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5.75 mpg yest. 7 mpg today ???????

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Curly88, Jan 26, 2013.

Page 1 of 3
  1. Jan 26, 2013 #1
    Curly88

    Curly88 Light Load Member

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    May 16, 2012
    Rexford Mt
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    I'm not sure what is going on, yesterday I left Sherman, Tx. with 43,000 on the back, was doing 62mph to try and get better fuel mileage but got tired of that after a couple hours, ; having to constantly slow down so governered trucks could get around me faster;, got back up to 65 like I normally run. 695 miles to Limon, Co. stopped for the night, fueled up this morning and had 5.75 mpg. Then today I was doing 70 -75 going north thru the hills of Wy. with 30 mph cross winds part of the time. Fueled up tonight in Billings, Mt. and had 7 mpg on that tank. Whats the deal? I thought running slower usually gets you better fuel mileage? No ideling either:biggrin_25513:
     
    Curly88, Jan 26, 2013
    Curly88, Jan 26, 2013
    #1
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  3. Jan 26, 2013 #2
    pattyj

    pattyj Road Train Member

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    Jul 19, 2008
    Sioux City,ia
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    Are you complaining,lol.That's excellent fuel mileage.
     
    pattyj, Jan 26, 2013
    pattyj, Jan 26, 2013
    #2
  4. Jan 26, 2013 #3
    MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    Feb 24, 2012
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    what engine you have?

    You do understand what a "power curve" is?

    I am guessing you drove up I25 too....

    That wind was also likely pushing a good portion of the way. Not just when you were running west by Casper.

    Had the same thing 2 weeks ago when I went from Denver to Kalispell MT.

    When you head west from US18 to Casper where you turn north again is about the worst area. It's truly a cross wind.

    Otherwise it's pushing you north pretty good most of the time.
     
    MNdriver, Jan 26, 2013
    MNdriver, Jan 26, 2013
    #3
  5. Jan 26, 2013 #4
    Curly88

    Curly88 Light Load Member

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    May 16, 2012
    Rexford Mt
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    I have the Cat C15 13 speed. I25 from Denver all the way to Billings, Whats a power curve? The wind somehow pushing you forward even if its from the side? And no I'm not complaing about the fuel mileage, :biggrin_25522:
     
    Curly88, Jan 26, 2013
    Curly88, Jan 26, 2013
    #4
  7. Jan 26, 2013 #5
    MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    Feb 24, 2012
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    Power curve is the band your truck likes to run at.

    When you are at the bottom of your power curve, you actually won't have your best mileage. I know on my DD S60, I see it get better mileage when I actually go up over 1450 RPM. I would be running 68-70 mph in 13th or 58-60 in 12th.

    These are power curves. (from my engine when we ran it on a dyno last Dec. My best performance is from 1300-1700. That's the best range to run my truck in. Around 1500-1600 is where I
    View attachment dyno_run.pdf


    And yes, the wind was pushing you all the way up I25 to Billings from Denver. That's why you got such good mileage.
     
    MNdriver, Jan 26, 2013
    MNdriver, Jan 26, 2013
    #5
    Curly88 Thanks this.
  8. Jan 26, 2013 #6
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    18,750
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    Sep 18, 2006
    the road less travelled
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    Like pattyj said, why are you complaining?

    Speeding up after slowing down wastes fuel, probably more than trying to run the slower speed would save if it does save. Which engine and how many rpms you are running makes a difference. I have also found that running hills faster is usually better than lugging up every last 1. Letting off near the crest and letting gravity help speed you back up on the way down helps.

    I have no concrete reason, you are filling tanks that may be not quite the same level when full. It's better to go for several fills keeping track than trying to explain a discrepancy from one fill to the next . I suggest you look in the tanks after they are cold when you parked full to see if it's the same level or close. I tried fueling several hours out and weighing the bobtail after I got back and unhooked, the weights were very close if I fueled to the same level at the same place.

    The year and engine would have something to do with it. The older ISX puts hot fuel back into the tank, causing fuel left to expand more, running lower before refilling helps to reduce differences. I'm thinking you ran fewer miles so you had more fuel left in the tanks. How big are the tanks?

    The DD'15 doesn't bypass as much fuel or as hot, back to the tank, the tanks are noticeably cooler after running when it is cold, so there isn't the same discrepancy. Volvo engines are the same way, from what I have been told.


    When I was running diesel farm equipment. running a short time and refilling made it seem you were getting great economy, running longer evened it out.
     
    25(2)+2, Jan 26, 2013
    25(2)+2, Jan 26, 2013
    #6
  9. Jan 26, 2013 #7
    dschmidt201

    dschmidt201 Light Load Member

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    Jan 6, 2012
    Chicago
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    If your an owner op I could see your concern for the mileage but if your company who cares what it is as a matter of fact I would waste more gas by idling all day long for no reason
     
    dschmidt201, Jan 26, 2013
    dschmidt201, Jan 26, 2013
    #7
  10. Jan 26, 2013 #8
    Curly88

    Curly88 Light Load Member

    180
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    May 16, 2012
    Rexford Mt
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    I did run fewer miles today then yesterday, 695 yest. 625 today and I did fuel up this morning on cold fuel while fueling up tonight on hot fuel right after I stopped;thats on 2 100 gal tanks; so yes it makes sense on what you are saying. My boss's ifta for last year showed 6 mpg so that means I have to get above 6 mpg every now then:biggrin_25523: I get payed on percentage so there's no reason for me to waste fuel idleing when I have a very good sleeping bag:biggrin_25514:
     
    Curly88, Jan 26, 2013
    Curly88, Jan 26, 2013
    #8
    25(2)+2 Thanks this.
  11. Jan 26, 2013 #9
    losttrucker

    losttrucker Road Train Member

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    Mar 9, 2008
    greenville,nc
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    For all you company guys who may read this; This response is why companies treat you the way they do when it comes to idle % and also why they castrate the trucks just to try and save every gallon of fuel they can........................
     
    losttrucker, Jan 26, 2013
    losttrucker, Jan 26, 2013
    #9
    kirk, Curly88 and MNdriver Thank this.
  12. Jan 26, 2013 #10
    fisher guy

    fisher guy Road Train Member

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    Mar 22, 2009
    Ocala Florida
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    i think the term ur looking for is fuel (sorry personal pet peeve a mine from the construction days way u could tell the rookies) as for company versus o/o a lot of companies give incentives for high MPG's my company offers a bonus for anything over 6.0mpgs but of course we run 379's wide open
     
    fisher guy, Jan 26, 2013
    fisher guy, Jan 26, 2013
    #10
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