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Topic: MPG discussion (Read 2375 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: MPG discussion

Reply #50 –
I want to get the best mpg I can get because:

1. I'm not rich and better miles-per-gallon means I pay less for my RV travel and can buy cool gizmos for it with the money I saved;

2. Better miles-per-gallon means more gas stations passed on a tankful... you might not appreciate this as much if you hadn't once owned a 1959 Chevy with a 409 engine and a 4-barrel carb; and

3. Getting almost 12 mpg annoys the crap out of people on rv.net.

Actually, #3 is worth it all by itself. :D

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: MPG discussion

Reply #51 –
Easy way to get more MPG than the other guy.
Do it the same way he did.
LIE ABOUT IT
1993 U300, 6v92
build 4366
USAF retired, Flight Engineer, C124, C130
 ATP, A & E.  & ex AI

Re: MPG discussion

Reply #52 –
               Here at CG there is a Monica , Knight 40 ft size . He ask me about my MPG . I told him 6 to 10 , he said he gets 14 to 18 . The devil in me said , gee , you should get it checked as something is bad wrong . Most people get at least 20 MPG with a rig like yours . The guy didn't have much to say after that . :P :P :P :P                  Brad Metzger
Brad Metzger
2010 Phenix 45'

Re: MPG discussion

Reply #53 –
Quote from: Brad Metzger –
                Here at CG there is a Monica , Knight 40 ft size . He ask me about my MPG . I told him 6 to 10 , he said he gets 14 to 18 . The devil in me said , gee , you should get it checked as something is bad wrong . Most people get at least 20 MPG with a rig like yours . The guy didn't have much to say after that . :P :P :P :P                  Brad Metzger

LOL... that was soooo nawty!  I bought a bandsaw from a guy who had just bought a huge 5th wheel with at least 4 slides and was towing it with a 1-ton dually Dodge-diesel (automatic). He told me he was getting 18 mpg. I'm not as quick as Brad is... I just smiled. :P

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: MPG discussion

Reply #54 –
             :P :))  Here at CG there is a Monica , Knight 40 ft size . He ask me about my MPG . I told him 6 to 10 , he said he gets 14 to 18 . The devil in me said , gee , you should get it checked as something is bad wrong . Most people get at least 20 MPG with a rig like yours . The guy didn't have much to say after that . :P :P :P :P    :))              Brad Metzger


SEE,
I TOLDED U
1993 U300, 6v92
build 4366
USAF retired, Flight Engineer, C124, C130
 ATP, A & E.  & ex AI

Re: MPG discussion

Reply #55 –
Bill great reply. I used to say"and you had straight A's in math" but I like yours better John
John
1998 U270 34'

Re: MPG discussion

Reply #56 –
Hmmm.....I get 8 towing the Wrangler.  It gets 19 by itself but uses zero fuel being towed so I could add them together and get 27.  Using that math I could get 50 towing the wife's Jetta diesel.

Wonder why so many people lie about MPG? 
Rick & Rhonda
2003 U320 4220  Build #6199
Was
91 36' GV 300 Caterpillar, 92 40' U280 300 Cummins, 97 36' U295 300 Cummins, 2002
U320 450 Cummins
(Guess we're hooked)

The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: MPG discussion

Reply #57 –
Quote from: Johnstons –
Wonder why so many people lie about MPG?

I don't think they are lying...

Think about how many people say that algebra was something they'd never use in real life. I suspect that there are a lot of RV drivers who either never learned how to calculate miles per gallon or have forgotten.

And I bet some just use the fuel gauge as an indicator of how much fuel they've used.

If they have a constant readout they just pick a number they've seen on the screen and tell it to everyone. Preferably while going down a hill.

I have always kept track of mpg on my vehicles because it's a good indicator of a problem if it suddenly changes but I don't think many people do that.

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."

Re: MPG discussion

Reply #58 –
Quote from: Brad Metzger –
                Here at CG there is a Monica , Knight 40 ft size . He ask me about my MPG . I told him 6 to 10 , he said he gets 14 to 18 . The devil in me said , gee , you should get it checked as something is bad wrong . Most people get at least 20 MPG with a rig like yours . The guy didn't have much to say after that . :P :P :P :P                  Brad Metzger

Brad you have me laughing right now.  Well done.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: MPG discussion

Reply #59 –
I really think that it all depends on how many fill ups are involved.  Just one fill up has alot of error in it depending on pumps, auto shutoffs, etc.  I think that over a long haul and many fill ups that those high numbers would smooth out to a more realistic number. 
Fritz & Kathy Johnson
1991 36'

Re: MPG discussion

Reply #60 –
I usually just take the year and the number of gallons and figure it out but that includes lots of generator time too. So the best way is with Silverleaf.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

Re: MPG discussion

Reply #61 –
If you dip your tank at fill-ups or even between WITH YOUR COACH LEVEL, you get a dead accurate MPG reading. At exactly 6 gallons per inch on our U280-300 rectangular tanks, it's a no brainer with accurate measurements within a gallon easily calculated by anyone. With tanks that have a more complex shape, it would still not be that difficult to mark a measure as you fill a near empty tank.

High or low number MPG calculations are a function of basic math with the results determined by topography, winds, coach factors, etc. with only the miles travels vs. the stick measurement necessary for the figure. The service station fuel pump totals are not even relevant using this method.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: MPG discussion

Reply #62 –
Tim, I put in an on-demand heater that has been really great. They said I'd get about 900 gallons of hot water on 20 lbs of LPG and that's what it's turned out to be. I got tired of the expense of the annual adjustments, the leaking fuel pump and subsequent clean-up, the leaking fresh water line, etc., so I just valved it off and it takes up space.
Larry
1996 U295 36'
Build # 4805
Actually we sold it but just like to lurk
 

Re: MPG discussion

Reply #63 –
There is no need to over-complexify the process of keeping track of miles driven per gallon of fuel consumed.

1. Determine the accuracy of your odometer and calculate a correction factor;

2. Keep track of every fillup including date, odometer miles and gallons;

3. You do not have to fill up every time as long as you track how many gallons you put into the tank and when;

4. You can calculate mpg on every fillup but do not average those to determine your total mpg over a long period of time... instead add up all the gallons and subtract beginning mileage from current mileage. This will give you a much more accurate idea of your overall mpg;

5. Avoid using the trip meter unless you are absolutely certain you zero it at every fillup;

6. If you want fairly accurate mpg information every time you fill the tank, try to fill the tank to the same place every time but remember that if your coach is not level at every fill-up the gallons it takes to fill the tank will not be the same;

7. Be aware of "foam" which distorts the tank fuel levels. Diesel fuel foams more than gasoline and it will even shut off a pump nozzle too early in the process. I can shine a flashlight into my tank to determine the state of the foam and simply wait until it dissipates and then fill slowly to the base of the fill intake; and,

8. If you have an on-board mpg calculator do not rely on its reading unless you have carefully calibrated and verified it by manual calculations.

Miles per gallon equals the number of miles driven since last fillup divided by the number of gallons it took to fill the tank to the brim (or to the same place as last time) (plus any gallons put into the tank between fillups).

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."