Gas Mileage Numbers - California to Maine the Long Way

[PatheticJoe]

I drove from California to Maine in August this year and because there is so much talk about gas mileage on this forum I finally decided to post the numbers. I missed a few tanks, especially in Canada, but its a pretty good sample. I took the long route on the trip. I went through Canada and then hit Atlanta for Braves game before coming back. The truck was 100% stock on the trip, had only ~2700 miles on it when I left, and it gets about 15-16 around town lately. The numbers show I could get good gas mileage but they were in parts where I averaged 60 mph; all the 19 to 21 stuff is various intersates. BTW it was a great trip, I've now seen every National Park in the lower 48 and Hawaii. Hope these numbers help, especially for anytime comtemplating a long road trip.

MilesUS GallonsMPG291.314.48520.11331.816.88919.6531115.12120.57317.114.55521.79243.210.33423.53345.517.65419.57272.715.87717.18265.511.67422.74266.310.64425.02379.417.56521.60376.716.09623.40408.416.17125.26307.713.55322.70370.416.7722.09377.817.71521.33353.316.46721.46339.616.07221.13376.417.81521.13335.916.97719.7934916.87120.69352.416.5421.31305.416.98517.98

[PatheticJoe]

The numbers looked right in the thread creator tool but got butchered once it posted. Here is a picture hopefully this works better.

[PatheticJoe]

Damn, that didn't work either. Just click on the camera icon. The picture is in there.

[MotoXFreeStyle61]

I see a 25 in there not bad at all for a TRD V6. I'm lucky if my I4 hits that.

[sawdust]

What octane gas were you running?

[PatheticJoe]

Originally Posted by sawdust

What octane gas were you running?

Always the lowest grade, of course the octane varies across country but I don't think it ever got over 90.

[PatheticJoe]

Originally Posted by MotoXFreeStyle61

I see a 25 in there not bad at all for a TRD V6. I'm lucky if my I4 hits that.

Those sections were all 55-60 mph with cruise control and no significant hills. Still is impressive for the V6 but once it hits >70 mph its all 21 or less.

[Viper-2]

Originally Posted by sawdust

What octane gas were you running?

Are you serious Sawdust? I am getting that and more every time now in my I4. I forget who posted it on here but I tried something which has made my gas mileage a whole new experience.

Not sure if you have the manual or auto. If you have a manual like me make all the shift points within 2,000 to 2,500 rpm's.

After watching what I naturally do I noticed i shift at like 3000 to 3,500 on 1st gear and about the same on 2nd. I suppose I just learned to do that because of the gearboxes on my Vipers.

I am practicing changing that to under 2500 and for the last week the mpg's have been crazy. It takes practice if you habitually shift at other points.

I went back and saw you have the auto...sorry man. But maybe this will help someone else.

[sawdust]

Originally Posted by Viper-2

Are you serious Sawdust? I am getting that and more every time now in my I4. I forget who posted it on here but I tried something which has made my gas mileage a whole new experience.

Not sure if you have the manual or auto. If you have a manual like me make all the shift points within 2,000 to 2,500 rpm's.

After watching what I naturally do I noticed i shift at like 3000 to 3,500 on 1st gear and about the same on 2nd. I suppose I just learned to do that because of the gearboxes on my Vipers.

I am practicing changing that to under 2500 and for the last week the mpg's have been crazy. It takes practice if you habitually shift at other points.

I went back and saw you have the auto...sorry man. But maybe this will help someone else.

Yeah, I'm serious. I've been getting 16-18 mpg city lately and I do try to keep shift points below 2K rpms. I'm hoping for 20 once the engine breaks in (I'm only at 1400 miles now). Originally I thought it was strange to put a tachometer in an auto, but now I'm glad I have it. I was curious about the octane because I've been running the lowest grade lately but I heard the 4L's compression ratio would benefit from higher grade. I've got a road trip to the folks for Thanksgiving coming up and I'm trying to figure out whether to fill it up with the higher octane for that trip. I may do the lower grade on the way, and then the higher grade on the return, just to compare.

[PatheticJoe]

Originally Posted by sawdust

I may do the lower grade on the way, and then the higher grade on the return, just to compare.

