Gas mileage on recent highway trip

[Overclocker]

The summer I got the truck, my spousal-unit and I took a road trip from Columbus to Colluwhee, NC. We got right around 18 mpg @ 75mph/1500RPM. (indicated and calculated) 5th was too short at 65mph, and 6th was too tall, so off we went at 75. If I got to choose, I'd prefer a little shorter 6th (or maybe shorter axle ratio) since 6th is worthless at anything less than 70-75, but it is what it is. I rarely get to use 6th anyway. The whole stupid thing puts a grin on my face anyway, so that's worth somethin'.

 

[TNVIPER]

The read out on the truck is for info purposes and is not meant to be accurate...especially if you have tuning done....My guage reads around 20MPG around town since having a tune done for the FI....only way to get an accurate MPG is to do it manually..........fill the tank on a level surface...drive # miles....refill on level surface....divide # miles by gallons gas put in tank........and this is just a close calculation and is not exact..

 

[robwclark]

The read out on the truck is for info purposes and is not meant to be accurate...especially if you have tuning done....My guage reads around 20MPG around town since having a tune done for the FI....only way to get an accurate MPG is to do it manually..........fill the tank on a level surface...drive # miles....refill on level surface....divide # miles by gallons gas put in tank........and this is just a close calculation and is not exact..

Exactly right! I never use the trip meter. Sometimes it can be close but usually not. The most I have ever seen out of the 5 SRT trucks I've had is 14-16 pure hwy. Mine averages about 11.

 

[Overclocker]

Exactly right! I never use the trip meter. Sometimes it can be close but usually not. The most I have ever seen out of the 5 SRT trucks I've had is 14-16 pure hwy. Mine averages about 11.

I agree. I only use the indicated MPG as a relative reference point as well. The approx. 17MPG I got was calculated. I always calculate my mileage after a fill up. I've got it all in an Excel spreadsheet with all my maintenance notes, too, so if my MPG numbers are way off compared to historical (hysterical?) data, the I know something strange is going on. Since my 10 is unmodified, it's close(r), but indicated MPG is always between 5-10% off. If the indicated and calculated numbers don't follow each other, I know something is definitely odd.

My old '94 318-powered regular-cab Dakota got 22MPG highway, so the fact that this 505-inch beast can get 17-ish is quite an achievement in displacement-specific fuel "economy".

 

[kennygene]

I guess I'm a little OCD with gas mileage. I'm glad to hear someone else shares my nutty obsession!!!

 

[Overclocker]

I guess I'm a little OCD with gas mileage. I'm glad to hear someone else shares my nutty obsession!!!

I'm a geek. I can't help it. :dontknow:

I enjoy keeping track of all my vehicles like that down to my beater Plymouth. Otherwise, I'd forget when I did something, or when something was due. Now that I'm back at my workstation with my Excel file for the 10, I can tell you total fuel purchased in gallons (563.017 gal) and dollars ($1,130.25), total miles on vehicle (14,963), average MPG (11.43), average fuel fill (24.479 gal.), average miles per fuel load (279.78 mi.), fuel cost per mile ($0.175)...

My average cost per gallon is $2.0069. ish. Grocery store fuel discounts. :rock: