Fuel Mileage-what's yours?

1.) That lot lizard really likes me but I ain't interested
2.) I like being a company driver
3.) I really like this Freightshaker, I don't even want a 379
4.) I'm good at driving in NYC
5.) Mountains don't scare me
6.) I'm a gonna give up french fries and lose some weight after Jan. 1
7.) Truck stop showers are as clean as back home and don't give me warts
8.) I don't yak on the cell phone while driving in the hammer lane
9.) My wife is trim and fit
10.) I get over 7 mile in my rig.

 

deadhead, 6.5
20k in the box 5.9
40k in the box 5.3

2006 379 governed at 70mph

wind will bring me down to a 4.8

 

It seems to me the biggest factor is the truck itself. The 2 I owned got about about 5.5mpg and there wasn't anything I tried that changed it much. One was a Wal-mart COE with a 11.1L Det and the other was a '98 Western Star with the old style cab, 24.5 tires, raised suspension, no fairing, and a 12.7L 470hp Det. The way the engine gets broken in has a huge amount to do with it. Two identical trucks can vary a lot in mpg. When a truck sits high up so that a lot of air can come in under the bumper it hurts mpg too.

The biggest factors I ever found that affected my mpg other than me or the truck itself were headwinds and road conditions. I could get better mpg hauling a heavy load across I-40 and I81 in TN and VA up and down mountains than I could hauling a light load across I-40 in AR (before they fixed it) and I-55 in MO and AR. Uneven concrete roads murder fuel economy.

 

I delivered a couple of freightliner condos last winter/spring... bobtail the one got 14mpg next trip I hammered down... and still got 11mpg. so wheel and air friction must account for quite a bit.

 

I have friend who does Tankers for Kenan with Freightliner Columbia day cab with a 370 cat and gets around 5-6mpg. If he was pulling Vans for a local carrier, I am sure he would be able to get 7mpg out of her.

Hunter

 

In 1995, i drove a cabover (9700) , 9 spd tranny, 3.9 rears and a cummins 350 w/400 fuel pump. I had 21 stop, drove 75-100 mph and still got 8.5-10.2 mpg. How's that for economy?

Truckinwva

and am looking for another right, except for the interiors being shot.

 

only if pushed off a cliff or lying

 

I can talk some BS sometimes too.........but its good listen to an expert

 

No bs, bubba.

Have also gotton 8.9 mpg with a 2008 cummins, even though the truck was specked out to my wants. Using cruise control screws you out of needed mpg. There's nothing like the good ole foot.

Just found a 9700 w/big cam 350. Gonna basically rebuild it from the groud up. I'll let you know about the mpg in about two weeks, or maybe sooner.

Truckinwva

 

what did you spec the truck at?

KH