MPG Reality Check

[bubblerboy64]

I interpret what Al is saying is that he can afford "it" and so he doesn't worry
about mpg. He has a point. Certainly, worry isn't going to get a fellow any
better fuel economy. That being said there are folks who have to consider each
and ever trip and the costs involved, it's a fact of life. How many of us are
on what side of this bell curve I have no idea but I would guess there are
darned few who wouldn't appreciate an improvement of one or even a half a mpg.
I know I would. So this discussion seems relevant to me.

While shopping for bus I ask a PO what the fuel usage was. His comment was if
you have to ask you can't afford it. You know I didn't buy that bus, and I am
not too certain that comment wasn't the biggest reason.

I am only making an assumption of what Al meant by his comments. And I take no
offense either. It is what it is for each of us. I am not without but I must
admit that filling the tank causes me to wince. Some would wince regardless of
their financial circumstances. Some of the wealthiest people I know would
complain the loudest. And on the other hand I wonder some times how I will
finance this as time goes on. For the time being I am with Al enjoy it because
time is what is most fleeting. I am grateful that I can "play" and pay to play
but I also do not take a bit of this as a given.

Not sure that I added a thing to this conversation but I had to comment.

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Chuck Wheeler" wrote:
>
> I agree with you Al. As I said I only track mileage to watch out for
> issues. Most of our travel is in the winter months and does not require the
> generator for heat. I keep the weight down because we are off paved roads a
> lot of the time. I don't have the power to hold 70 so that is not an issue.
>
>
>
> - Chuck Wheeler-
>
> 1982 FC 31SB Fort Worth TX
>
> _____
>
> From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Al Scudder
> Sent: Tuesday, February 16, 2010 9:24 AM
> To: wanderlodgeforum@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: RE: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: MPG Reality Check
>
>
>
>
>
> You folks are way toooo cridical of finding or formulating of the MPG.
>
> On flat roads I get 6.5 on hills I get 5.8. The engine is a Cummins M11 450.
> I fill up when it is convienent not when I need it. You can never use the
> fuel that you left at the pump. My boating days and 4 years in the USCG
> taught me that and a my old sage friend that is a pilot taught me these
> things.
>
> I never worry about the MPG because to me it means to me I Mostly Prefer
> Going where I want to go. Since the diference to my 2000 LX is 0.7 miles
> which is 105 more miles at a usaable rate of 80% of the tank (175) I ALWAYS
> plan trips on 5 MPH.
>
> Since I do like the comforts of home and the safety of my gastromic supply
> of food we always run with heat in the cold, cold in the heat and the
> referer cold all the time. My genny runs when the the coach is going down
> the road or sitting in the rest area. Cruise speed is what the traffic will
> bear. You want to cruise at 70 I'm with you want a earlier ETA I'm there on
> time.
>
> When we purchased our BB my goal was to have fun and run. I always have fun
> and the run, will go when ever there is and sometimes not, a excuse to do
> it.
>
> Scooter 2000LX Ocqueoc, MI
>
>
>
>
> _____
>
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> From: sundance101@...
> Date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 02:09:21 +0000
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: MPG Reality Check
>
>
>
> Chuck - Thanks for those observations. The fuel in this case was pumped in
> Brookings, Oregon and the route was from there to Q.
>
> If our California turbo really makes more power than the 210 NA, it surely
> does get used when climbing the very frequent west coast hills. More power
> is more fuel.
>
> The genset in this FC31 is gas, so genset operation does not affect the
> diesel tank.
>
> I'm sure the setup is unique to the California motor. For example, the
> torque is more than a 225T even though the HP is less. Cat has a manual with
> all the details but I haven't purchased it yet.
>
> The posts to this thread are much appreciated. I intend to buy a GPS and
> start keeping better track of miles and gallons. As Chuck says, tracking
> fuel consumption is one way to monitor engine condition.
>
> Meanwhile, sitting here in the Arizona desert soaking up sun uses zero
> diesel fuel! )
>
> Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@
> yahoogroups.com, "Chuck Wheeler" wrote:
> >
> > Several things could be affecting Bob's mileage.
> >
> > 1. He is towing.
> >
> > 2. I don't know where he is in WA, but there is a lot of it that is more
> > like mountain running. I can run 800 miles and not change over 600ft
> > elevation.
> >
> > 3. Do they pump a "winter blend" of diesel in WA? My mileage in the truck
> > has always been lower on "Winter Blend"
> >
> > 3. He has more power than I do and when the power is there we tend to use
> > it. My cousin followed us on a trip with his Monaco and he gained almost
> > 2mpg driving the way we have to. (He said it wasn't worth it!)
> >
> > 4. We do a lot of winter traveling and so it is not necessary to run the
> > generator.
> >
> > 5. I believe that a "California" engine runs with different injection
> timing
> > and advance curve.
> >
> > 6. I usually run with Gray and black water tanks empty, about ¼ tanks of
> > fresh water and on the bottom half of the fuel capacity to keep my weight
> > down. That's why I have to compute mpg over a many miles to get an idea of
> > what milage I am getting.
> >
> >
> >
> > I track milage mainly to keep an idea of how the bus is running.
> >
> >
> >
> > - Chuck Wheeler-
> >
> > 1982 FC 31SB Fort Worth TX
> >
> > _____
> >
> > From: WanderlodgeForum@
> yahoogroups.com
> > [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@
> yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of ebirder2000@
> > Sent: Monday, February 15, 2010 2:39 PM
> > To: WanderlodgeForum@
> yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] MPG Reality Check
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Bob, I don't dispute your method or your finding at all. My only comment
> > is, that mileage seems too low. I would expect that your mileage would be
> > closer to 8mg. But, that's only based on other folks bragging including my
> > own,that I have observed.
> >
> >
> >
> > Steve (at Painted Rocks campground). Temp 80 degrees with absolute clear
> > blue skies.
> >
> >
> >
> > In a message dated 2/12/2010 12:22:01 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
> > sundance101@ writes:
> >
> >
> >
> > Finally, after 7 years, I filled the fuel tank to the top, drove 1015
> miles,
> > and filled it again. The 167 gallons calculates to about 6 MPG.
> >
> > The method has plenty of potential for error. The odometer reads low and I
> > don't have a GPS. I used the Google mileage plus 5% to account for wrong
> > turns, finding RV sites, etc. The route was Brookings, OR to Q by way of
> Hwy
> > 101 and Malibu, CA.
> >
> > The tank is so big that I figure the fill could be off by as much as 10%.
> If
> > the fill-up were 10% low, the MPG would have been 6.7. If the fill-up were
> > 10% high, the MPG would have been about 5.5.
> >
> > Other details: 1984 FC31 with California 210HP turbo 3208. Road speed
> about
> > 58 MPH. 4.89 gears. 11R22.5 Michelins at 105 and 95 PSI. Towing a Honda
> CRV.
> > Air filter has about 5000 miles. The air intake is the enlarged version
> > designed for the 250HP turbo engine. Never blows any black unless I make
> an
> > operator error.
> >
> > To achieve the 10 MPG sometimes suggested for the FC, my mileage estimate
> > would need to be off by almost 700 miles, or the fill-up would need to be
> > off by almost 70 gallons.
> >
> > I'd be interested any anyone else's MPG observations and the method used.
> >
> > Bob Griesel '84 FC31 WLII WA
> >
>