Fuel Economy

[sedcom]

Question for your thoughts ...

I am running a gas Ford V10 in my 2016 Vegas 24.1.

We have come to Florida from the west coast via Wyoming, Montana, over to Kentucky and down. My 1st 15 gas fill ups I have averaged 9.11 miles per gallon which is what I would expect flat towing my Jeep. However, the last 3 fill ups were in Florida, and I have only averaged 7.51 mpg, a 17% drop in fuel economy. And of course, Florida is flat unlike all the more northern states we came through.

You guys have any ideas? Some bad gas in Florida possibly? Hard to imagine but can't help but think it.

Cheers

[EA37TS]

Originally Posted by sedcom

Question for your thoughts ...

I am running a gas Ford V10 in my 2016 Vegas 24.1.

We have come to Florida from the west coast via Wyoming, Montana, over to Kentucky and down. My 1st 15 gas fill ups I have averaged 9.11 miles per gallon which is what I would expect flat towing my Jeep. However, the last 3 fill ups were in Florida, and I have only averaged 7.51 mpg, a 17% drop in fuel economy. And of course, Florida is flat unlike all the more northern states we came through.

You guys have any ideas? Some bad gas in Florida possibly? Hard to imagine but can't help but think it.

Cheers

Different mileage under different elevations and road conditions.

Normal

[happy]

Live in Kansas and used to travel to a Wyoming location. The altitude somewhere between 4,000 and 7,000 was a sweet spot for mpg. Back home at 1,500 feet and mpg always averaged less.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by sedcom

Question for your thoughts ...

I am running a gas Ford V10 in my 2016 Vegas 24.1.

We have come to Florida from the west coast via Wyoming, Montana, over to Kentucky and down. My 1st 15 gas fill ups I have averaged 9.11 miles per gallon which is what I would expect flat towing my Jeep. However, the last 3 fill ups were in Florida, and I have only averaged 7.51 mpg, a 17% drop in fuel economy. And of course, Florida is flat unlike all the more northern states we came through.

You guys have any ideas? Some bad gas in Florida possibly? Hard to imagine but can't help but think it.

Cheers

It may have nothing to do with location. Maybe some bad gas earlier clogged up some injectors or you have a failing coil, or worse (cam wear). I think your 7.51 is pretty low for your RV towing. I do at least that in my F53 towing a Colorado.

Throw a can of Seafoam or other injector cleaner in the next fillup. Run that tank through and test the next tank. Maybe also get a code reader and check for codes. You can have mis-fire codes set without triggering the "Check Engine" light. Info is power.

[Chateau_Nomad]

In our e-350 class C I get a pretty steady 10mpg average. Flat towing the Wrangler it drops to just under 9mpg. The lowest average I ever had was around 8 with strong winds in the Appalachian mountains.

Another consideration is tire inflation. In hotter climates maybe more rolling resistance?? But I'm no engineer... Do the Sea Foam... Get some different gas...

[DavidEM]

Wind, tire inflation, ethanol in gas vs not, faulty gallon meter, etc. can all affect gas milage.

David

[Chance]

Originally Posted by sedcom

Question for your thoughts ...

I am running a gas Ford V10 in my 2016 Vegas 24.1.

We have come to Florida from the west coast via Wyoming, Montana, over to Kentucky and down. My 1st 15 gas fill ups I have averaged 9.11 miles per gallon which is what I would expect flat towing my Jeep. However, the last 3 fill ups were in Florida, and I have only averaged 7.51 mpg, a 17% drop in fuel economy. And of course, Florida is flat unlike all the more northern states we came through.

You guys have any ideas? Some bad gas in Florida possibly? Hard to imagine but can't help but think it.

Cheers

I have made many cross country trips in different vehicles, and generally expect lower fuel economy driving west and higher fuel economy driving east. While not always the case, average wind in US seems to be more from west coast towards east coast.

