How do you guys estimate Fuel Mileage?

JimCost2014 · December 14, 2021

If I were getting 5 - 10 MPG, would still drive my truck.

As much as I use it as a truck, it is worth the extra expense at the pump, compared to putting a "load for the dump" in the backseat of an eco box because of fuel mileage.

Hmm, wonder if this post will get as heated as the catch can one just did

shakenfake · December 14, 2021

Haha anything involving

1. Oil

2. Fuel Mileage

3. GM Recalls or crappy engineering

Gets all the pensioners riled up.

I am 50/50 on that @JimCost2014I would save a little on gas commuting in another car if possible instead of put miles and what not on my truck. Then again I don't really use my truck like a truck that much. I just like the comfort and niceties it has over other vehicles.

swathdiver · December 14, 2021

22 hours ago, Calboy said:

Hey Guys,

How do most of you decipher your gas mileage? I am looking at adding a couple of upgrades to see if my gas mileage improves. Are you using the truck feed back on the dash or going old school and calculating from a full tank to empty based on miles? If you are using the truck feedback how accurate do you feel it is?

I don't estimate it, I calculate it several different ways and average it out on a spreadsheet.

One of the biggest effects on fuel mileage is the fuel chosen. There is a difference between brands and octane levels. You measure to see which delivers the lowest cents per mile to operate.

I get my best gasoline mileage on Chevron's 93. Even though it delivers the highest mpgs, it costs more per mile to burn it.

Tires are another large factor in fuel efficiency. Both in design, condition and pressure and alignment. An out of alignment truck if fighting itself to go down the road straight. Grumpy taught me that.

Lubricants. Engine oil, transmission and gear oils also have an effect on gas mileage. I picked up a 1/4 mpg by switching from plain Mobil 1 5W30 to ACDelco's oil for my truck. I also picked up a 1/4 mpg by using the drag reduction clips on my rear brakes alone. Those rusted and lost their effectiveness after time though. I have some new coated ones to put on at all four corners soon.

Having said all of that, mine has burned an average of 2.2 gallons per hour since 2017. In 2020 my truck cost seventeen cents a mile to drive. This year it has cost twenty four cents a mile to drive it.

So you know what? What has the biggest effect on fuel efficiency? The kind of man in the White House does! LOL

It costs us an extra $21 to drive 300 miles in 2021 compared with 2020.

Grumpy Bear · December 15, 2021

3 hours ago, swathdiver said:

Tires are another large factor in fuel efficiency. Both in design, condition and pressure and alignment.

Yes this ^^^^^

Grumpy Bear · December 15, 2021

7 hours ago, JimCost2014 said:

Hmm, wonder if this post will get as heated as the catch can one just did

Na...takes two and smart money quit playing

Edited December 15, 2021 by Grumpy Bear

JimCost2014 · December 15, 2021

1 hour ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Na...takes two and smart money quit playing

Thinking maybe it just ended up 1 post over, Oil Pressure

Transient · December 15, 2021

5 hours ago, Grumpy Bear said:

Na...takes two and smart money quit playing

Does that mean you're not smart money?

Edited December 15, 2021 by Transient

KARNUT · December 15, 2021

17 hours ago, JimCost2014 said:

If I were getting 5 - 10 MPG, would still drive my truck.

As much as I use it as a truck, it is worth the extra expense at the pump, compared to putting a "load for the dump" in the backseat of an eco box because of fuel mileage.

Hmm, wonder if this post will get as heated as the catch can one just did

I probably put close to 2 million miles in the seat of a truck. My personal favorite is an avalanche. My wife drives a sport sedan. My preference for cruising across country would be a medium to full size car. You can get a well appointed car for the price of a work truck. And still buy a decent used truck to do truck stuff around the house with the savings. You get the benefit of a car and still have a truck. The benefits you may ask? Fuel savings, better handling, stability in bad weather and passing a semi. Ease of entering and exiting the interior. Back in the day people were pretty resourceful. They put a hitch on their sedan to pull their trailer to the dump, Home Depot and even their camper. The auto makers got smart a couple decades ago. Realizing the profits in a regular work truck after adding doors. They dressed them up a bit and advertise them as dual purpose and raked in the money. The next big sellers coming are the maverick and Santa cruise. They both are lowered about 5 inches and smaller. Basically sedans with beds. And priced about the same as mid sized sedans.

