Poor Fuel Mileage
07-15-2003, 11:48 AM
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Poor Fuel Mileage
Hey, I need some help. I am getting really poor fuel mileage. I am getting 14 mpg on a combination of city and highway driving. This is with my truck empty and not hauling. I cleaned my IAT sensor and no luck. I have the 4:10 gears so I thought maybe that was it. Could it be my lift pump? If it was wouldn't I notice a decrease in performance? I have no idea what to do but it just doesn't seem right. I just filled up and I am getting 13.5 mpg but I was pretty heavy on the throttle for that tank. Any ideas? Thanks
07-15-2003, 11:55 AM
#2
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Re:Poor Fuel Mileage
Fill the tank, go for an extended Highway trip.
Stay around 2000 RPM.
Recheck Milage.
Glue a couple of thumb tacks (pointy side up) to the throttle pedal,......drive barefooted......your milage WILL improve.
4:10s are for moving stuff. ;D..........3:55s are for milage.
If I drive "normal" (not my usual style) I can see 15-16 around town.
It's not a truck.......it's a 7,000 lb sports car with an 8 foot trunk. ;D ;D ;D
Stay around 2000 RPM.
Recheck Milage.
Glue a couple of thumb tacks (pointy side up) to the throttle pedal,......drive barefooted......your milage WILL improve.
4:10s are for moving stuff. ;D..........3:55s are for milage.
If I drive "normal" (not my usual style) I can see 15-16 around town.
It's not a truck.......it's a 7,000 lb sports car with an 8 foot trunk. ;D ;D ;D
07-15-2003, 12:01 PM
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Re:Poor Fuel Mileage
[quote author=Shovelhead link=board=13;threadid=17099;start=0#160156 date=1058288146]It's not a truck.......it's a 7,000 lb sports car with an 8 foot trunk. ;D ;D ;D<br>[/quote]<br><br>Good point!!! I just wish I could say 16 or 18 ;D ;D<br><br>Ok, someone with 3:55's, what speed are u at when you run 2000 rpm's? <br><br>
07-15-2003, 12:19 PM
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Re:Poor Fuel Mileage
"4x4, auto, CTD 24 valve. 4:10's and 14 mpg EMPTY."
UNH - HUHHhhhh...
4x4 = 2 MPG or so loss, compared to 2x4...
4:10's - another 1-2 mpg....
Heavy foot - probably another couple of MPG...
Do you REALLY want better MPG?
Go to a 2x4, lose the 4:10's, and drive less aggressively...
I get consistent 19-20 MPG in mixed country, city travel with the truck listed below, better than 21 MPG empty on the freeway - NO, you CAN'T have your cake (4x4, 4:10's and hard driving) and then expect to eat it too - ain't gonna happen! ;D ;D
Guys just KEEP ON trying to bend the laws of physics - a heavier drivetrain with more parasitic drag, low gears that force the engine to turn at higher RPM, and then use of a heavy foot WILL not, CAN NOT deliver the same economy as a similar 2 wheel drive, higher geared vehicle driven conservatively - but we constantly see fellas with the 4x4's and 4:10's trying to - and THEN wondering why it won't happen...
UNH - HUHHhhhh...
4x4 = 2 MPG or so loss, compared to 2x4...
4:10's - another 1-2 mpg....
Heavy foot - probably another couple of MPG...
Do you REALLY want better MPG?
Go to a 2x4, lose the 4:10's, and drive less aggressively...
I get consistent 19-20 MPG in mixed country, city travel with the truck listed below, better than 21 MPG empty on the freeway - NO, you CAN'T have your cake (4x4, 4:10's and hard driving) and then expect to eat it too - ain't gonna happen!
;D ;DGuys just KEEP ON trying to bend the laws of physics - a heavier drivetrain with more parasitic drag, low gears that force the engine to turn at higher RPM, and then use of a heavy foot WILL not, CAN NOT deliver the same economy as a similar 2 wheel drive, higher geared vehicle driven conservatively - but we constantly see fellas with the 4x4's and 4:10's trying to - and THEN wondering why it won't happen...
07-15-2003, 12:35 PM
#5
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Re:Poor Fuel Mileage
Life is full of trade offs.
This "Rocket Scientist" wanted better gas milage too.
In case you're curious.
Here's the load on and in this poor car.
