Only getting 240 miles until fuel light?

I have done the calculations at least 20 fillups and average 15mpg. The reason I was asking about the tank is i have read so many posts with people stating "I get 3xx to the tank". I was just wondering if I was low or not.

 

Running 285's and I average about 18.5 mpg by using the set trip/record gallons/divide on fill up method which ends up being around 370-380 a tank which are mostly highway miles mind you. I tend to stay in the 65-70 MPH range and I don't dare go above that though, thinking that foot of yours is getting you into the mpg trouble you seem to be in

 

cruise control hurts mpgs, I think. I haven't had an auto trans or cruise in over 15 years.

 

Oh, yeah, it does. Our trucks, once the cc is set, will maintain exactly the speed set. Because of this the computer is constantly adjusting the the throttle to maintain the set speed. This cost mpg. It's not enough for me to stop using cc, but it still is not as efficient as manual steady foot pressure.

 

Isn't the trip odometer calibrated to stock tires? In other words, if you put larger diameter tires on your truck the odometer is not accurate. The best way to calculate your true mileage would be with a GPS with trip odometer, correct?

 

Change your habits. I'm getting 320-330 before the light comes on, typically 360 before I fill up and even then I still have 2 gallons or so left in the tank before it is dry. Alwasy put about 18 or so in when I fill. V6 TRD O/R

 

it keeps it at your desired speed no matter what...so its constant accel. hit a hill and its instant downshift to maintain your speed. using cruise you'll see an average of 2-3 mpg less.

i posted in the last page about my trip to Florida this in october. this was in a 12 Camry loaded with luggage and using A/C all the way down. when using the cruise control it would only see 27mpg. turn cruise off and it eventually jumped back up to 30mpg. tried the same thing on the way home...same result. so yes, i believe using cruise hurts your MPGs.

 

I have a 2014 TRD Sport 2wd completely stock. In mixed driving my fuel light comes on at 305-315mi and it takes 18 gal to fill it up at that point.

 

Have a ScanGauge that is accurately calibrated. Consistently get 19 around town, 21 highway. Definitely check your odometer - either GPS or on an interstate with mile markers, run at least 50 miles. My truck's odometer is off 2.5% with 20k miles on my Michelins. When replaced, my dunlops had lost a full inch in diameter. Accuracy will decrease with tire wear. My best highway mileage is fairly level/rolling hills on the interstate at 67 mph.

 

Here I am @ 1/2 tank…….

Now I did haul one load to the dump also this weekend maybe an extra 400 lbs for 10 miles….

 

If your fuel gauge is really accurate, and assume 1 gallon left when on E, you could have used 10 gallons for 18.4 mpg, also assuming that your odometer is very accurate.

 

I am very surprised that so few truck drivers don't know how to figure out MPG'S WoW!! I have never heard of calculating mileage by the tank, for the most part it is ridicules.

 

I run cruise constantly on the highway, and twice a week I do 120 mile one way highway only trip. Average 21.5 on those trips. If I stopped using cruise I would be at 23 or 24? I doubt it.

This is driving through WV hills, into PA, up into Ohio.

If anyone has traveled I-79 between Fairmont and Washington PA you know that its mostly up hill grade the whole way.

 

If that's the mileage you're getting with cruise control, then you probably would get a little bit better mpg. Cruise really slams the gas going up steep hills.

I can't stand using cruise on big hills. It slingshots you over the top putting your speed way to high.

It states in the owners manual not to use cruise on roads with steep hills.

 

YES! I thought I was the only one! My gauge seems to drop faster and faster the lower the fuel level gets as well!! Relived to hear I'm not alone.

 

I was getting 17mpg with lift, larger tires, armor and winch and then I started using a GPS for my odometer now I get 15 at 75mph normal cruising speed and 16-17 if I keep it at 70. I'll take the GPS over the mechanical odometer. Point being is it's doable but YA gotta slow down

 

I doubt very seriously that driving without cruise control will gain you 2-3 mpgs. Granted, when climbing hills the transmission does a lot of shifting while driving with cruise, but if you want to maintain your speed, it's going to do the same thing without cruise. Then if you want to keep your trans from downshifting when climbing, you let off of the gas And you wind up losing speed, then accelerating to get back up to speed going down the other side. I'm a little skeptical of the anecdotal evidence that's been shared.

 

You are partly correct about the cruise. If you operate the accelerator in the same manner as the cruise you gain nothing or if you do it on flat land. However if you operate the accelerator like a throttle, something most today are not familiar with, you can easily gain 2 or 3 MPG if there is a lot of hills.

 

Am I correct to assume you mean by "operating your cruise like a throttle," you mean by disengaging the cruise control while climbing hills?

 

Sorry for the confusion. I have corrected how it reads. One wrong word and the post was worthless. Thanks for asking.