500 miles on a tank, 6 cylinder

Tom, my PreRunner with ScanGauge calibrated for zero odometer error gets about 22mpg on the interstate at 67-68 mph in slightly hilly country on summer gas with almost new Michelin P245-75/16 (oem size). My OEM tires lost a full inch in diameter when replaced (at 37k miles and not yet down to the wear bars). Always got good mpg's on Colorado trips, including Monarch and around Chama (did see 23-24 mpg on round trip Alamosa-Chama), part of it might be air is thinner and computer mixed in slightly less fuel compared with lower altitudes. Odometer error was about .1 off per 100 miles actual when tires were new, speedometer read 62-63 at a true 60. With tire wear, you are going less distance than the odometer software thinks, and the odometer software is different from the speedometer software. Guesstimate on your odometer error would be about 3-5%.

For the OP, I wouldn't go to the lighter weight oil unless your driving is ALL short trips/stop and go in mostly below freezing weather. Once your engine is warmed up, 0-30 oil acts like 5-30, or even 10-30 as far as friction. Don't think you'll see any measurable change.

 

If I drove 55 on ANY of the interstates around philly id not only cause a dozen accidents a mile, I'd probably get shot as well.

 

if you are doing 55 on a 70 mph interstate....

you should hand over your man card and buy a VW cabriolet.

 

I do 60 on the highway because my 1st gen isn't geared for fast. It drops from about 20-22mpg to 16-18 at 70+. That's what they make the slow lanes for.

OP, I'd run 0w-30. 0w has better cold flow then 5w, and will still heat up to the recommended 30 weight viscosity. I like 0w-40, as I live in FL, which is also known as Hell 2.0.

 

There is no minimum speed on highways in Washington state.

When low bid I-90 was rough where the concrete panels had tilted I had to go 25 mph with my horse trailer on some sections. State patrol told me that's legal as long was you aren't "blocking traffic" which is defined as vehicles occupying all lanes traveling the same speed. If you slow down so you aren't next to another vehicle you are no longer blocking traffic. An example of blocking traffic is 2 truck going up a hill one passing the other slowly, like 2mph faster.

 

There might not be, but practically speaking, if you are going more than 10 mph under the limit, you ARE potentially contributing to an accident by messing everything else up around you and yes YOU are the PROBLEM.

Same thing with people trying to merge onto the freeway going 45 mph on the on-ramp....it just doesn't work....

Rant over. Carry on everyone.

 

No other people are the problem from a legal point of view. I went as fast as could on a defective road which has now been fixed. YOUR attitude is the problem.

 

If the road is full of potholes.....sure adjust your speed accordingly, same goes for inclement weather or if pulling a load, but if it is a clear, sunny day with great visibility and ideal traction and you're not hauling a horse trailer, you better not be going that slow. End of story.

I don't think my attitude is the problem here.

 

How. I think best i ever got was 380. Dclb 4x4 though. Perhaps the skewp doesnt ACTUALLY help

 

On a multi-lane highway, as long as faster traffic can go around slower traffic (on the left side) it's perfectly OK to go whatever speed you need to, subject to minimum speed requirements present on some roads. When I'm pulling my trailer, 65 is as fast as I'm going to go. I have every right to drive on a US Interstate. I stay in the right lane, or the lane most appropriate to my speed (often middle on a three-lane).

I take your point about holding up traffic, but the reality is that we aren't all always driving something that will maintain 75. Or even reach 75. My old VW Rabbit Diesel was hard-pressed to make 70 on flat ground. Does that mean I should have not driven it at all on Interstates?

People should be conscious of whether they are holding up traffic. Yes. Here in Colorado it's what I call Summer Parade Season. Our parades are formed by an 89-year-old Texan driving a 40 foot long RV, gazing lovingly at the mountains as he drives 40 mph down a United States Highway. A parade of motorists, thrilled that the old fart is enjoying himself, roll along behind, occasionally having to hit the brakes as he slows to 35 to explain to his wife that the white stuff up on them mountains is sand (it's not). This is on two-lane highway not interstate, but it illustrates your point AND mine. Be conscious of and considerate of the other drivers on the road. I dragged my camper 90 minutes home Saturday, and I pulled off at least 5 times during those miles to let people by.

Be considerate. But realize that there are separate lanes on interstates so that people CAN run at different speeds. In Urban areas, maintaining speed is far more important obviously. I wouldn't drag my trailer through a city at rush hour willingly, but if I had to I'd stay right, even if I was stuck at 55 mph behind the other slow-lane goobers.

One of those things about life that can suck. Having to tolerate other people.

 

I should have mine weighed some day. LOL

I'm happy to get 15.5 MPGs when I drive it really friendly like...

 

^^^ That is sort of my point.

I like to maximize fuel economy as much as the next person by coasting when possible, dropping speed slightly when possible, and if I can do that safely without blocking traffic and without holding traffic up behind me I will. If you don't have a vehicle that can actually go the speed limit or the speed at which the majority of traffic around you is going then that's fair enough also - stay in the right lane, that is totally good.

The essence of what I was trying to get at whether successfully or not, was that it causes more problems for everyone on the road if you won't keep up with the flow of traffic (despite being perfectly able to and not hindered by hauling loads, environmental or surface conditions or whatever) and to do so simply to try and get better gas mileage is a poorly justifiable reason. I commend you and any others for pulling off to the side (so long as it is safe to do so) and being considerate to those around you.

 

I agree completely. Especially in heavy traffic, or indeed any level of congestion that causes people to get stuck wanting to go faster (especially if they can't even go the speed limit), loafing because you want to set a new record MPG, or you're not in a hurry today, or [unimportant reason for inconveniencing others here] is wrong. Inconsiderate. Increasing the stress of people around you and causing them to take chances to get around you. Increasing the danger of the road.

My saying about driving in traffic: Keep up with the guy ahead of you. If you're in a lane where you aren't keeping up with they guy ahead of you, immediately take action to move to the next lane to the right. If you decide to move left to be in a faster lane, don't lollygag. Change lanes and then use the skinny pedal, immediately. If there's open road in front of you, you aren't in the furthest right lane, and you are going less than the speed limit, pull over and get somebody else to drive.

If you're on an empty road and not holding up anybody, loaf all you want.

 

Yes exactly.

 

On a stock truck all highway V6 6 speed 4x4, I was getting just a little over 400 on a full tank on summer blend. I did that twice on a 900 mile trip. The light would go on at about 380ish and didn't want to push it so I'd stop at around 400-410 and fill up. I do know that the light goes on at between 17-18 gallons so it's not entirely impossible. I'm pretty sure 500 can be done with a auto pre-runner.

 

Damn, that's heavy. Armored? I thought stock DC 4x4 are around 4-4.5K

Last time I rolled on a scale, I was in a extra cab silverado 5.3 4x4 on 35's and weighed about 5,500 lbs.

 

Stock bumpers (CBI hitch up front), IFS and mid skids, and bolt on sliders. 2012 Access Cab. The rest of the weight is shit I carry. Oh, my tires are pretty heavy.

 

I could probably get more than 400 if someone would tell me how many gallons are in the tank when the light comes on.

 

I might be able to get 500 miles if most of it was down hill...