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I just wanted to add my two cents to the OP's observation. I have noticed also that if I try to squeeze extra miles out of the tank I tend to use more fuel than if I actually use the engine power.
I have read up on pulse and glide and exactly WHY it works. It makes sense that the technique is to try to reduce pumping losses in the engine by using the engine's power to accelerate up to an efficient speed then coasting until you reach a slow enough speed the engine can use it's power to speed you back up.
I have used this to modify my tecnique a little. At a dig I will accelerate up to speed using a lot more throttle than I would normally. I will shift when the RPMs are at or a little above the engine's max rated torque. then once up to speed I will hold the throttle just enough that the ECM doesn't activate DFCO. When speed bleeds off a little I give it a burst then again hold the throttle barely enough to keep out of DFCO.
Doing the above I do not have to clutch in or coast. I have met or slightly exceeded my max MPG trend. Moral of the story is if you baby your engine by accelerating slow and maintaining a slow speed you could actually be wasting fuel.
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