100 Mile MPG Challenge...
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 266
Likes: 1
From: Sunshine Coast, BC
How about an almost-1,000 mi challenge?
This was my 2011 F350 LWB, 3.31, 275/70R18. Definitely no re-gens but every imaginable kind of driving during that: freeway, highway, stop-go, city, loaded, unloaded, lots of up and over mountains.
When I finally filled up that tank I had the following hand-calculated:
1,198 miles, 56.348 gal = 21.26 MPG.
Often got hand-calculated tanks in the high 21s to high 22s. Never got a 23.
I loved that truck.
This was my 2011 F350 LWB, 3.31, 275/70R18. Definitely no re-gens but every imaginable kind of driving during that: freeway, highway, stop-go, city, loaded, unloaded, lots of up and over mountains.
When I finally filled up that tank I had the following hand-calculated:
1,198 miles, 56.348 gal = 21.26 MPG.
Often got hand-calculated tanks in the high 21s to high 22s. Never got a 23.
I loved that truck.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 851
Likes: 14
How about an almost-1,000 mi challenge?
This was my 2011 F350 LWB, 3.31, 275/70R18. Definitely no re-gens but every imaginable kind of driving during that: freeway, highway, stop-go, city, loaded, unloaded, lots of up and over mountains.
When I finally filled up that tank I had the following hand-calculated:
1,198 miles, 56.348 gal = 21.26 MPG.
Often got hand-calculated tanks in the high 21s to high 22s. Never got a 23.
I loved that truck.
This was my 2011 F350 LWB, 3.31, 275/70R18. Definitely no re-gens but every imaginable kind of driving during that: freeway, highway, stop-go, city, loaded, unloaded, lots of up and over mountains.
When I finally filled up that tank I had the following hand-calculated:
1,198 miles, 56.348 gal = 21.26 MPG.
Often got hand-calculated tanks in the high 21s to high 22s. Never got a 23.
I loved that truck.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 2
From: Connecticut
Something to ponder.
I normally buy my diesel in MA., but for the last month I have been buying it in CT because it was cheaper. Now the prices in MA have gone back down I am buying back in MA.
Here's the clincher. I get 17 to 19 on CT diesel. I get 21 to 23 on MA diesel.
Over the years I have noticed I get better mpg with Massachusetts diesel.
Does anyone know why?
I normally buy my diesel in MA., but for the last month I have been buying it in CT because it was cheaper. Now the prices in MA have gone back down I am buying back in MA.
Here's the clincher. I get 17 to 19 on CT diesel. I get 21 to 23 on MA diesel.
Over the years I have noticed I get better mpg with Massachusetts diesel.
Does anyone know why?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 6,521
Likes: 11
From: Greenwood, SC
Could be bio blend vs. non bio blend fuel? Some versions of diesel fuel have less btu value than others. Basically if you had 1 ounce of fuel from both locations and burned that ounce in a controlled environment, the better fuel would give you a higher temperature and/or burn longer than the other.
Maybe you could google it and see what the difference is between the two states' fuel regulations.
Maybe you could google it and see what the difference is between the two states' fuel regulations.
Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 238
Likes: 30
From: Keller, TX
My best was 21.5 on from just north of Pittsburgh to Buffalo, NY, the first year I had it. That was with stock tire and no cap. Mileage dropped with the Nitto's and the cap to averaging around 17 on the highway, but after the new flash I have flirted with 20, but have been averaging a little over 18 mpg highway. The flash seems to have hurt city mileage a bit.
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 551
Likes: 19
I also add the Deere diesel fuel additive to every gallon(blended for them by Stanadyne), I don't know if it helps with MPG but it is a demulsifier along with cetane improver, and added lubricity.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 263
Likes: 2
From: Rural Sumter Co. Georgia
I use mostly BP. Only one kind locally. No "supreme", just diesel with minimum cetane listed at 40. What the real cetane rating is unknown, but my guess would be 40.
I have tried 3 different "lubricity and cetane booster" additives seeing no appreciable difference. Of course there are a huge number of variables.
I got almost 19 mpg today on mostly highway driving in 95 degree F (35 for our Canadian contingent) and still have not more than 6100 miles (9817 kilometers) since new. Perhaps more miles will help.
Or not.
I reckon some trucks are better on fuel than others. I have one of the 'tweeners.
Oh well, as the saying goes, "I didn't buy truck for fuel economy".
I have tried 3 different "lubricity and cetane booster" additives seeing no appreciable difference. Of course there are a huge number of variables.
I got almost 19 mpg today on mostly highway driving in 95 degree F (35 for our Canadian contingent) and still have not more than 6100 miles (9817 kilometers) since new. Perhaps more miles will help.
Or not.
I reckon some trucks are better on fuel than others. I have one of the 'tweeners.
Oh well, as the saying goes, "I didn't buy truck for fuel economy".
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 3,778
Likes: 153
What can your truck do?
I'll start:
100 miles at 23.4 MPG, mostly highway with a lot of rolling hills. Came to a complete stop four or five times going through town at traffic lights. 2015 FX4 King Ranch, SRW, long bed, crew cab. Used cruise control the first 80-ish miles. I think I could have done a bit better if I hadn't used the cruise at all.
As a side note I noticed earlier today that my hubs were locked from the factory... unlocked them before this run and definitely picked up a bit of extra mileage.