In Florida I often drove north-south along Turnpike, I-75, and I-95 and found cross winds common which can lower fuel efficiency, particularly when towing. The toad or trailer won’t be sheltered from wind as much as head or tail winds.

If or when you go back to west coast, I expect average mileage will be lower if you drive the same speed. Unless something is not working right, the variable that affects fuel economy most is wind drag. That’s where I look for answers first, and usually find them. There is an undeniable correlation between wind drag and fuel economy.

[Pete'sMH]

If it’s still running ok I wouldn’t worry about it. My mpg varies that much for no apparent reason and after a few trips I just quit measuring it. It was just an aggravation that I don’t need in my life.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Here in Florida we have tag scanners at the pumps. We short all tourist by an average of 17% on the amount of gas the get and re-distribute this gas to the residents. I'm getting 17 MPG since the snowbirds have arrived.

[EA37TS]

Plug in a Scan Guage and set it to display MPG while driving. You’ll be surprised a how low your actual mpg is as opposed to what you think you are getting. On any trip anywhere my rig will get as low a 3 mpg and as high as 22 depending on conditions.

It Is What It Is.

[Tampa.bankie]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

Here in Florida we have tag scanners at the pumps. We short all tourist by an average of 17% on the amount of gas the get and re-distribute this gas to the residents. I'm getting 17 MPG since the snowbirds have arrived.

😂😂😂That would be great only problem is that you can’t get campsites when the snowbirds come down.

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

Here in Florida we have tag scanners at the pumps. We short all tourist by an average of 17% on the amount of gas the get and re-distribute this gas to the residents. I'm getting 17 MPG since the snowbirds have arrived.

You forgot the sarcasm label. I am sure the OP was expecting a serious answer hopfully he will know to ignore you.

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

Originally Posted by sedcom

Question for your thoughts ...

I am running a gas Ford V10 in my 2016 Vegas 24.1.

We have come to Florida from the west coast via Wyoming, Montana, over to Kentucky and down. My 1st 15 gas fill ups I have averaged 9.11 miles per gallon which is what I would expect flat towing my Jeep. However, the last 3 fill ups were in Florida, and I have only averaged 7.51 mpg, a 17% drop in fuel economy. And of course, Florida is flat unlike all the more northern states we came through.

You guys have any ideas? Some bad gas in Florida possibly? Hard to imagine but can't help but think it.

Cheers

Frankly, I never saw any difference on fuel economy towing my Jeep or not. However, on my trips to Colorado I always saw much better mileage in the mountains than I did on the highway going to or returning from Colorado. I think this is for several reasons. First, when you get into the mountains you have to slow down because the roads are not straight. You often need to go slower than the posted speed limit in order to safely manage the turns. Since you are going slower you are not spending a much energy pushing nearly 100 square foot of frontal area through the air. Second, you spend a lot of time coasting downhill using little more fuel than you would use idling. I believe this more than offsets the fuel use going uphill. Finally, I'll bet you probably have been doing the posted speed limit in Florida, or perhaps the PL + 5 mph. Florida is flat, no hills and few turns sharp enough to force slowing down. So basically, the reason for the lower fuel economy is likely that you have been keeping up with traffic.

[mgunnin]

Ok
I went out West this past summer. Fuel milage much better dur to what was just stated.
I have a toad that get 22mpg here in FL. On our trip we were getting 28mpg. The slow speed, downhill coasting help increase mpg. In FL you are basically always in a pull condition due to flat elevation.
We DO NOT HAVE BAD GAS. If the mpg bothers anyone. We just say please leave and give us more room on the highways and increased availability for campsites.

[Chance]

Originally Posted by Dan-sr@perra-us.net

.....cut..... Since you are going slower you are not spending a much energy pushing nearly 100 square foot of frontal area through the air. .....cut....