On the roof are many 2X4s, 4X4s and OSL sheets of lumber. The load isn't all that meets the eye either. In the back seat were ten 80-pound bags of concrete! They estimated the load weight at 3000 lbs.
This "Rocket Scientist" wanted better gas milage too.
In case you're curious.
Here's the load on and in this poor car.
On the roof are many 2X4s, 4X4s and OSL sheets of lumber. The load isn't all that meets the eye either. In the back seat were ten 80-pound bags of concrete! They estimated the load weight at 3000 lbs.
07-15-2003, 12:43 PM
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Re:Poor Fuel Mileage
HEY, NO problem with tradeoffs (they're an absolute neccessity for some) - AS LONG AS the one making the choice recognizes and accepts the COSTS involved...
No "free lunch" and all that jazz...
I had sorta flirted with the notion of a truck newer than my '91 Dodge/Cummins, and what I really wanted was an HO setup in a 2x4 configuration - didn't want the added maintenance and drivetrain drag of a 4x4, or the problems with the different front suspension a 4x4 came with - and the added height of the bed when towing, and the usual 4:10's they put in the 4x4's ruined every potential later model truck I looked at...
As time for the '03's came near (I didn't want one of those!), and '02's were starting to get scarce, I stumbled across the truck I now own - it was EXACTLY the setup I would have ordered other than the color - I bought it on the spot, and haven't regretted it a bit so far! ;D ;D ;D
So what's my point? Know what you want and are willing to "settle" for - understand what it will likely do for - or against - you in terms of performance, economy and reliability - and then make an informed choice you are prepared to live with...
No "free lunch" and all that jazz...
I had sorta flirted with the notion of a truck newer than my '91 Dodge/Cummins, and what I really wanted was an HO setup in a 2x4 configuration - didn't want the added maintenance and drivetrain drag of a 4x4, or the problems with the different front suspension a 4x4 came with - and the added height of the bed when towing, and the usual 4:10's they put in the 4x4's ruined every potential later model truck I looked at...
As time for the '03's came near (I didn't want one of those!), and '02's were starting to get scarce, I stumbled across the truck I now own - it was EXACTLY the setup I would have ordered other than the color - I bought it on the spot, and haven't regretted it a bit so far! ;D ;D ;D
So what's my point? Know what you want and are willing to "settle" for - understand what it will likely do for - or against - you in terms of performance, economy and reliability - and then make an informed choice you are prepared to live with...
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07-15-2003, 01:38 PM
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Re:Poor Fuel Mileage
I get 21 mpg on highway 70 mph at 2000-2100 rpm. (stock size tires) Highway tires not mud or snow tread. This is with very easy take offs from stop, no WOT ever. Not pulling. If I pull my skid steer I get about 14 in town and 17 on hwy. If I pull the backhoe I get about 12 mpg downhill!
07-15-2003, 02:04 PM
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Re:Poor Fuel Mileage
well at 2000 I go about 63-65 and I have 285's but I compensated for that due to my buddy who ran me with his patrol car!!! I was about 3 mph off with those tires. So corrected I run about 63.
07-15-2003, 08:51 PM
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Re:Poor Fuel Mileage
With my 255/85's (33 inches tall) I am right at 2200 rpm at 73 mph. Most of my driving is highway which kills the mileage when doing 73 mph, I do better driving around town. So far the average mileage for my truck is 14.15 mpg over 70,000 miles (towing, plowing, empty, highway, around town combined) with a high of 18.2 mpg and that was with zero highway miles. I've gotten into the habit of changing my IAT instead of cleaning it because that has never really gotten me anything to clean it. I change it each spring after the pumps have regular diesel in them and usually see a 1 to 1.5 mpg increase. For the $25 for an IAT it's worth it to me.
07-15-2003, 09:35 PM
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Re:Poor Fuel Mileage
Well I guess I could do that. It's no work at all to take the IAT sensor out so maybe I will do that. <br><br>I don't feel so bad anymore after reading all this! Guess I just wanted to know that it was just me ;D
07-15-2003, 09:42 PM
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Re:Poor Fuel Mileage
question 1. what RPM do u get the best gas mileage at? My best answer. the lowest RPM where peak torque is developed. On the Cummins wouldnt this be about 1500-1600 rpm. So could you cruise at that RPM? ???