Hey guys, i'm currently traveling from Chicago to San Diego. I'm in Denver right now and my mpg's are suffering. I can understand bad mileage, but i went form 14.68 to 13.68 to 12.77 on my 3 tanks so far. The last two were with 89 octane because it is cheaper than 87 through Kansas. But i spent the extra 10 cents a gallon last time, but haven't calculated mpg yet b/c i haven't filled up yet. Would it be worth it for me to get a K&N drop in filter. or should i just leave it be? Any advice for a little extra fuel economy would be great because the Navy hasn't paid me for the trip yet and its getting pricey.Thanks.

 

I personally think unless your air filter needs to be changed there is no sense in doing that. I dont believe you will see an increase, but if it needs changed it would probably help you.

 

How fast you going?
I would drop down south and pick up 20 to 10 asap. Gas should be cheaper and it's a bit flatter...
I made that same trip for the navy years ago.
Drive safely.

 

Speed varies. Normally cruise is set to 75. Going all the way to 20 is just too far at this point. I would rather drive it. that could have put me close to home, i could have gone by Alabama and seen the family. But going that way would have put me right in the middle of the weather the South East got. Anyway, thanks for the advice.

 

I hear you on the weather. I almost always take the southerly route when going to San Diego/North Island. All my family is along 20 and usually the southerly route has the best or most moderate weather.

As long as you drive over 65 you are just a flying gas burning brick.
Last time I went out that way after Texas I was averaging 85mph or so with a corsa aftermarket exhaust and drop in K&N and I was getting 15-16mpg.
Your engine also is prolly still not really broken in yet either.
Remember getting there is only half the trip.

 

Colorado has some crappy gas and you have to deal with the altitude as well.


something ain't right. at I've easily pulled down 18+ mpg in that area of the country doing 70-75 mph


have checked your tire PSI and the air filter is clean? The gas you are getting is the winter blend crap, but that should only be costing you 1-2 MPG max...not 4-5 mpg.


oversize tires by chance and an uncorrected speedo?

 

I do have oversized tires, so i know the speedo is not correct. But i've been keeping up with speed on my GPS and i guess ill start keeping up with mileage with my GPS also. I'm headed for Vegas tonight, so i'll let ya'll know when i get there. thanks.

 

I take it your on I-70 west right now, headed for 15 thru vegas then on down to san diego, correct. When you catch 15 in utah, it's all down hill from there, your mileage should improve a lot from there.

BTW, if your headed for 32nd ST naval station, I-15 ends right in front of the main gate of the base, at least it did 20 years ago when I was out there.

 

I've NEVER seen 18mpg. My numbers seem to jive with bowmans. It's the Mountains, air, etc.

 

I live on the coastal plains and can get 21mpg at 55-60mph highway with 305-50-20's. City driving, driving habits, hills/mountains, altitude and speed are the biggest mpg detractors I have experienced.
I average 15mpg usually because I flog the gas pedal.

 

wtbowman,

There are alot of variables to your MPG. I drove Des Moines to Maryland last month.
Watch your octane changes. I've been told it takes nearly an entire tank of fuel for the computer to optimize to the different octane.
Second, check your tire pressure. This can be a killer.
Another thought, are you traveling light, or loaded?
Lastly, have you checked your air filter?

I traveled with a load of about 1000lbs. Plus poor aerodymanics. My milage was all over the place as I was driving for time, not milage. Worst was 8.8, to a high of 15mpg.
But I am running an EDGE also.

Remember, your driving into the prevailing wind also. You should have slightly better mileage on the way home.

Safe travels,
-Tung

 

Jees that is **** poor ,pg. A BAD head wind will make my hwy mpg drop to 15 but otherwise at 75 I get 16-20 depending on wind, terrain, load. 12/13 seems awfully low.

 

I'll add that my MPGs when going from San Francisco, California to Orlando, Florida were in the same ballpark. Hit some major head wind driving on 40 through Texas though; that hurt.

 

Hey guys, I'm in Vegas right now. I kept up with my miles driven by my GPS. I was still only getting between 13.5-15. I guess that's the best i 'll get. I do have a little bit of a load in the bed, but not too heavy. I never knew that the octane changes so much out here. It's hard to find 87, which is what I normally run. I've never cared about gas mileage before. But when you have to buy that much you start to get conservative. Thanks for all the info. I'll be in San Diego tomorrow doing normal driving, so maybe things will level out.

 

It's called Octane, something that's lacking out here. When I was running racing gas down south, this truck ran like a rocketship.

Now with the 7300' altitude and the crummy gas, it still runs, but boy does mileage suffer.