I don't think it'll make that much difference but its a good idea just to convince yourself one way or another. With gas prices around here you have to get 1.4 mpg more on the highest octane than regular to break even, that's a big mpg gain for that V6.

[sawdust]

Originally Posted by PatheticJoe

I don't think it'll make that much difference but its a good idea just to convince yourself one way or another. With gas prices around here you have to get 1.4 mpg more on the highest octane than regular to break even, that's a big mpg gain for that V6.

I've heard 2-3 mpg gains on the higher octane, so it could be financially reasonable. I didn't mention that my folks live on the Texas Gulf coast near petroleum refineries. Gas is routinely 10-15 cents per gallon cheaper there than here, so I won't be risking much money.

[TuRDTACO]

Originally Posted by Viper-2

Are you serious Sawdust? I am getting that and more every time now in my I4. I forget who posted it on here but I tried something which has made my gas mileage a whole new experience.

Not sure if you have the manual or auto. If you have a manual like me make all the shift points within 2,000 to 2,500 rpm's.

After watching what I naturally do I noticed i shift at like 3000 to 3,500 on 1st gear and about the same on 2nd. I suppose I just learned to do that because of the gearboxes on my Vipers.

I am practicing changing that to under 2500 and for the last week the mpg's have been crazy. It takes practice if you habitually shift at other points.

I went back and saw you have the auto...sorry man. But maybe this will help someone else.

i cant get myself to accelerate slowly enough off the line to let my auto trans shift at under 2500 in first and second. usually it hits between 3000 and 3500 in first and second, and i'm in 5th by the time i hit 45mph

[aborders]

Took my 4cyl from Davenport IA to Lincoln NE, got around 30mpg driving on I-80, quite impressed with this truck just got it on Tuesday and already its doing great not to mention making my Dad and Grandpa Jelous of the truck.

[007Tacoma]

Originally Posted by PatheticJoe

The numbers looked right in the thread creator tool but got butchered once it posted. Here is a picture hopefully this works better.

Hey, Joe. I fixed your link on your picture. It should show up now.

BTW - NICE NUMBERS!!!

[nd]

Originally Posted by sawdust

I've heard 2-3 mpg gains on the higher octane, so it could be financially reasonable. I didn't mention that my folks live on the Texas Gulf coast near petroleum refineries. Gas is routinely 10-15 cents per gallon cheaper there than here, so I won't be risking much money.

I'm amazed he got 25mpg even if he was cruising at 55 with no hills!

As far as your experiment, i notice a slight difference between 87 and 89 but when i go above 89 i dont notice anything at all. you may want to try 89 on the way up then 91 or93 on the way back

[sawdust]

Originally Posted by ndcouch

I'm amazed he got 25mpg even if he was cruising at 55 with no hills!

As far as your experiment, i notice a slight difference between 87 and 89 but when i go above 89 i dont notice anything at all. you may want to try 89 on the way up then 91 or93 on the way back

I was going to do a step lower. Typically I do 87 for all my daily city miles. Was going to do 89 on the return trip. I don't have any baseline for highway miles at 87 on my truck. If this turn out to be worth it, I'll probably try 91 on the way to the in-laws at Christmas.

[007Tacoma]

Originally Posted by ndcouch

I'm amazed he got 25mpg even if he was cruising at 55 with no hills!

As far as your experiment, i notice a slight difference between 87 and 89 but when i go above 89 i dont notice anything at all. you may want to try 89 on the way up then 91 or93 on the way back

My truck actually gets MUCH better mileage at 55 MPH with hills. That was how I got 27 MPG that one time (before the any modifications).

[TSUNAMI*22]

With my new DIY cruise control on my I4 manual, I'm still seeing 32-33+ mpg @ 65 mph. I can't complain.

[concrete jedi]

Well done lad ! for a total average of 21.4 mpg. Drive on friend, drive on !

[PatheticJoe]

Originally Posted by 007Tacoma

My truck actually gets MUCH better mileage at 55 MPH with hills. That was how I got 27 MPG that one time (before the any modifications).

When I mentioned hills I meant anything that caused the truck to downshift and rev high to maintain the cruise control setting. My experience with the V6 so far is RPMs are everything for mileage so hills or anything else that cause high RPMs are bad for mileage.