Yeah, 100 square feet of frontal area is a good estimate for many full-size Class A and C. Since introduction of wide-body motorhome and trailers decades ago, and many now also going over 12-feet in height, it is no wonder fuel economy hasn’t improved as fast as engine efficiency gains.




P.S. — For those who don’t know, dynamic wind pressure at a mere 60 MPH is around 9 pounds per square foot (going from memory so could be off a little) at typical conditions. Hence a large RV at 60 MPH could be working against 900 pounds of drag times its coefficient of drag. Big boxes like motorhomes are lucky to get a Cd as low as 0.5, so working against 450 pounds of wind drag at 60 MPH. That’s a lot of resistance which far exceeds rolling forces.

By comparison for example, vans have roughly 50% of frontal area (+/- 50 square feet) and start life with a lower coefficient of drag before manufacturers add rooftop A/C, solar, vents, awnings, etc. It’s no surprise that with approximately half the drag, they get approximately double the MPG if driven at same speed and under similar conditions.

There’s not much magic beyond buying smaller RV with less frontal area, lower Cd, and driving slower. Other stuff like rolling resistance affected by tire pressure and motorhome weight, while helpful, is secondary in importance.

[craigd853]

Originally Posted by sedcom

Question for your thoughts ...

I am running a gas Ford V10 in my 2016 Vegas 24.1.

We have come to Florida from the west coast via Wyoming, Montana, over to Kentucky and down. My 1st 15 gas fill ups I have averaged 9.11 miles per gallon which is what I would expect flat towing my Jeep. However, the last 3 fill ups were in Florida, and I have only averaged 7.51 mpg, a 17% drop in fuel economy. And of course, Florida is flat unlike all the more northern states we came through.

You guys have any ideas? Some bad gas in Florida possibly? Hard to imagine but can't help but think it.

Cheers

Hello, you don't say if you were in traffic and stop and go red lights. Any time you have to slow down in traffic or when there are lights you are going to use more fuel. Stopping and starting kills your gas mileage.

[Dan-sr@perra-us.net]

FWIW the sweet spot of fuel economy for most motor vehicles is somewhere between 40 50 mph. The 55-mph national speed limit from the 70s and 80s to save fuel was correct so long as you ignore the fact that a driver would only be able to travel 550 miles in 10 hours at 55-mph vs. 700 miles in 10 hours at 70-mph. That is a 21% decrease in productivity. For example, at 70-mph it takes 43 hours of drive time to cross the country assuming a 10-hour day with 14 hours down time it would take a little over 4 days. At 55-mph it takes about 55.5 hours of drive time to make the same trip or 5.5 days assuming the same daily drive time parameters.

[The Gritz Carlton]

Originally Posted by Dan-sr@perra-us.net

You forgot the sarcasm label. I am sure the OP was expecting a serious answer hopfully he will know to ignore you.

There is no Viagra for a sense of humor. Don't lose your's.

[Chateau_Nomad]

Originally Posted by Dan-sr@perra-us.net

FWIW the sweet spot of fuel economy for most motor vehicles is somewhere between 40 50 mph. The 55-mph national speed limit from the 70s and 80s to save fuel was correct so long as you ignore the fact that a driver would only be able to travel 550 miles in 10 hours at 55-mph vs. 700 miles in 10 hours at 70-mph. That is a 21% decrease in productivity. For example, at 70-mph it takes 43 hours of drive time to cross the country assuming a 10-hour day with 14 hours down time it would take a little over 4 days. At 55-mph it takes about 55.5 hours of drive time to make the same trip or 5.5 days assuming the same daily drive time parameters.

Where's the fire?? If you're using a motorhome solely to reach a destination... you're missing a LOT in between! Relax and enjoy the journey... seriously? TEN hours in one day at 70mph? In a motorhome?

[The Gritz Carlton]

I'm with Chateau...its about the journey. Fuel mileage was way down on my list of wants. Power was near the top...they don't go together. Driving too slow will use more fuel. My sweetspot is 64 MPH.