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Topic: Expected fuel economy (Read 1124 times) previous topic - next topic

Expected fuel economy

Looking at a 36' 97 295 with 325 8.3 Cummins with Allison mh3000 6 speed transmission.
What fuel milage would you expect from that set up and would the 325 be under powered?
2002 Custom No Slide U320
98 U295 36'
92 Grand Villa 29' front engine gas-Sold
Motorcade 18100

Re: Expected fuel economy

Reply #1 –
You should see 8-10 fuel mileage baised on load, wind, and your driving habits. I have an ISC 8.3 in a 40' 295 run it all over the country towing a 4600 lb Jeep and don't consider it under powered. It gets 8 mpg no mater how I drive it.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: Expected fuel economy

Reply #2 –
plan 6 MPG. speed kills mileage -

anything else is an upside. if you get 8 you are having a good day

fuel is a reasonably small percentage of the total cost of ownership unless you drive beyond 15,000 mile per year

I figure .50 a mile for fuel, includes generator and I usually beat it - tow a 2 door tracker at 80 MPH.

Tim Fiedler

Sure Start Soft Start - home of SureStart soft starters TCER Direct - home of Generac Approved Aluminum and Copper TCER Composite cable generator-gas-prod - home of X-Riser Gas Risers for PE installation Call me at 630 240-9139
Gen-Pro
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Expected fuel economy

Reply #3 –
Many of us have the 8.3 300hp,that being said for me and most of us it is well powered.Fuel mileage will be anywhere from 7 to
the 9's,too many factors to figure in,55 vs75 mph,plains or mountains,driving style,do you baby it or floor it,fuel additives,condition
of engine.You can ask 10 different members and get 10 different figures.I get between 8 and 9 with no toad and keep it at 63 mph
and have 230k miles and use synthetic oil.Figured mileage a few times then said as long as the engine is in good working order
who cares what the mileage is,it is what it is.With a 97 you can get the computer program and monitor the mileage all you want.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Expected fuel economy

Reply #4 –
Thanks for the great info guys, great to have you to bounce questions off.
Thanks, Windwalker
2002 Custom No Slide U320
98 U295 36'
92 Grand Villa 29' front engine gas-Sold
Motorcade 18100

Re: Expected fuel economy

Reply #5 –
Had a guy once tell me a few years ago:"If you have to worry about the fuel mileage, you can't afford it. The memories and experiences created by your travels far outweighs the worrying about fuel mileage."
I have found his statements so very true.
The DW and I have created so many memories that we would never have had without our coach. That being said, our mileage, after each fill, we do check it as a means of monitoring the engine performance, not as a means of worrying about fuel cost. Fuel prices are what they are and we can only drive sensibly, keep tire pressures up, refrain from driving into high headwinds (they kill MPG), go slow enough to enjoy the panoramic view in front of you as you go.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Expected fuel economy

Reply #6 –
I'm also not concerned about what mpg I get.  But I do care about the range I have left since my fuel gauge is NOT accurate.  Still tweaking the VMSpc but so far it's pretty accurate.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: Expected fuel economy

Reply #7 –
Quote from: windwalker –
Looking at a 36' 97 295 with 325 8.3 Cummins with Allison mh3000 6 speed transmission.
What fuel milage would you expect from that set up and would the 325 be under powered?

I owned a 1994 Bluebird BMC37' from 2004 to 2016. Full timed many of those years. The Bluebird was heavier than your coach, had a Cummins 8.3 300, Allison MD 3060. Over the years I averaged 8 to 8.5 mpg on a regular ongoing basis. Usually ran between 63 mph and 68 mph.  I calculated MPG by hand, tracked every tank-full on spreadsheets. Generator figure 1/2 gallon per hour.
Dan - Full timing since 2009
2003 U320 40' Tag 2 slide

Re: Expected fuel economy

Reply #8 –
I do like the Silverleaf prediction how many more gallons I need.    We try to never get much below half unless we are on the home stretch.  We always fill up right before putting it in the garage.  We considered one later model coach until I saw it held 125 gallons. 
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)

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Re: Expected fuel economy

Reply #9 –
John 44 comments track my experience over just 12,000 miles in two years: 7-9. 1998 U270 36', C8.3 325 hp. 325 was the maximum stock hp for fire trucks and rv versions of mechanical c8.3. I run at 65mph with generator running on hot days. That mileage also includes gen use while dry camping (2 hours a day) and a few overnights at safety road stops. I have 8Kw diesel gen set.
1998 36 foot U270 Build No. 5328 WTFE, 900 watts solar, Victron controller, B2B, bat monitor, 600 AMPH lithium with 2018 Chevy Colorado toad, SKP #110239, Motorcade #17781, 2021 Escape 17B for when Coach is broken down and campsites are too small, retired and full-timer since Dec. 2020. Part of RV family since 1963.

Re: Expected fuel economy

Reply #10 –
97 U295 36' 300 HP Cat, plenty of power 7-8, mostly 7 1/2 towing Wrangler at 60 MPH.
But if you figure hotels, restaurants, and potty stops, works out to  about 30 MPG
Chris and Tammy White  CDA Idaho
Previous owners 1997 U295 36' 3126 Cat 300 HP Build # 4998
Former Foretravel tech & RVIA certified tech
Former owner Custom Satellite home/RV satellites 
Former owner Vans LTD  van conversions
Unemployed, panhandler, drag racer NHRA #6348