jknight

I'm tired of the people getting good mileage telling me I don't know how to drive . Put up or shut up.

Jeff

engineermike

I was actually surprised how much better my EB does at idle when compared to my old 5.7 Tundra and 5.4SC Harley truck. I checked all three using a scangauge.

engineermike

When I first started trying to drive more efficiently using a scangauge, I thought I knew how to do it. But after several years of experimenting, I now know that my initial idea of "efficient driving" was all wrong. No one is infallible.

Using what I learned (not what I thought I knew), I was able to achieve nearly 24 mpg with a loaded EB on a 2400 mile trip using mostly horse-**** gas (87 octane E10).

Adobe2X

Geez....how in the world did you remember that from two months ago?? Nice memory you have there!!

Adobe2X

THERE you go! I've got my flame suit pants on and am hunting for the shirt.....took a while for me to need it though!
Just remember this .....EVERY time you hit the brakes you are generating lower MPG.....That heat that is generated when your brakes get hot? That's the energy that is wasted from your current tank of gas.......and it doubles the loss to accelerate back to speed.....not that I am telling you how to drive though!!!!
All this said, I have noticed that with the EB, the mpg drops a lot with only a little application of the gas. You are trying to move over 6,000 pounds with only 213 cubic inches, so I think that is why stop and go stuff just kills the EB MPG.....

JerryC

I think driving style does make a difference, but it's a stretch to see where driving styles differ so much that when using what each driver considers to be their best style for MPG, one has 150% - 200% the MPG through driving style alone.

It would seem to me that there must be a mechanical issue for some of these folks getting poor MPG. Like dragging brakes, poor 4 wheel alignment, injector fouling, improperly calibrated odometer, aftermarket wheels and/or tires, etc...

Brings up a question, does anybody know for sure what affect windows up or windows down has MPG of these trucks? Usually windows down means worse MPG, on our trucks how much worse?

Adobe2X

I've heard that windows down is about the same amount of drag as running the A/C......right around 8 to 10%. Don't have the source for this info though.

elbo

Windows up is always better, but if it is a/c versus open windows, then below 45mph you are better with windows open, above 45mph air conditioning.

I pay attention to lights ahead to try not to have to use the brakes as much. I also run a little higher pressure on the tires.

Fairlane64

Just for grins I'm going to try the advice from this website for one full tankful to see if it makes a difference. I *might* accelerate a little hard sometimes I suppose... ROFL!

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/fuel-e...el-economy.htm

engineermike

Bingo!!! It takes a certain amount of energy (gasoline) to accelerate 6000 lb to 60 mph, whether you do it in 6 seconds or 60 seconds. Sure, there are minor differences in BSFC as a function of rate, but there are overriding physics at play. None of the energy is wasted until you touch the brake pedal. At that moment, the kinetic energy, that you bought and paid for in gas, is turned into heat and released to atmosphere. If you coast, you are getting, literally, infinite mpg's thanks to Deceleration Fuel Cut Off (DFCO) that has been used for decades now.

There are many ways to maximize coasting, but I won't get into that unless requested.