First road trip in the SD
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Memphis
First road trip in the SD
Well, I have only put 2,000 miles on it in the 9 weeks I have had it. 850 of those were put on it this past weekend.
Memphis to Knoxville and then back to Memphis.
On the way up there I got 14.1 MPG (calculated by the tripmeter, not lie-o-meter) and on the 2nd and 3rd tanks I got 13.85 or so. Very disappointed. I know I wasn't going to get great mileage with it but better than 14 MPG. Main thing I can think of is the tires that were not properly rotated by the previous owner and the tread has not work evenly at all.
Here is what I am working with:
)
Thanks,
Geoff
Memphis to Knoxville and then back to Memphis.
On the way up there I got 14.1 MPG (calculated by the tripmeter, not lie-o-meter) and on the 2nd and 3rd tanks I got 13.85 or so. Very disappointed. I know I wasn't going to get great mileage with it but better than 14 MPG. Main thing I can think of is the tires that were not properly rotated by the previous owner and the tread has not work evenly at all.
Here is what I am working with:
- Mastercraft 285/70/16 tires @ 55 psi (cold); see note about tires above
- K&N air filter (I know they are not recommended [previous owner], but have not switched to the cylindrical NAPA filter "mod" thing)
- Averaged 80 MPH during the trip (when traffic was not slowing me down)
- 3.73's in the diffs
- No chip or programmer or anything...everything else is pretty much stock/factory
- The truck itself is in my sig
)Thanks,
Geoff
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Eastern CT.
I think backing it down to 70 mph or so will help you achieve better mpg,,about 2,000 rpm will help !
I know,,it's seems better to run at 80 mph and they do it with ease,,but mileage suffer's.
I know,,it's seems better to run at 80 mph and they do it with ease,,but mileage suffer's.
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Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
The biggest hit that you are going to take in the mpg department is how you drive. How do you do your starts and stops, you already said your interstate speed was round 80 you do need to bump that on down as that would greatly help you in that department. Tires do play a part, but you can compensate for that to a degree with how you drive(although it isn't the best case scenerio). Main thing is that you start and stop easy, don't treat every green light as the start of a new race and take your interstate cruising speed down a notch or two.
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: High Desert, So Cal
Mine is an 06 F350, crew cab, srw with 35" tires, 3.73 gears, and 21,000 miles. My normal driving is about 80% city / 20% highway where I get about 12/12.8 mpg. Just finshed a 900 mile round trip that was almost all highway and got 15.5 mpg at 74/75 mph just slightly under 2000 rpm. I guess it could be better but I'm not complaining. It's about the same as the F150 I traded in for it.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Troy,NY
Considering you were doing 80 mph you did pretty good getting 14 mpg. These trucks are made to haul some weight not get mileage. Heck my '99,4.0 Ranger only got around 16 mpg. You want to get better mileage get a Focus.
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From: Memphis
Originally Posted by Biggziff
80mph is your problem. Drive 62-65 and watch what happens.
I can't go under the speed limit like that. I am aware 80 mph is a huge hit on MPG but I was looking for ideas of what to check/change to to help me out when on a road trip (and doing 80MPH).
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From: Memphis
Originally Posted by ken75ranger
Considering you were doing 80 mph you did pretty good getting 14 mpg. These trucks are made to haul some weight not get mileage. Heck my '99,4.0 Ranger only got around 16 mpg. You want to get better mileage get a Focus.
As for the Focus, I said I wanted to try for better mileage. I didn't say I wanted 30+.
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From: Plano TX and Brentwood TN
Not doing 80, take what you can get and be happy with it. That is the price that you must pay for going that fast I'm afraid. Just out of curiosity what is so important that would cause such a desire to do 80?
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Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Stephensville WI
The truckers will not run you over. They give me every courtesy they extend to other semis when I am towing my trailer. I return the favor when appropriate.
Slow down a little and enjoy the road trip. The destination isn't always the good part, the journey can be just as entertaining.
Slow down a little and enjoy the road trip. The destination isn't always the good part, the journey can be just as entertaining.
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From: Memphis
Originally Posted by tex25025
Not doing 80, take what you can get and be happy with it. That is the price that you must pay for going that fast I'm afraid. Just out of curiosity what is so important that would cause such a desire to do 80?
Again, I am not looking to break 20 MPG or anything, just some things I could look at doing to get the best mileage possible. When I get new tires in the coming month, I am sure that will help. The current ones have had it.
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From: Memphis
Originally Posted by Excelerater
Memphis,im from Memphis....I musta missed ya
I make the trip to Knoxville often during the Fall for the football games.
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From: Memphis
Originally Posted by redford
The truckers will not run you over. They give me every courtesy they extend to other semis when I am towing my trailer. I return the favor when appropriate.
Slow down a little and enjoy the road trip. The destination isn't always the good part, the journey can be just as entertaining.
Slow down a little and enjoy the road trip. The destination isn't always the good part, the journey can be just as entertaining.
I wish I could figure out how to multi-quote.
Also, anyone think (or heard this before) that the bigshield could act like an air dam and create enough resistance to impact mileage?
Thanks guys.
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From: Stephensville WI
Last bugshield I had made the water drops on my windshield go down instead of up when driving down the freeway. I just couldn't leave it on, the water drops going down really irritated me.