Thanks guys.
I live in the panhandle and have driven to Chicago many times. So I know that route well.
Im going to look for none towing gears.

 

2012 XLT 2wd supercab with a topper, 3.7L engine, just and a 20 pound bike in the back. Stock wheels and tires, inflated to the max sidewall pressure.

The real key that day was the construction and 45mph traffic that rolled along for about 30 minutes without any change in speed or stops or anything.

On days without construction I usually look for a truck going 60-65 and just sit behind them. I'm not really "drafting", I'm just trying to stay out of the way of the 70+ mph traffic.

I did a little testing with and without the topper and the mpg on the highway was about the same (well, exactly the same in my non-scientific test), it's heavy so it probably cuts my in-town mileage a bit but it helps in the winter for sure with traction.

Here in the midwest there are a lot of roads that are flat, few stops, and little traffic so if you aren't in a hurry you can go 45-50 without getting in anybody's way and get those big numbers.

Honestly I think the biggest thing is speed, these trucks are really big and are punching a huge hole in the air. Drag increases fast as speed increases.

Next biggest thing is stopping and starting, they are heavy and it takes a lot of power to get back up to speed.

Minimizing braking helps so when you can roll up on a stop from a ways back it's better.

Once you get over 40-45mph and then coast the fuel is cut off and the wheels turn the engine without any gas at all so coasting to stops and sometimes down hills is like for free.

I'm not getting 25+ mpg every day I can tell you that, most days to and from work are around 19, lifetime is just over 20. Still...20mpg for such a big, safe, capable vehicle is a freaking miracle, I love this truck

Hope this helps

 

You know, before reading into this thread a good bit I was actually debating trading up to an ecoboost or something from my 04 5.4L, but seeing so many people have pretty crummy gas mileage on them- I think I'll stick to my 14-16 city/18-21 highway holy hell

 

Once you get over 40-45mph and then coast the fuel is cut off and the wheels turn the engine without any gas at all so coasting to stops and sometimes down hills is like for free.

So when this happens how do the brakes still work?

 

The fuel isn't truly cut off. There is still vacuum being produced just like at idle so the brakes will still work and if rpm's increase with the throttle plate closed so does the vacuum. The 3.7 at least in the mustang also aggressively deactivates cylinders when off throttle so that helps with mpg as well.

 

Are you implying that Royal Purple is a pure synthetic oil? I'm not sure what you mean when you say "true Synthetic." Even Royal Purple uses a base lubricate with additives. As far as I know there are no pure 100% synthetic motor oils. Even Royal Purple state that they use proprietary additive technology. http://www.royalpurpleconsumer.com/w...synthetic-oil/

 

Ended up averaging 15.8 with my first tank.

 

dont downshift and make you engine rev up, just push the clutch in and use the brakes to stop.

 

If the gas was cut off, the engine would stop and you would have to restart it when ready to proceed.

 

Have you had any problems with the eco? also does the auto engine shut off effect the motor in the long run with all the restarts