MPG Challenge...Wanna Play?

[NorCalToy]

Then you'll love this one....  I put 181 gallons in to get home from Ripon... I was at about 1/4 tank when I got home yesterday... 

ahhhh the joys of payin $1000 to fill up your tank(s) and then going a dollar a mile, probably costs more than most drivers make.

[WHITE_TRASH]

After my fuel surcharge hits I pay about $1.20 a gallon..... 

[KDXSR5]

ok, I will play

1985 toy pickup 22re 30s stock gearing

first a little history:
worst tank(s): 11mpg 4wd all the time during winter
worst city tank: 13
best city tank: 19
worst highway tank: 23
best highway tank: 27

This whole tank I have stopped doing my normal haul ass and burn out everywhere driving style and I have been putting around everywhere. I have been doing this since I have no gas money and payday is not for another two weeks. I will see what I can get. I have not gotten a 19 mpg tank in over a year, so that is what I am shooting for. What I have been doing is 1st gear until 15 then 2nd until 25 then 5th from 25 on up. It makes for some slow accelerating. If I meet a hill I cannot take in 5th, I shift down to 3rd then once I hit the top of the hill its right back into 5th. I have made this tank last about a month so far.

[blackdiamond]

Lugging the motor does not always equal better mileage.  If you push on the gas and it doesn't accelearate your just wasting fuel.  Low rpm is great for cruising, but if you need to go up a hill or accelerate it isn't efficient.



I always figure that there isn't much reason to worry about losing fuel mileage from too much rpm unless your running above the highway cruising rpm.  The 22RE likes 3,000 rpm.

[KDXSR5]

well, I figure lugging is better than my normal 5000-6000 rpm driving style

[CTENG in KS]

I found on that last tank that, buy shifting at 2k rpm I kept lugging the engine in 2nd and 3rd, so for my next 5 gallons I am adjusting my shift point to 2500 rpm through 4th gear.  See if I can do any better by getting the engine into a more efficient range.

[Prismo]

My engine seems to like cruising at 2500rpm best. I shift at 3000 to 3500 and try to always avoid lugging the engine. Made 22mpg running at 2500rpm (55mph in 5th) whenever possible coming back from my land. Had a load of camping stuff in the back. Made 16 to 18mpg going out traveling 65 to 70. It is also more of an uphill drive going than returning.

[Plekto]

It's where you *just* hit that torque plateau based upon your gearing and speed.  So it's somewhere in the 2000-3000rpm range for different gears.(closer to 2500 in first and closer to 3500 in 5th).  With stock gears/tires of course.   31s or similar throw this all off, of course.   

That's why I have stock size BFGs on mine - I get 18mpg average as a daily driver.  13 or 15 would just kill me.(18 already is - heh)

[kneedownnate]

I'm going to have to try this on the bike.  I already drive the truck like a granny but I do accelerate harder on the bike, but I don't need to 

This is freakin boring   

[Tallchevy]

I just filled up today. I went 240 miles & it took 13.70 gal.

240/13.70= 17.51 mpg.
That is driving 65mph-70mph.

When I filled up this morning I drove 55mph-60mph (no cruise control). It's going to take me afew days before I have to full up again.

Ok, the idiot fuel light came on today & I had to fill up. I filled up exactly 300 miles ago, the last 3 of the odometer was 027 & when I filled up it was 327. I did drive 1 day with the 4Runner top on & have had it off ever since & most of my driving was highway with some in town. I kept the speed between 55-60mph. I had to do the math twice cause I didn't think it was right.

300 miles
14.273 gallons

21.01 mpg 

3.5 mpg increase 
I have a stock engine except for 2 1/4" exhaust, stock  trans, stock t-case, 5.29 gears & 35" bfg KM's.

[MiniSimp]

21.01 mpg 

3.5 mpg increase 

Sweet!

[Lady Di]

Well I started this test by driving the Prius without regard for actively trying to maximize the average MPG, doing jack rabbit starts, driving faster than usual, quick stops and got my worst MPG yet... 41.5 mpg

Now I'm going to consciously try to utilize the tips I have seen on the Prius board for maximizing the MPG and see how much of a PITA it is, and how we do.

[MiniSimp]

and got my worst MPG yet... 41.5 mpg

I hate you.

