Better mileage than average new passenger vehicle in 2.5ton commercial truck! - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

JacobAziza · 06-02-2009, 10:05 PM

I was wavering just below my totally arbitrary "goal" of 25mpg for a long time.
I finally finished every mod I had planned (until I can afford an overdrive transmission).

I finally got to fill up today, first full tank with manual steering...

The average new passenger vehicle (combined, cars and light trucks) gets 26.7mpg.

My 1983 V8 powered F-250 is well over the 8500GVWR limit and is classified as a commercial vehicle - therefor CAFE exempt.

Last fill up: 26.85mpg

P.S.
This was on my most recent tank:

Daox · 06-02-2009, 10:47 PM

lol, thats amazing! Great job.

wagonman76 · 06-02-2009, 11:36 PM

That's great! I know you use it for hauling, but I just have to wonder what you might get with something like an aerocap, since you're doing so well already.

JacobAziza · 06-02-2009, 11:40 PM

I wonder too - but anytime I'm not moving a bunch of stuff I use my 60-70mpg motorcycle instead (or my bike, or my skates).

Although it might not make much difference, considering how slow I drive...

I am still hoping to get even better mpg, by installing an overdrive someday.
What is has is basically a 3 speed transmission
(optimal speed: 30mph)
but I can't afford it, and won't be able to for a long time.

MazdaMatt · 06-03-2009, 11:28 AM

I have the ford 3-speed in my bigass cube truck. 94 F350 with a 20x8x7ft box. I hate it. I am literally redlining top gear when I'm going 65mph... and I can only go 65 with a tail wind or a downhill. This beast gets about 12mpg.

JacobAziza · 06-03-2009, 11:39 AM

Mine will go at least 75, but the only time I go above 55 anymore is on the big downhills, engine off.
Someday, when I get a ZF-5 - I'll still drive at 50, but I'll do it with lower RPMs

MazdaMatt · 06-03-2009, 11:45 AM

I tried a neutral coast once... never gain. The horrid clunk that it made when it went back into gear made me fear for a very expensive towing bill from outside Ottawa to London (9 hours at this truck's pace). It also complained horribly for the next 6-7 gear shifts. I don't dare try to EOC in this beast. Scary. I would LOVE to have a talling FD in the back and a 5-speed manual tranny. I think i'm just going to sell the damn thing and buy a small SUV and aluminum tandem axel trailer for race car instead.

JacobAziza · 06-03-2009, 12:12 PM

I almost always EOC in gear, clutch in, mostly to avoid exactly what you described.
The only exception is if I am going to have to come to a complete stop.

The one nice thing about a vehicle with terrible mpgs is small gains look more impressive.
I have only gone up about 10mpg since I started this project, but I get a whopping "100%" in my signature.

joey · 06-03-2009, 01:35 PM

But it isn't a small gain at all; you've doubled your EPA mileage, which is a hard thing to do no matter what you drive. It's easy to get 50 mpg if your car is estimated at 48. Proportional increases are far more meaningful than simply getting 1 or 2 or 5 more mpg, because you actually have to work for it.

MazdaMatt · 06-03-2009, 02:19 PM

Oh! You have a 4-spd manual in that, don't you? Just no OD? Mine is a 3-speed auto with no OD. There is an auto swap to 4OD for my truck, and apparently the manual conversion is mucho-expensive. I'd be better off swapping boxes with an already-manual F350.