Speed Kills Milage

[FordGuy100]

Growing up in Oregon I have been used to driving 55-60mph. Truck liked it there as well. Fuel ups would net around 17mpg after the turbo, a little more N/A

Down here in Texas it's a different story. I commute 30 miles a day into Tyler driving around 70mph. Then I hit Tyler and have to deal with traffic. I have a nifty fuel up app on my phone and here is the data. For all those wondering why they get such horrible milage, consider your speed.

Starting milage:140,508
last full up: 143,457
total milage: 2950
fuel used: 201.98 gallons
fuel milage: 14.605mpg

that's a big drop. Due to high rpm cruising, and in town driving. Worst was 13.6 mpg fill up, best of 17mpg

 

[OLDBULL8]

Well yeah! For every 5 MPH over 55 you double the wind resistance.

 

[Diesel_brad]

Growing up in Oregon I have been used to driving 55-60mph. Truck liked it there as well. Fuel ups would net around 17mpg after the turbo, a little more N/A

Down here in Texas it's a different story. I commute 30 miles a day into Tyler driving around 70mph. Then I hit Tyler and have to deal with traffic. I have a nifty fuel up app on my phone and here is the data. For all those wondering why they get such horrible milage, consider your speed.

Starting milage:140,508
last full up: 143,457
total milage: 2950
fuel used: 201.98 gallons
fuel milage: 14.605mpg

that's a big drop. Due to high rpm cruising, and in town driving. Worst was 13.6 mpg fill up, best of 17mpg

Time for a ZF5

 

[FordGuy100]

Not worried about it. Truck stays the way It us for a while. Saving for some property while trying to pay for college in cash without any loans.

 

[redneckaggie]

That was my goal when I started this semester(last semester that my scholarships pay everything) but man its gonna be hard to make it through with no loans.

 

[burtcheca]

I just came back from Washington DC. 1,600 miles round trip. I travel at 55 MPH all the time. Many stupid honk because I don't go faster and try to push me (if only they knew who they are messing with). I keep it cool and steady with my cruise control in 55 MPH, no matter what. I enjoy the trip, the view, and just take a good look at them when they pass me honking and cursing. For a van so heavy (10,000 pounds) it gives me 15-16 MPG.

If I try to go faster (and of course I can) it will make only 10-12 MPG at 70-75 MPH.

Since I retired to the middle of nowhere, here where I live in north Florida, I'm never in a hurry for nothing, I don't even wear a watch, I go to bed when I'm tired and wake up when I slept enough.

It saves me not only fuel. It saves me money too, not only less diesel but because when you are not suffering so much stress you live longer, have better health and don't need no doctors and their drugs.

Burt.

 

[FordGuy100]

I got 17mpg from Oregon to Texas but that was cruising at 65mph.

As far as saving goes my fiancé makes decent money as a EKG tech so we do alright

 

[towcat]

above 2500 rpm your mileage drops like a rock. Most days I drive civilly in urban areas and avoid being radarbait. On the open interstates, I am a whole different animal. Once the truck fully warms up (about 1.5 hours driving) it takes on a completely different feel. the truck likes to settle in at 80mph(2900rpm). I'll take it up there if not a little more. Slower than that, the truck feels "nervous". it's hard to describe the feel, but when you own a truck long enough, you will get used to it's "rhythm" and drive it as such.

 

[idi traveler]

My truck likes 65 more than 55, it's jumpy at 55 and calm at 65. I like 55 you see more but it's a fight to get the truck to stay there. So much for my rambling, I got on here to say the speed limit is the limit, not the must drive. I've noticed in resent years that most people on the road have forgotten that.

 

[gonecrazyi]

I can wrap mine past 85 without a problem, but I can also watch the fuel gauge drop at the same time lol. I took 4 years before I found out I could do that. Mine also cruises better loaded and unloaded at 65. At 55 its kind of boggy pulling a trailer in 5th, when empty it does fine at 55 but I really haven’t noticed a loss in mpgs between 55 and 65. I usually average 16.5 - 17.5 cruising at 65.

I tried running 4 tanks just idling around and keeping it under 55 and I was able to get 19 over the course of those tanks. But that’s ridiculously slow and impractical without getting run off the road(not that I move for people). I’ve found that a nice list **** of smoke into tailgaters ac vents is all it takes for them to back off, if that doesn’t work the hydrobooster gets a workout leading to sphincter tighting fun.
.

 

[The Warden]

My truck's always felt happiest at 55 (as indicated on the speedo, which according to the GPS is actually 50 mph). She'll go faster all day long, but above 55, she feels like she's straining for whatever reason. Maybe it's wind resistance from that $#@%& lumber rack?

My M-B, OTOH, wants to cruise at 70 all day long...

I got on here to say the speed limit is the limit, not the must drive. I've noticed in resent years that most people on the road have forgotten that.

Actually, around here, people seem to remember that just fine. The problem is, the "must drive" speed is 80 and people wonder why there were so many spinouts and accidents in the Bay Area today (first significant rain of the season)...I think half the people on the road forgot how to drive and the other half didn't know how in the first place

 

[Sycostang67]

I was taking the freeway to work but only getting about 14mpg. I was making a lot of enemies on the morning commute as well. I have since resolved to taking back roads of 55mph or less, leave earlier and am back to getting 17-18mpg. I am gonna fill up the 86 tomorrow so I can start getting an idea of it's mpg capability.

 

[tonkadoctor]

That's why I always set the cruise on my Freightliner Century at 57. My loaded and empty avg MPG over 24,000 miles was 10.55, not too shabby for a 12 liter CAT.

Me, I don't give a rip if somebody doesn't like me driving 57. Don't like it, go around. I see the same cars and trucks pass me 3-4 or more times a day.... Motorcycles... See them pass me 3-4 times every 100 miles.

Here's a good "white paper" from Cummins on the secrets of better fuel economy. There's a lot here that applies to anything you drive.

 

[LCAM-01XA]

I tried running 4 tanks just idling around and keeping it under 55 and I was able to get 19 over the course of those tanks. But that’s ridiculously slow and impractical without getting run off the road(not that I move for people). I’ve found that a nice list **** of smoke into tailgaters ac vents is all it takes for them to back off, if that doesn’t work the hydrobooster gets a workout leading to sphincter tighting fun.
.

You and I must have gone to the same driving school in a previous life, lol

 

[gonecrazyi]

Maybe lol. I can't drive like that as often now that im driving a tdi Jetta everyday(cheaper). I usually wish I had the truck when im cruising though. I gave up a long time ago when it comes to moving or letting people harass me. I've been hit a few times but its usually when im siring at a light or parked somewhere. I fiulgure that I have more than enough parts to fix the ol girl, so bring it on lol.