Fuel Mileage - Winter Blend yet?

Broompilot · Nov 23, 2007

Three weeks ago MPG dropped by .75 to a gallon.

Anyone else seen this, all other circumstances are still the same, speed, weather has cooled but overall its been the same lately, truck running fine.

All I can figure is Winterblend.

OntarioVanMan · Nov 23, 2007

My MPG's drop when I fill in Iowa or Minn. cause= Biodiesel.

riverrat2000 · Nov 23, 2007

Got beat to the punch, lol I was thinking biodiesel myself I drop about a half mile to the gallon when I use that crap.

Streakn1 · Nov 23, 2007

If I don't put the Howes fuel treatment in, we also see a slight drop in our MPG. As long as I keep it mixed in with the fuel we are able to stay at 7.00 mpg running 70 mph with our 475 ISX Cummins. The Bio-diesel seems to run a bit lower than the ULSD also for us.

LDB · Nov 23, 2007

What do you get with the ISX at 60-62 on non-bio fuel?

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OntarioVanMan · Nov 23, 2007

As I live in SD I can attest to the drop EVERY time I fuel up...My routine is top off in Indiana and that takes me to Des Moines Iowa and then again in Souix Falls goes 23mpg- 21mpg and back to 23 approx. Minn is even worse because they have that B20.

Crazynuff · Nov 24, 2007

I don't know how MINN can get by requiring B20 when many manufacturers still recommend no higher than B5 .

Streakn1 · Dec 2, 2007

Don't really know the answer since we rarely run that slow

. Seriously, it only comes up a couple of tenths per mile. Not worth slowing down for (yet) in the 70-75mph states!

LDB · Dec 2, 2007

You should see approximately .1 mpg change per 1 mph change in speed at speeds above about 55-58mph. Even in the most aerodynamic truck the difference between 60mph and 70mph should be at least 1/2mpg. If the engine is drawing as much at 60 as 70 I'd have it inspected.

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davekc · Dec 2, 2007

Unless it is extremely cold, you should obtain your best milage when the weather is cooler, rather than warmer. That is assuming it is exactly the same grade of fuel.

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Streakn1 · Dec 2, 2007

Yes, that's what we typically saw in our DR-unit when we slowed down. I thought we were doing pretty good at 7.0 avg with our T-600,
especially considering that our empty (no freight) weight is 46,280 lbs. With an avg of 15,000 lbs of freight we can't complain.

Broompilot · Dec 2, 2007

Not my expierence Dave in the Two winters I drove Expedite.

Winter mileage went down right at 10% and always increased in the Spring around May 1 or little sooner. Both years same results its like one week in early NOV. you could not only hear the drop of the ball but feel it as well.

Now in the Big Truck same result same time of year all of a sudden 7.5 mpg is a thing of the past until hopefully April.

6.8mpg now and less if it is really windy which it has been in Ohio for the last two weeks.

davekc · Dec 2, 2007

The only other thought would be the idling factor if looking at total fuel consumption. Interesting to say the least. Our worst across all the trucks is in the summer. Maybe too much hot fuel at the J?

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