And before anyone calls it a lie-o-meter, the computer is scary accurate. I also hand calculate and fill the tank up to the filler neck. The amount of gallons put in by the pump is almost always the exact amount the computer says it used.
I'll start:
100 miles at 23.4 MPG, mostly highway with a lot of rolling hills. Came to a complete stop four or five times going through town at traffic lights. 2015 FX4 King Ranch, SRW, long bed, crew cab. Used cruise control the first 80-ish miles. I think I could have done a bit better if I hadn't used the cruise at all.
As a side note I noticed earlier today that my hubs were locked from the factory... unlocked them before this run and definitely picked up a bit of extra mileage.
And before anyone calls it a lie-o-meter, the computer is scary accurate. I also hand calculate and fill the tank up to the filler neck. The amount of gallons put in by the pump is almost always the exact amount the computer says it used.
I think Ford would buy back that truck from you just to see how its done...
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 613
Likes: 1
I've been hand calculating my fuel since my truck was new and I'm up to 18k miles now. The best economy I've ever gotten was 18.28 running empty mostly highway (stock conti tires), and the worst was 10.62 pulling a 6k boat/trailer combo and about 1000lbs in the bed on a camping trip mostly highway with rolling hills.
My lifetime average according to the lie-o-meter is 16.3 but my hand calculated average is 15.74. I believe that there is way more economy in these trucks, but until the EPA mandates it we'll never see it. I can still get better mileage in my 1990 Cummins Ram, but it's not as comfortable to drive and has no AC so I won't complain about my mileage.
My lifetime average according to the lie-o-meter is 16.3 but my hand calculated average is 15.74. I believe that there is way more economy in these trucks, but until the EPA mandates it we'll never see it. I can still get better mileage in my 1990 Cummins Ram, but it's not as comfortable to drive and has no AC so I won't complain about my mileage.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 4,517
Likes: 3
From: SE Wyoming
I can play the Lie O meter game with the best of them:
Easy to make it say whatever you want.
I will say I am impressed with how much better the '15 6.7L in stock form does over this deleted '08 mileage wise.
Easy to make it say whatever you want.
I will say I am impressed with how much better the '15 6.7L in stock form does over this deleted '08 mileage wise.
New User
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
So not to play the one-up game, but here is my 100,000 mile challenge. I have been using trip meter B for the entire life of my truck to date to keep track of overall fuel economy thoughout my ownership experience. I have checked each tank for accuracy and usually find the lie-o-meter is accurate within 2% (usually on the low side) so I feel the trip meter is fairly accurate. For the curious or non-believers, my truck is a 2011 (build 2), crew cab, 4x4, 3.31 axle with a topper installed. I drive mostly back roads without many stops and starts but have lived up north for about half the truck's life with winter blend diesel. I only tow about 10% of the time and usually with moderate loads below 8,000 lbs. Overall, I have been very satisfied with machine's power and fuel economy. 19.9 MPG over 100k miles definitely exceeded my expectations when I bought this truck and it still puts a smile on my face every day.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,834
Likes: 25
From: Middle Tn.
I've been hand calculating my fuel since my truck was new and I'm up to 18k miles now. The best economy I've ever gotten was 18.28 running empty mostly highway (stock conti tires), and the worst was 10.62 pulling a 6k boat/trailer combo and about 1000lbs in the bed on a camping trip mostly highway with rolling hills.
My lifetime average according to the lie-o-meter is 16.3 but my hand calculated average is 15.74. I believe that there is way more economy in these trucks, but until the EPA mandates it we'll never see it. I can still get better mileage in my 1990 Cummins Ram, but it's not as comfortable to drive and has no AC so I won't complain about my mileage.
My lifetime average according to the lie-o-meter is 16.3 but my hand calculated average is 15.74. I believe that there is way more economy in these trucks, but until the EPA mandates it we'll never see it. I can still get better mileage in my 1990 Cummins Ram, but it's not as comfortable to drive and has no AC so I won't complain about my mileage.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 851
Likes: 14
I normally average 17-18 MPG on the highway driving normal, 70-75, lots of hills.
I hooked up a 30' car hauler, empty, that weighs just under 4000lbs and drove the same route, 360 miles. My mileage plummeted to 10.5 MPG... very disappointed. My 2003 7.3 gets 8 MPG grossing 23,000lbs.
I hooked up a 30' car hauler, empty, that weighs just under 4000lbs and drove the same route, 360 miles. My mileage plummeted to 10.5 MPG... very disappointed. My 2003 7.3 gets 8 MPG grossing 23,000lbs.
Thread Starter
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 851
Likes: 14
So not to play the one-up game, but here is my 100,000 mile challenge. I have been using trip meter B for the entire life of my truck to date to keep track of overall fuel economy thoughout my ownership experience. I have checked each tank for accuracy and usually find the lie-o-meter is accurate within 2% (usually on the low side) so I feel the trip meter is fairly accurate. For the curious or non-believers, my truck is a 2011 (build 2), crew cab, 4x4, 3.31 axle with a topper installed. I drive mostly back roads without many stops and starts but have lived up north for about half the truck's life with winter blend diesel. I only tow about 10% of the time and usually with moderate loads below 8,000 lbs. Overall, I have been very satisfied with machine's power and fuel economy. 19.9 MPG over 100k miles definitely exceeded my expectations when I bought this truck and it still puts a smile on my face every day.
That is extremely impressive!!! I bet you would have been pissed if some yahoo at the dealership reset your trip meter while in for a service.