swathdiver · December 15, 2021

1 hour ago, KARNUT said:

I probably put close to 2 million miles in the seat of a truck. My personal favorite is an avalanche. My wife drives a sport sedan. My preference for cruising across country would be a medium to full size car. You can get a well appointed car for the price of a work truck. And still buy a decent used truck to do truck stuff around the house with the savings. You get the benefit of a car and still have a truck. The benefits you may ask? Fuel savings, better handling, stability in bad weather and passing a semi. Ease of entering and exiting the interior. Back in the day people were pretty resourceful. They put a hitch on their sedan to pull their trailer to the dump, Home Depot and even their camper. The auto makers got smart a couple decades ago. Realizing the profits in a regular work truck after adding doors. They dressed them up a bit and advertise them as dual purpose and raked in the money. The next big sellers coming are the maverick and Santa cruise. They both are lowered about 5 inches and smaller. Basically sedans with beds. And priced about the same as mid sized sedans.

Don't forget that the gubment basically legislated cars out of existence with all their laws and regulations.

I'll never have a car again, unless for a toy. My parents, brother and sister and I have all been seriously injured in accidents in cars. Paying extra for gas is the price of safety.

Grumpy Bear · December 15, 2021

11 hours ago, JimCost2014 said:

Thinking maybe it just ended up 1 post over, Oil Pressure

Not from my participation. My Ignore button works just fine.

KARNUT · December 15, 2021

47 minutes ago, swathdiver said:

Don't forget that the gubment basically legislated cars out of existence with all their laws and regulations.

I'll never have a car again, unless for a toy. My parents, brother and sister and I have all been seriously injured in accidents in cars. Paying extra for gas is the price of safety.

I take several trips across country yearly. It never fails during the trips I come across bad weather. During high winds and down pours high center vehicles are dancing all over, drivers chasing their vehicles. Or there’re pulled over. Cars no problem. I’ve been there done that. As far as crash safety it’s debatable.

swathdiver · December 15, 2021

19 minutes ago, KARNUT said:

I take several trips across country yearly. It never fails during the trips I come across bad weather. During high winds and down pours high center vehicles are dancing all over, drivers chasing their vehicles. Or there’re pulled over. Cars no problem. I’ve been there done that. As far as crash safety it’s debatable.

Before they changed their website, my 2009 GMC had zero fatalities on record with the IIHS and the others like it and yours are minimal as well. Our little Kia on the other hand, it was the highest rated for deaths last time we looked!

Curiously, I've had no issues in high winds or driving through tropical storms in the Yukon. The right tires mitigate most of that.

Grumpy Bear · December 15, 2021

12 minutes ago, swathdiver said:

Curiously, I've had no issues in high winds or driving through tropical storms in the Yukon.

KARNUT · December 15, 2021

7 minutes ago, swathdiver said:

Before they changed their website, my 2009 GMC had zero fatalities on record with the IIHS and the others like it and yours are minimal as well. Our little Kia on the other hand, it was the highest rated for deaths last time we looked!

Curiously, I've had no issues in high winds or driving through tropical storms in the Yukon. The right tires mitigate most of that.

It boils down to personal preference, I get it. As always we can work the stats to our preference. I’m a driver, not a rider. I’ve encountered all situations. I’ve been turned around in wind driven rain events in a 1/2 ton with BFGs my preferred tire. I saved it. A well balanced car would have been a wiggle. Trucks are bill boards with little weight in the back. I like my truck for local duties. If it’s windy or rainy, it stays home.

aseibel · December 15, 2021

On 12/13/2021 at 3:34 PM, Calboy said:

I am looking at adding a couple of upgrades to see if my gas mileage improves.

20 hours ago, swathdiver said:

Tires are another large factor in fuel efficiency. Both in design, condition and pressure and alignment.

The biggest thing you can do to help your fuel economy is to maintain the already highly tuned aerodynamics by NOT installing taller, wider, more aggressive tires. That is a common mod people do that only hurts your wind drag and rolling resistance. Put on some highway tires, maybe even skinnier than OEM. But nobody wants those on a truck. Any cheap bolt-on mod that claims to improve mileage is more likely to be snake oil. If I didn't like the sound my Airaid MIT tube makes I wouldn't have it installed. No noticeable difference in mileage.