rookie mpg question

Discussion in 'Prime' started by jmadd, Dec 21, 2014.

  1. jmadd

    jmadd Bobtail Member

    38
    31
    Dec 21, 2014
    0
    Pulling my first flatbed load from springfield to odessa and mpg is crap. The load weighs out at 37k and a gross of 66k. I am having an issue with breaking 6.3 mpg.

    I'm shifting at 13-1400 rim like trainer said to. I am averaging 57 mph. I have tried increasing and decreasing speed to see if anything changes. Even at 55 and 62, the 6.3 does not change. It went down to 6.0 earlier due to i would presume a strong headwind.

    Both speeds were for at least 100 miles each. I know being first load and all I should not sweat it, but I only got mpg this bad with trainer pulling 70+k loads or going up mountains.

    Any flatbed guys out there have any insight or tips?
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. cabwrecker

    cabwrecker The clutch wrecker

    1,612
    1,398
    Mar 23, 2012
    0
    You ridding the throttle?

    I'm on a 41k load in the mountains right now hitting 7.8 mpg with an average speed of 59.

    Manage your throttle based on what the engine strain gauge is showing, keep your turbo boost under 20 psi but hit the gas around 50 mph so you don't have to down shift and dump fuel into the block in 9'th.

    Cruise control is nice but it won't save you a ton of money.
     
  4. jmadd

    jmadd Bobtail Member

    38
    31
    Dec 21, 2014
    0
    Nevermind previous. Your post and this road assist picture in the black binder made everything click together. Keep rpms at around 1100-1200 while driving.
     
  5. cabwrecker

    cabwrecker The clutch wrecker

    1,612
    1,398
    Mar 23, 2012
    0
    You will figure it out as you go. Play around with the throttle while driving. Again, cruise control is nice but if you're in the hills it doesn't do a ###### bit of good.

    Remember to pay more attention to the road than your boost gauge.

    There will come a time when you know just by how your ### is vibrating in the seat how much fuel is being sprayed into the cylinders and you'll be able to adjust accordingly to save yourself money, or get better MPG.

    The only way to get better is practice, though. Again, additional emphasis on worrying more about what's going on around and in front of you versus under the hood.
     
    jmadd Thanks this.
  6. skellr

    skellr Road Train Member

    8,737
    12,179
    Jul 17, 2011
    The Village, Portmeirion
    0
    Like many Prime trucks your truck is broken. Just drive it slow like they want for a week or two, so you can show them how messed up it is then tell them you want another because this one isn't going to work. You drove it like they wanted and it won't do what they are asking. It's going to waste your time and your going to get shafted out of fuel bonus if you try to work with it.

    Maybe your FM can look up the history on it and see what it was getting with another driver, if there was one.
     
  7. jbourque

    jbourque Heavy Load Member

    924
    553
    Oct 25, 2012
    south english iowa
    0
    could be your rear end ratio is to low. you did not tell us what kind of rpms you were running at those speeds. if you had some other type of transmission than what your trainer had are you sure you had it in top gear? also if you used blended fuel that would cut your mpg a little. hope you find the problem
     
  8. jmadd

    jmadd Bobtail Member

    38
    31
    Dec 21, 2014
    0
    As far as transmission goes, same truck model and year, otherwise no clue. Will have to ask him. Looking at performance I was running, 89.35% top gear, 0.00 over rpm. I am thinking it's rpms too high while in cruise, gonna try manual acceleration once I pick up a new load tmo.
     
  9. Dinomite

    Dinomite Road Train Member

    4,092
    4,307
    Sep 6, 2012
    Looking 4 Rocks
    0
    Maybe your load is not very aerodynamic don't sweat the small stuff woop woop Truck it up.
     
    ramblingman Thanks this.
  10. Highway101

    Highway101 Road Train Member

    1,145
    693
    Sep 19, 2011
    Fallon, Nevada
    0
    Shift at 1200 RPMs, any higher your waisting fuel. In fact I shifted between 1100-1200 rpms when normally pulling 79k gross, unless I was pulling up a hill for some reason, then of course RPMS are higher. Try to keep your RPMS under or at 1200 RPMS while running at highway speeds. As this is a Prime truck it is geared to run at or around 1200 rpm for the best MPG.
    Now that said you also stated your running into the wind so that is also hurting you.
    Hope this helps you
     
    jmadd Thanks this.
  11. n3ss

    n3ss Heavy Load Member

    737
    340
    Nov 4, 2013
    0
    What kind of truck do they have you in?

    The pete they stuck me in often got bad fuel mileage. On a good week (light loads, away from hilly places and trafffic) I could get above 7.5mpg average, but with back to back heavy loads or up in hills out east, forget about it.

    Hope they didn't give you my truck, lol.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.