[blackdiamond]

It may be only fair to include the cost of gas in a month in addition to the monthly payment of the vehicle being driven.

41.5 mpg plus a car payment is likely better than my Mazdaspeed 3 that gets about 23 mpg on premium and has a monthly payment, but my 4Runner at 17+ mpg with no payment is likely the least expensive to drive.

[abriel68]

I gots a Mitsibishi Eclipse 31 mpg no payment at all. gas prices suck though.

[jimbo74]

i got 280 miles out of 1 tank of gas

but i dont know what size gas tank i have.....

truck is a 1984 xtracab 4x4 with a 22r

[blackdiamond]

i got 280 miles out of 1 tank of gas

but i dont know what size gas tank i have.....

truck is a 1984 xtracab 4x4 with a 22r

How much gas do you put in when you filled up?  I put 60 gallons in a U-haul 50 gallon tank so the factory spec isn't really a good number to get real results anyways.

I always fill my tanks to the top so I can track mileage.

[kneedownnate]

i got 280 miles out of 1 tank of gas

but i dont know what size gas tank i have.....

truck is a 1984 xtracab 4x4 with a 22r

Probably 16 gallon = about 17.5

[jimbo74]

How much gas do you put in when you filled up?  I put 60 gallons in a U-haul 50 gallon tank so the factory spec isn't really a good number to get real results anyways.

I always fill my tanks to the top so I can track mileage.

on this tank, i had put in 14 gallons of gas..... however, i dont know how much was left of the 5 gallons i put in before that.....

i put in 5 gallons from a completely drained tank, and it was still not over empty on the gauge.....

[Lady Di]

I have an 11 gallon tank and generally put in about 8 gallons when I fill up.
The car payment is irrelevant. This thread isn't about how much it cost you, only about trying to maximize your MPG's by different techniques.

So far my avg. MPG is showing at 47.4 now.

[KDXSR5]

I hate you MWM

[blackdiamond]

The car payment is irrelevant. This thread isn't about how much it cost you, only about trying to maximize your MPG's by different techniques.

True statement. 

I just wanted to make it clear that owning/purchasing a hybrid, or any other fuel efficient car, isn't always the most cost effective form of transportation.  I had a roommate in the past that traded a 4Runner for a Corolla because of fuel prices and between the low trade value and nearly MSRP price of the car he would likely never make up the overall loss.

[Lady Di]

Especially now, cause of the price of fuel, from what MrW was saying, the prices of used (and new?) Hybrids has jumped drastically.
I think we got in just under the wire.

We're not looking to make up any losses just not put so much money into the hands of the gas companies and we were in the market for a new vehicle anyway so why not...

I hate you MWM

Thanks KDX 

[KDXSR5]

Yup

I need to fill up after I get paid next week, so stay tuned for my mileage results.

[CTENG in KS]

I am getting close to the end of 5 gallon test run number two!  I am hoping to break through the 25mpg barrier on this one!

[ToYocRawleR]

Damn id like to play but i dont think runnin my diesel down to fumes is good for it....hahaha.
If i drive it like a regular ol dude that slowly pulls away from every stop and not give it more than 1/3 throttle ive gotten around 20-21mpg.

[blackdiamond]

I am getting close to the end of 5 gallon test run number two!  I am hoping to break through the 25mpg barrier on this one!

Is 5 gallons and about 125 miles enough to get an accurate reading?  Why not go for full tanks?

[jrock]

I was getting 17mpg when I bought my truck. 1985 Toy pickup, 22re, auto, 29in tires and stock. After a throttle positioning sensor, O2 sensor, spark plugs, wires and the normal fluid changes I got high 18's. With an auto to manual swap I got high 19's, with 4.30 gears and 29's. I just put a K&N in and after 2 tanks I consistently get 20.8mpg, mixed driving, the rest was all Hwy.

[kneedownnate]

This is freakin boring   

It was!  A full tank of riding like a grandma, taking off slowly and accelerating slowly.  End result was I went from 36mpg to 39mpg.  Prognosis:  I'd rather enjoy riding than take off like a little scardy cat 

[WHITE_TRASH]

This last set of tanks pulled 5.889 mpg.  Didn't change anything but the leaky manifold to turbo gasket.