Old Dec 18, 2006 | 12:37 AM
  #8  
NavyPowerstroker's Avatar
NavyPowerstroker
More Turbo
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 589
Likes: 0
From: Mililani, Hawaii
Originally Posted by 50calmike
I have tried keeping under 2000rpm in town but is insanely slow to get to speed, and besides that it is just too hard to not put my foot in it. I Filled up today and averaged 10mpg empty and am hoping that the 35's have something to do with that. I've got some stock michelins on the way hopefully they will help remedy this.
I have 35's on my truck and have never got that bad of mileage. Might want to look into that a little further.
 
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:05 PM.