After a fairly long trip and then refueling, the tank held exactly what the computer said had been used. Here is my question (or two): does the computer keep track of all fuel consumed, including the generator? Second, if so, does it also calibrate the mileage with the generator running? If it does both of these operations, then that is very cool. I have always thought, the generator consumption was another item to be factored.
Dave,
I ran my genet probably 12 hours minimum. Figuring a gallon per hour, that is a number that should be accounted for. Again, my refill was dead on the Silverleaf.
I am with you, but something does not add up.
David
Dave,
Information on genet fuel usage is great. I thought I had read where it was a about a gallon per hour. Clears that up. Big help.
David
You can read most anything on a fourm, why I find using the Horse Hockey X.5 factor gets closer to the truth when it comes to mpg etc.
I could say I get 12 mpg when most folks know that is not correct, but every once in a while some fool tells me they are getting 15 mpg, my standard answer is: You best get it repaired, as everyone else is getting 18-20 mpg. We both have a laugh, he thinks I am as dumb as I look, I know he is dumber than he looks, it all equals out. ;D :o
Dave M
This is the absolute truth! And it's not much better in person. I've had a guy towing a 40-foot fifth wheel with 4-slides using a 350 diesel pickup with an automatic tranny and duallies tell me with a straight face that he gets 18mpg pulling his 5er.
Next time I'm using Dave M's response. :D
Craig
I get 256mpg on the silver leaf, downhill.
Seriously, it appears I get 11 on the flat, but average 8.
I got 11 too for 78 miles as I was running down hill most of the way in Montana. I got 7.2 for the trip out. It is a bit lower then the last few trips but then I was pulling a wrangler. So I lost about 3/10s of a mpg pulling the Grand Cherokee. It is much heavier but over a long trip that you do many times it should all equal out. I need to do a couple more trips out here with it and see if it is still below the avg for the wrangler. I am thinking it hurts the most on the pulls up the mountains as I was about 5 to 10 mph slower.
The beauty of the VMSpc is the ability to get the TRUTH concerning fuel mileage when towing setups change. It is easy to see the difference in my case between the F150 empty vs with the ATV with windshield, but the big surprise was when hauling the golf cart, with just a half windshield, it gets less mpg than with the ATV. That would be difficult to calculate without the trusty VMSpc.
Dave M
You are very right and you can also tell if you are pushing against a wind too. I love having the silverleaf.
Yeah, I was able to tell the what the wind was doing by the mpg on the VMS coming to Minneapolis on I80 and I90 from CA
best, paul
Cummins C8.3:
For wind direction: feel the steering wheel, listen to the sounds, watch the vegetation, and watch the flags
For fuel mileage: track the distance with the odometer, track the fuel with the numbers on the station pump, use calculator or long division
For temperature, oil pressure: watch the old analog gauges
We still seem to get to our destination and usually enjoy the adventure. :))
Too much temp info panics most Rv owners in my experience. "But the gauge moved, Bob"
My temperature gauges rarely move. In fact my transmission temp was still sitting still but it had gone up 10 degrees. Not worried but it is fun to look at as did the engine temp. It was like I was climbing a hill and I looked at the GPS that is set to elevation and it had actually been within 25 feet all the time.
When the wind is really blowing you feel the pressure but it is the first time it was a quartering wind that strong and it affected the engine and trans temps too.
I went by Extreme today in Nacogdoches and James indicated they are busy busy. Had several Prevost units there in their shop. Talked to him about Silverleaf. I am working on learning about this system. Downloaded the program free. Looking at all the connecting hardware needed to get going. DAN
I like our best when I see 256mpg. :D
Can you purchase direct from Silverleaf or do you need to go thru a dealer?? Tks DAN
Dan, give Silverleaf a call. Last one we bought we stopped at the shop in Oregon and they set it up for us exactly how I wanted it to read. (not a computer genius here). Good people.
One of the best additions to our coach. Before Silverleaf I was driving blind.. If you have pressure pro you can even add that... Fun to play with and even I can't seem to screw it up
Jeff: Tks will call them and yes I have pressure pro.
Hi Dan,
The VMSpc version is available from many sources. Some are a good bit lower in price than the manufacturer. There have been many post here where to buy.
Raymond
$306.25 at RVUpgrades | RV Parts, Accessories, Supplies (http://www.rvupgradestore.com)
The VMSpc software is free and downloadable, easy to install and use.
The 6 pin diagnostic port interface with USB to your PC is about $300.
Silverleaf VMSPC6 VMS To 6 Pin Diagnostic Port Complete Engine Monitoring (http://www.rvupgradestore.com/VMS-to-6-Pin-Diagnoistic-Port-p/vmspc6.htm)
I find the fuel consumption recorded on VMSpc is remarkably close to what I add when refuel. Within a percent or so.
Hard to imagine not having VMSpc now after a year and a half.
Roger
Dave, That's right and since my Air Pressure gauges suffered the blue box failure and now read zero most of the time and replacing them is on my short list of what to do next (part of the long list of what to do after that) I sure wish there was a way to link them into the VMSpc display.
I have all of my critical stuff grouped together with a status light and the number. A glance tells me all is good. A yellow light catches my eye right away. Gear/Speed/RPM/Boost = fuel use. 57 in 5th compared to 64 in 6th = ~10% better mileage. Sometimes not the interstates are much more interesting. Sometimes we just want to get somewhere. and we know how much fuel we used to do it.
Roger
You guys convinced me. I ordered the six pin unit.
Need a pc as everything I have is apple.
Here are two great ultrabooks
$699 windows 8, touchscreen, I7 processor, 8GB ram including a free tablet ...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=1XV-0001-00005 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=1XV-0001-00005)
My choice...
$599 windows 8, touchscreen, solid state hard drive, i5 processor, 8GB ram...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=34-313-595%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=34-313-595%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20)
Download free "classic shell" and it looks like windows 7. I have an I7 SSD model. Cold boot in 4 seconds.
Roger
Back to the gen set fuel consumption. I thought I read that the peak load was about .5 Gal. Per hour? Most of the time we are likely less than 50% load. Anyone know more about fuel GPH ? ( I have a 10KW)
Not sure what you are asking for but the consumption number I hear is .44 GPH
Love to find a way to show the aqua hot and gen fuel consumption on a VMSpc setup.
I think that would help diagnosis any developing issues?
We have determined that 0.4 GPH on generator running is what we find works consistently for our coach MPG tracking (in Excel). On occasions of high generator usage, our MPG does not seem affected using 0.4 GPH.
Got the Silverleaf purchased today from RVupgrades. Went over to storage and saw that a 9 pin was required (ISL Cummings 400). Got an older notebook with XP and downloaded the program from Silverleaf. Now waiting for arrival of the unit. Have pressure pro so plan to have the tires on the Silverleaf as well. Anyone with suggestions please let me know. The longer I have this motorhome the more stuff I need or think I need. DAN
I ran a 12.5 kw on a Perkins 1.5L, 3 cylinder over 6,000 hours, when I left home, the generator ran non stop until I got home and parked it. Had a 50 gal fuel tank that only fed the generator, it averaged 10 gal a day 24/7, so .41666 gal/hour over about 18 years, total electric. Always thought how nice it would be to wear it out, that would prove I had a grand time. I failed, the new owner loves it.
I think I need some perimeters or acceptable ranges for items that you watch with the Silverleaf??
Is this something I need. Tks DAN
Dave M,
That is an accurate assessment of fuel consumption if I've heard one! 18 years. WOW. I have a Kubota and so far it runs like a sewing machine.
Thanks,
David