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Old 05-21-2014, 06:42 PM   #1
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MPG variation

I've completed the first long leg of this trip, about 1200 miles. MPG has varied a lot. The load and speed have been about the same, but the mpg per tank has varied from 9.4 to about 11.4. The overall average so far is 10.1. I guess that brand of gas, terrain and wind can make a difference. The lowest mpg I got was when it was pretty windy the highway was hilly. Hopefully that will improve with more miles on the engine.
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Old 05-21-2014, 06:47 PM   #2
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My friend owned a gas station and there is a difference from off brand to brand gas.
If you drive with your instant mpg on, you can control your mpg better.
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Old 05-22-2014, 06:46 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by dlwilliams48 View Post
I've completed the first long leg of this trip, about 1200 miles. MPG has varied a lot. The load and speed have been about the same, but the mpg per tank has varied from 9.4 to about 11.4. The overall average so far is 10.1. I guess that brand of gas, terrain and wind can make a difference. The lowest mpg I got was when it was pretty windy the highway was hilly. Hopefully that will improve with more miles on the engine.
Wind is a big culprit for MPG. I've seen mine down to 6.5 MPG in the wind.
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Old 05-22-2014, 10:13 AM   #4
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Yup...wind and terrain. BIG differences with a 7000# brick in tow.
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Old 05-22-2014, 11:29 AM   #5
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Yep stand a tall wall (13'+) weighing 11,000lbs behind your truck and head into a 30-35 mph wind. On mine it makes for 8.5 mpg. Put that wind behind me and 11+.

I look at it like if I can't afford to pull it I can't afford to own it.

Kinda like the Rolls Royce salesman said, "If you have to ask the gas mileage you can't afford it"
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Old 05-22-2014, 01:05 PM   #6
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I agree with you Clif, I don't pay attention to my fuel mileage. I usually will change my display on my dash so I don't have to see it.
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Old 05-22-2014, 03:27 PM   #7
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A few years back Consumer Reports did a story on regular unleaded gas (87 octane). Their finding was that it is all the same. There might be some minor additive differences but still, it is all the same.
I recently met a gasoline delivery driver at a Murphy station. He told me that at the distribution depot it all comes out of the same tank. Different brands use different additives but usually only in the 89 and higher octane grades. This driver said his next load could be going to another brand's station but the gas was still coming from the same tank. Just say'n.
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Old 05-22-2014, 06:03 PM   #8
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Octane is Rating of "engine knock prevention". There is a chemical additive - too long to remember. Higher Octane does not translate into better mileage. Higher performance engines need higher octane to prevent "detonation" of the fuel mixture - vice a smooth clean burn. The owners manual does not lie - use the fuel it recommends. Anyone who says they get better mileage by using "high test" is simply trying to convince themselves the extra cost is worth it.......If memory serves me correctly, I am old a confuse things...

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Originally Posted by artgpo View Post
A few years back Consumer Reports did a story on regular unleaded gas (87 octane). Their finding was that it is all the same. There might be some minor additive differences but still, it is all the same.
I recently met a gasoline delivery driver at a Murphy station. He told me that at the distribution depot it all comes out of the same tank. Different brands use different additives but usually only in the 89 and higher octane grades. This driver said his next load could be going to another brand's station but the gas was still coming from the same tank. Just say'n.
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Old 05-25-2014, 09:07 PM   #9
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Good points all. Thanks. I think the wind and terrain was the biggest culprit. In any event, I won't let the mpg I get keep me from going camping, or making this same trip again like I have done for the past 9 years. Just the second year with the bigger rig, going from pop up to hybrid to this. The additional comfort is worth it.
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Old 05-26-2014, 02:48 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by artgpo View Post
A few years back Consumer Reports did a story on regular unleaded gas (87 octane). Their finding was that it is all the same. There might be some minor additive differences but still, it is all the same.
I recently met a gasoline delivery driver at a Murphy station. He told me that at the distribution depot it all comes out of the same tank. Different brands use different additives but usually only in the 89 and higher octane grades. This driver said his next load could be going to another brand's station but the gas was still coming from the same tank. Just say'n.
I've seen this myself. Along a stretch of U.S. 412 that I travel every day, I will see the same Fuel Transport Service truck make stops at BP, Shell, Marathon, and two other no-brand stations. Same truck, same gas, different brands and prices.
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