Gas mileage!

I actually get about 13-15mpg. I've given up looking for better mileage.

 

Word of warning, to anyone considering Pulse & Glide driving. If you have an auto trans do not turn off the engine. Your transmission needs the engine on to keep oil lubricating. You can do serious damage, especially at higher speeds.

 

I wouldn't consider turning it off. I have a question though Mikey. Pulse and glide: Accelerate to 10MPH above desired average speed without downshifting
Decelerate to 10MPH below desired average speed

In the deceleration, is it better to completely let off the gas and let the fuel injectors shut off (do they?) but for a shorter decel time, or to give it a small amount of gas so that it is not as good MPG but still high because you're decelerating, and maintain the decel for a longer time?

I have been advised against shifting from neutral to drive too often in an automatic.

 

You can neutral shift if you are able to find an rpm to reengage the trans without a noticeable jerk. In my wife's auto trans 42-47mph is the perfect place to reengage without any trans aggravation. Many auto trans owners just try to take advantage of driving with a constant load in order to take advantage of timing advance. Trial and error is the best thing you can do though. I'm able to get about 34mpg in my wife's EPA rated 20mpg family sedan with a combination of different techniques that depend upon th situation.

 

Does that range prevent damage or is it the problem of shifting at all that hurts? And what about the deceleration question I had

 

Shifting can be harmless, but you can cause damage. That's about right as far as Pulse & Glide, but it will vary from vehicle to vehicle. I try to keep it in top gear as much as possible with an auto trans.

 

I am asking if it is better during the deceleration to completely let off the gas or to barely press the gas so your deceleration lasts longer.

 

To many variables to answer that. Either way try to avoid using the breaks as much as possible. Break dust = less mpg

 

Alright; I will have to see when I get my scangauge. How about this,

Do the fuel injectors shut off above a certain RPM?

 

You can get that in one tank!

 

If you do 60 vs 70, you'll see a big improvement. I see 2-3 extra mpg, and personally I enjoy more miles out of a tank then the hour or 2 it adds to the trip. And I watch all the people doing 70-80 pass me twice when they have to stop and fill up haha

 

1-2 hours?? That sounds a bit exaggerated!

Nearly every time I have been passed on the road I have come behind that person at a light or sign. I can't tell if they can see me or not but I wave

 

I mean I took a 650 mile trip. So you figure an extra 10 min every hour doing 60 vs 70, and it adds up. A 6 hr trip would be an extra hour

 

Hmm, I wonder if it is worth it.

650 mile trip:
60MPH = 24 MPG?
70MPH = 21 MPG?

Total savings of 3.86 gallons. @ $4/gallon=Savings of $15.47.

What do you think? (Disregarding the fact that if you multiplied this out for a whole year, I mean one trip)

 

When I drive I'm never in a hurry haha. I like to cruise. Any extra money in my pocket is good for me haha. At 60 I get about 22-24 on the scanguage, 70 about 20-22, and 80 18-20. I have also noticed that I get better mpg on top tier fuel stations. Top tier fuels use better fuel and additives, and sometimes less ethanol. That's why they cost a little more, but I find they add about 1 mpg to my average city and about 2 mpg highway

 

I use Shell, Valero, Chevron, and Exxon if I must. I have always heard Shell is the best. What do you think?

Also, what grade do you buy? I think our manual calls for premium, but I have heard that grades don't really affect MPG unless you're at high RPMs where they start burning differently. I buy medium as a rule, but if premium is ~10c more, I will go for prem.

It will be like one giant pulse and glide.

 

pretty sure he meant the total miles he is traveling

I do 80 (where I can) when I drive to FL from PA. just over 1100 miles and it's worth the extra money spent to save me 3-4 hours of road time. Case in point: Drove 10 mph above the speed limit to and from, was just a hair under 15 hours total drive time. This past October drove with a trailer at 65-70 (max) and it took 19 hours (minor stops for tie-down straps). At the time frame of about 16 hours I eventually start to get a little sleepy so I'd rather get there quicker

 

Good fuels use techron. I know mobil 1, chevron, and one other uses that. Shell uses nitrogen enriched. Not positive on what that does, but I know they are a good fuel. But I'll also use Hess and BP, If nothin else is around. Also the 3.4 was rated to use 87 octane. But the 4.0 gets the best hp and mpg on 91-93 octane. The ECU was designed to detune itself to be able to run lower. The research on here suggest that the extra cost of 91-93 octane actually outweighs itself cause of the inprovement mpg. Also, you'll have more power, and the truck won't knock as much

 

I 100% agree with you that sometimes its better to drive a little faster because at the end of a drive that long you start to get tired and if you do have to stop in a hotel that just drives the price up even more. now if its a drive that you can make it a day going slow its up to you but if you go slow and have to take 2 days its more expensive

 

Yeah I think so too, what are you talking about? I was saying he could get 420 miles with one tank of fuel.

That's why I posed the question, it is definitely subjective. I know after 15 hours all I would be thinking about is that I could be off the road by then. Lol

We don't have Hess and BP around here. That's some good info you have there! I will start running the highest octane then. What do you mean the ECU was designed to detune itself and what do you mean by run lower? It sounds like you're saying it works with low octane fuel. And I have read the opposite, that some TW drivers showed no effect on MPG. Could you link me to where you find that or tell me where?

That's a good point. Trip/route planning is underestimated to me, it can have a large effect on economy and $$$