Finally.... over 24 MPG on a 3.7 !
12-02-2011, 11:22 AM
#51
Ran 260 miles with wind to the back and averaged 23.8 mpg. Also noticed a .5 mpg gain into the wind by going M and setting trans in 5th gear. about 400 RPM gain on the motor but truck handled the 25 mp wind with no pull to the motor and a gain in mileage very noticeable, 19.5. Hauling 1000 lbs. Have noticed if you just lay your foot on the throttle the 3.7 has the hp to accelerate basically on its own and keep the mileage up in the 23's if you aren't in a hurry. Get in a hurry and shove down on the pony meter and 300 hp takes the gas and drops into the 18's real quick. It's your $5.00 every time you need it. I had a 66 GTA 390 with comparable HP and could never get 11 mpg. Always 10.5 no mater how easy I drove that car. Quite a difference in technology.
Less strain = less vacuum = Plus mpg.
Last edited by Jax123; 12-02-2011 at 11:25 AM. Reason: punctuation error
12-02-2011, 12:19 PM
#52
Better OUT then IN
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: South Florida (Ft. Lauderdale area)
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Originally Posted by papa tiger
Ran 260 miles with wind to the back and averaged 23.8 mpg. Also noticed a .5 mpg gain into the wind by going M and setting trans in 5th gear. about 400 RPM gain on the motor but truck handled the 25 mp wind with no pull to the motor and a gain in mileage very noticeable, 19.5. Hauling 1000 lbs. Have noticed if you just lay your foot on the throttle the 3.7 has the hp to accelerate basically on its own and keep the mileage up in the 23's if you aren't in a hurry. Get in a hurry and shove down on the pony meter and 300 hp takes the gas and drops into the 18's real quick. It's your $5.00 every time you need it. I had a 66 GTA 390 with comparable HP and could never get 11 mpg. Always 10.5 no mater how easy I drove that car. Quite a difference in technology.
12-03-2011, 07:43 PM
#54
I guess if that theory works, wy don't we all just drive around in 4th or 3rd?
:rolle yes:
12-03-2011, 07:49 PM
#55
I will re-iterate, I have checked mileage in this truck in 6th and 5th, and even 4th. I have never come across a situation when the truck got better mileage in a lower gear, towing, hauling, unloaded, fast or slow. This is primary reason our trucks have 6 gears, and (in canada) 29mpg highway ratings. When I have checked, 5th is usually 1 mpg below 6th, and 4th is almost another mpg. When towing, the difference is about 1 mpg better in 5th and 4th.
If you do feel the need to run a lower gear, there is no need to select M, just toggle it down in regular mode.
The whole lower gears for better mileage is a thread highjack that makes no sense, what is the point in having 3.50 gears vs 3.73? why have a 6th gear? I am not just assuming here, I have checked multiple times, and my previous 2 vehicles had a scangaugeII in them, and instant mpg was always better in the higher gear. Using the "vacuum" analogy, there is more friction, from higher vacuum, being lost as "pumping losses", when running a lower gear.
If you do feel the need to run a lower gear, there is no need to select M, just toggle it down in regular mode.
The whole lower gears for better mileage is a thread highjack that makes no sense, what is the point in having 3.50 gears vs 3.73? why have a 6th gear? I am not just assuming here, I have checked multiple times, and my previous 2 vehicles had a scangaugeII in them, and instant mpg was always better in the higher gear. Using the "vacuum" analogy, there is more friction, from higher vacuum, being lost as "pumping losses", when running a lower gear.
Last edited by isthatahemi; 12-03-2011 at 07:51 PM.
12-03-2011, 11:44 PM
#56
Senior Member
Just turned 2000 miles on my 3.7 reg cab 3.55 gears.
I had reset my trip odo and avg mpg at previous fill up then rechecked the computer against actual mpg at my last fill up.
So it was "fill up to fill up" - "click to click at the pump.
Computer showed overall average = 19.4 mpg.
By hand calculator 280.4 miles divided by 13.2 gal = 21.24 mpg.
I had reset my trip odo and avg mpg at previous fill up then rechecked the computer against actual mpg at my last fill up.
So it was "fill up to fill up" - "click to click at the pump.
Computer showed overall average = 19.4 mpg.
By hand calculator 280.4 miles divided by 13.2 gal = 21.24 mpg.
And, it's got 1/2 the hp, 1/2 the interior space and a heck of a lot less hauling capacity.
12-05-2011, 10:20 AM
#57
I will re-iterate, I have checked mileage in this truck in 6th and 5th, and even 4th. I have never come across a situation when the truck got better mileage in a lower gear, towing, hauling, unloaded, fast or slow. This is primary reason our trucks have 6 gears, and (in canada) 29mpg highway ratings. When I have checked, 5th is usually 1 mpg below 6th, and 4th is almost another mpg. When towing, the difference is about 1 mpg better in 5th and 4th.
If you do feel the need to run a lower gear, there is no need to select M, just toggle it down in regular mode.
The whole lower gears for better mileage is a thread highjack that makes no sense, what is the point in having 3.50 gears vs 3.73? why have a 6th gear? I am not just assuming here, I have checked multiple times, and my previous 2 vehicles had a scangaugeII in them, and instant mpg was always better in the higher gear. Using the "vacuum" analogy, there is more friction, from higher vacuum, being lost as "pumping losses", when running a lower gear.
If you do feel the need to run a lower gear, there is no need to select M, just toggle it down in regular mode.
The whole lower gears for better mileage is a thread highjack that makes no sense, what is the point in having 3.50 gears vs 3.73? why have a 6th gear? I am not just assuming here, I have checked multiple times, and my previous 2 vehicles had a scangaugeII in them, and instant mpg was always better in the higher gear. Using the "vacuum" analogy, there is more friction, from higher vacuum, being lost as "pumping losses", when running a lower gear.
It is harder to pushthan to pull.:
12-05-2011, 08:51 PM
#58
I was pulling a small trailer the other day, into a headwind, 6th still got over 1 mpg better than 5th. The lower gear getting better mileage theory is bunk. That's why these trucks have 6 speeds.
