Boost MPG New Thread

[bobward757]

Good morning expedition friends,

there were two separate discussions and other threads about boosting mpg. I got some great tips and I am changing my spark plugs tomorrow.

My specific question is this: what transmission combination works the best in your experience for boosting mpg? I have seen for automatic I have seen eco-mode.

Would love to drill down with some of you and really get a definitive consensus on which transmission mode works best to squeeze out every mpg.

Thanks in advance, Bob

 

[apex96]

Good morning expedition friends,

there were two separate discussions and other threads about boosting mpg. I got some great tips and I am changing my spark plugs tomorrow.

My specific question is this: what transmission combination works the best in your experience for boosting mpg? I have seen for automatic I have seen eco-mode.

Would love to drill down with some of you and really get a definitive consensus on which transmission mode works best to squeeze out every mpg.

Thanks in advance, Bob

You will not reach a definite conclusion, there are just to many variables at play, from one persons experience to the next. You need to take the time and figure out what works best for your use case.

 

[HISHONOR]

2018 Limited: 69,500
I’ve found using Eco mode and using cruise control, whenever possible, gives me the best gas mileage. I get 18.5 around town and 23 on highway.

 

[Deadman]

Eco, shut the cruise off, and run it with your foot as easy as you can and it will makes darn good milage. Slow down, wind kills these things at hi speeds.
Leave your wife home.. lol.

 

[sjwelds]

Leave your wife home.. lol.

Says the guy who hauls dead guys in his. Lol

 

[Deadman]

Says the guy who hauls dead guys in his. Lol

Hey now, that's making money. Wives just spend it.....

 

[Mxer0022]

The words boost and MPG are two words that don't go together. Kinda like airline and service.

 

[Paddler]

ECO mode, slow down, tailwind helps a lot. I just returned to Utah from a 1422 mile trip to northern California. Mostly I-80. Set CC at 67MPH both ways. Calculated mileage overall was 24.3MPG, XLT Max. Tire pressure 42PSI, Michelins. I filled up in Reno and drove nonstop home, ~522 miles. That stretch with a tailwind calculated MPG was 28.2.

 

[sjwhiteley]

I will agree to turn off cruise control, as long as you aren’t heavy on the gas. Eco does ok, but cruise will obviously keep your speed when going up even slight hills.

However, varying speed and going slow (sic) will potentially cause other road users hassle. Which puts you at greater risk of an ‘automobile altercation’ with other traffic around.

 

[okidoki]

I turn off the engine, put it in neutral and let the wind push me. Sometimes, I have to lower the windows and put my arms out to have a bigger surface. This way I do 24mpg...

 

[Paddler]

I used this trip as a test. I've been wanting to it since new, drive a long distance on the interstate at slower speed on cruise control. Couldn't do it wife my wife in the car as she hates going under the speed limit. Rather, she sees speed limits as the recommended minimum speed. So, I was on I 80 from SLC to where Hwy 20 takes off west of Truckee. Drove to Yuba City on Hwy 20, and made a side trip to Willows and back to YC. Then home on same route. My average of 24.3MPG is probably what one would expect. The leg from Reno to SLC was with a tailwind. But, on my trip from SLC to Reno I only averaged 22MPG, as I had a headwind. Now that I've done that test I may bump my speed up to 72MPH to see how that impacts my mileage. I'm guessing about 2MPG.

My guess is that my longterm average is 20-21MPG, but I drive slow. Retired, in no hurry. I'm quite impressed with the vehicle. On a side note, I had over 4000 miles since my last oil change and my monitor said I had 54% oil life left. After my 1400 mile trip it now reads 48%. Don't use my brakes much, either, I'm thinking they're good for 100K miles.

 

[ROBERT BONNER]

Just a general PSA....for those who like deadfooting up hills, going below posted limits and avoiding cruise....keep it in the right lane...for your own safety, as well as for the safety of others. Just saying.

 

[techdude99]

Going 55 definitely improves MPG along with not using the cruise control on anything but flat roads and ECO mode on the dial.

I'm not sure how to do it cleanly, but removing the cross bars or the entire roof rack should give you a couple MPG on the highway.

 

[JasonH]

I can confirm that driving 80 - 110 over an extended period will reduce mpg to 11.x.

 

[Fastcar]

These mileage threads make me chuckle. After buying a truck with the aerodynamics of a brick folks go nuts trying to improve the mpg. The mpg on these things sucked when purchased, just enjoy what you bought.

 

[Paddler]

These mileage threads make me chuckle. After buying a truck with the aerodynamics of a brick folks go nuts trying to improve the mpg. The mpg on these things sucked when purchased, just enjoy what you bought.

Actually, the Expy Max has a drag coefficient of .35, which isn't that bad. Way better than, say, the F150, which is listed at .56. Drag is proportional to the velocity squared, so the difference in drag between 67MPH and 75MPH is 25%. The absolute best way to reduce drag and improve mileage is to slow down. And I very much enjoy mine, especially getting 24.3MPG.

 

[Mxer0022]

ECO mode, slow down, tailwind helps a lot. I just returned to Utah from a 1422 mile trip to northern California. Mostly I-80. Set CC at 67MPH both ways. Calculated mileage overall was 24.3MPG, XLT Max. Tire pressure 42PSI, Michelins. I filled up in Reno and drove nonstop home, ~522 miles. That stretch with a tailwind calculated MPG was 28.2.

You did 67 mph in a mostly 80 mph stretch of freeway? Please tell you you're not one of those people that does 13 mph below the speed limit in the left lane.

 

[Paddler]

You did 67 mph in a mostly 80 mph stretch of freeway? Please tell you you're not one of those people that does 13 mph below the speed limit in the left lane.

Nope, I don't. It was interesting, though. Both on the way over and on the way back I had several cars, trucks, trucks pulling trailers, etc, pass me multiple times. They'd pass going 80MPH, then an hour or so later they'd pass me again. Slow and steady wins the race.... and gets better mileage.

I will admit that I occasionally sped up to around 70MPH to pass slower trucks, but tried to time my passes so as to not impede other traffic.

 

[Mxer0022]

Nope, I don't. It was interesting, though. Both on the way over and on the way back I had several cars, trucks, trucks pulling trailers, etc, pass me multiple times. They'd pass going 80MPH, then an hour or so later they'd pass me again. Slow and steady wins the race.... and gets better mileage.

I will admit that I occasionally sped up to around 70MPH to pass slower trucks, but tried to time my passes so as to not impede other traffic.

Well hats off to you. You're more courteous than 95% of other drivers on the road.

 

[Pawpaw]

Nope, I don't. It was interesting, though. Both on the way over and on the way back I had several cars, trucks, trucks pulling trailers, etc, pass me multiple times. They'd pass going 80MPH, then an hour or so later they'd pass me again. Slow and steady wins the race.... and gets better mileage.

I will admit that I occasionally sped up to around 70MPH to pass slower trucks, but tried to time my passes so as to not impede other traffic.

On long trips I'll usually plan my day. Leave early and drive the speed limit or slightly under and always drive per road conditions. Put 500 to 550 miles a day and very seldom feel stressed or worn out. Stop for 10 to 15 minutes to empty bladder and take a walk to loosen things up. I drove many miles in the 70's and 80's driving a semi truck when the speed limit was 55 mph so still being able to go 70 mph when posted is a bonus. The worse drivers are usually in the big cities where everyone is in a hurry to go nowhere!