first major road trip in the 100...got great fuel economy!

[Jim_Chow]

Just finished the first major road trip in my 100. For anyone who's interested, here's the log w/ conditions:

--Tucson, AZ->Lordsburg, NM: 149 miles, 18.3 mpg (interstate driving)
--Lordsburg, NM-> Socorro, NM, via Silver City (half highway, half mountain driving w/ some 10mph switchbacks, climb over a pass), 215 mi, 18.7mpg.
--Socorro, NM->between Espanola & Taos (mostly uphill, tailwind), 178 mi, 20.9mpg.
--Mountain driving between Taos & Angel Fire (9100 ft pass), 116 mi, 16.86 mpg.
--Mountain driving (9800 ft Bobcat pass) plus highway Espanola, 367 mi, 20.37 mpg.
--Espanola, NM->Truth or Consequences, NM, 246 mi, 19.02 mpg (interstate, headwind).
--TorC, NM->Tucson, AZ: interstate, 309 mi, 19.45 mpg.

Total distance: 1580 mi, 81.86 gal of gas (19.30 mpg)

Notes: I used only chevron 91, stock-sized Bridgestone HT's at 32 psi cold pressure at 8500 ft where most of the driving was done). Interstate driving was mostly on cruise control set to 69mph, 2200-2300 rpms. Vehicle was fully loaded but all stock, 3rd row seats removed, changed oil to M1 Delvac before the trip.

 

[calamaridog]

I've never gotten close to that, then again I don't drive 69!

 

[Tinkerer]

I believe it. I get 16+, sometimes 17 mpg, with about 80/20% highway/mix, so 18-19 mpg with solely highway driving is definitely possible.

Your speed moderation also helps. Air drag increases exponentially with speed, significantly at speeds above ~45mph. At 70mph, most of the drag is due to air. You could probably squeeze out another mpg or two, if you could stand to drive at 50mph. (Remember the "fuel crises" in the '70s and the national 55mph speed limit?)

My 25 minute trip takes about 25 minutes +/- 5 minutes regardless of how I drive - due to traffic signals and traffic congestion itself. This is true even for most highway driving, because any small time savings from high speed on the highway is lost at the next "rolling clot" on the highway, or at the first red light after leaving the highway.

The only time high speed may actually save time is on the highway at about 2 or 3am. But even then, only a long trip affords more than a few minutes savings. What can I do with only a few extra minutes upon arrival? Not much.

So, I drive relaxedly, to minimize acceleration & braking, and to moderate wind drag, and this minimizes fuel use and wear & tear on the vehicle.

(Evidently, I am the only one in the SE USA with this perspective, judging by reactions of other motorists.)

Why the Delvac? It has more additives for handling soot etc. in diesel engines, but is it thought to be advantageous for gasoline engines? (The Mobil 1 website is vague on the subject, with a "positive maybe" slant.)

 

[tabraha]

Hey I'm that other guy in the SE that is pokey!! I drove a 4hr roundtrip jaunt last weekend at 68-70mph and passed 1 vehicle the whole way! Latest mileage for me is 17.xx MPG on 93 octane w/ regular M1, heavily loaded for vacation. I also have heard very good things about Delvac on BITOG for some time.

Jim 19.3 is awesome, especially with a loaded vehicle!

 

[spressomon]

Hey...I want one of those caluculators

 

[tabraha]

You need one of those magic gas tanks. I think there's definitely a market for that.

 

[cruiser99]

I used to get these type of numbers. It will all be a distant memory once you start the mods. (if you do...). I just came back from a 2k mi trip as well and I am getting 11-12 mpg. 35" tires and all, towing a 1500lb camper.

 

[Jim_Chow]

[snip]Why the Delvac? It has more additives for handling soot etc. in diesel engines, but is it thought to be advantageous for gasoline engines? (The Mobil 1 website is vague on the subject, with a "positive maybe" slant.)

I'm using the Delvac 1 since it's my first oil change, and the PO used dealer 5w30 dino. I figure two changes of D1 will cleanse out any residue that may have formed over the 50K mi. Eventual oil will probably be M1 0w40 (got similar fuel economy as D1 and Rotella T Syn...all ~10% better than M1 10w30 and dino 10w30 in my other two cars). The 0w40 from Autozone now costs $2/gal more than D1 (in the 4 gallon case).

Soon-to-be-added mods will be a Sahara bar up front (no winch) and Kaymar towbar in the rear (everything else stock). We'll see how the fuel economy suffers during my Sept trip to Gunnison, CO.

 

[spressomon]

I used to get these type of numbers. It will all be a distant memory once you start the mods. (if you do...). I just came back from a 2k mi trip as well and I am getting 11-12 mpg. 35" tires and all, towing a 1500lb camper.

Roger that



But oh how much fun all the mods make on-trail use now

 

[e9999]

19+ seems awfully high for mountain driving...

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Those days are over for me too! Though I must say....on my 2500+ mile CA trip I always got 15-16 and in my 6000+ pound tank. I was really surprised. I pulled into a truck stop once to get it weighed but the scales were down.

 

[cruiser99]

spressomon

This much fun

 

[cruiser99]

and this much fun

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

and this much fun

OK Doron. What'djadoo here? Backup? Dig out?

 

[cruiser99]

I was gonna cross but the better half put a stop to it fairly quicly. Besides there were few more up to the lake. So I backed up to the nearest switchback

 

[SINCITY100]

Ahhh yes....

I remember the good old days too, when I actually got more than 12MPG...

These days, I am when I get an honest 10 overall on a trip ....

 

[LXPearl]

Great mileage. I tend to drive about 75, so on trips I usually get about 16-17 mpg with 91-93 gas. Around town I get about 15 mpg. I have always gotten better mileage in the rockies than in the plains, usually about 2 mpg better. It must be the good mountain air.

 

[Jim_Chow]

Great mileage. I tend to drive about 75, so on trips I usually get about 16-17 mpg with 91-93 gas. Around town I get about 15 mpg. I have always gotten better mileage in the rockies than in the plains, usually about 2 mpg better. It must be the good mountain air.

Maybe the thinner air helps reduce the wind resistance a tad. Also, the 100 climbed up the steeper grades at altitude with ease. It's especially noticeable on northbound I-25 on some of the hills between Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

 

[Gohawks63]

Last year I took a trip from the Chicago 'burbs to Branson Missouri. I towed our 5,000lb boat and got an indicated (trip computer) 9-10mpg.

Just returned from a trip back from Minneapolis. Had the cruise control set at 75mph and the trip computer indicated 18.3 mpg. Best I ever got.

 

[SWUtah]

Last year I took a trip from the Chicago 'burbs to Branson Missouri. I towed our 5,000lb boat and got an indicated (trip computer) 9-10mpg.

Just returned from a trip back from Minneapolis. Had the cruise control set at 75mph and the trip computer indicated 18.3 mpg. Best I ever got.

I would not trust the trip computer. The one in my 2004 4runner always shows 2 mpg better then what it is getting. Best to do it by hand.