Fuel economy

[Al]

Gardner,
I get 8 mpg in my BMC 37 pulling a Ford Explorer. I like to run
her around 62 mph so I don't work her too hard :O>

Al Johnson
'96 BMC B75 ==> B100
Mandeville, Louisiana

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gardner Yeaw"
wrote:
>
> With the recent surge in fuel prices I am being forced to
> reconsider our desire to upgrade to a PT 38 or 40. My 78FC33 gets
> between 8.5 and 9.2 mpg towing my 1995 Jeep Cherokee sport. We are
> thinking around 8 to 10k miles each year for the first few after
> retirement. Cutting the mileage roughly in half with a bigger coach
> will put a huge dent in the finances. If I just assumed
> conservatively that diesel will be around $6 a gallon in two and a
> half years: at 8.5mpg, 10k miles =$7,058, at 5mpg, 10k miles =
> $12,000 (3rd grade arithmetic really was useful after all). And
> that's just the first year of retirement.
>
> Now if I could tow a portable bio-diesel system behind me and
> collect vegetable oil from the various food venues along the
way????
> Actually, why not use the heat from the retarder and the diesel
> exhaust and coolant system to pre-heat water for the steam boiler
to
> run a hybrid diesel-steam engine system? Honey, would you throw
> another log on the fire, this next hill is a steep one!
>
> Gardner
> 78FC33
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Al" wrote:
> >
> > Ryan,
> > With an '86, you are certain to have to change out all fuel
> lines
> > in her to make them compatible with your biodiesel. The
biodiesel
> > will eat out the fuel lines from within. They will not fail
> > overnight and you will start to see them leak. But rest assured,
> it
> > will have to be done. Bob Loomis and dropped a 150 gallon tank
in
> > mine and I would hate to have to do it will 300 gallons. Word of
> > advice, when you do it, go buy all-thread and use them to lower
> the
> > tank with fuel in it. Chances are you will have all the spray
> foam
> > on the tank. When we did mine, even with some fuel in it, the
> tank
> > did not budge. We had to top her off and use the weight to lower
> and
> > then drain out the fuel. Took us better part of a week but now
we
> > could probably do one in a day.
> >
> > Al Johnson
> > '96 BMC B75 ==> B100
> > Mandeville, Louisiana
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ryan Wright"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Jon,
> > >
> > > On 11/9/07, Jon wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Dan I think the future of these big units will be only for
> the
> > guys
> > > > who have those extra retirement bucks. Our diesel fuel
> prices up
> > > > here in Washington are almost 3.60 a gallon and probably
> going
> > up
> > > > further as I type.
> > >
> > > $3.80 a gallon down the street from me. This is getting
> ridiculous.
> > > Thankfully, I have found a source of used vegetable oil and am
> going
> > > to process my own bio diesel. That will get my cost down under
> > $1.00 a
> > > gallon from now on.
> > >
> > > As for me, my '86 PT-40's (8V92) worst gas mileage so far was
> > 4.13mpg.
> > > That was sailing through Nebraska at 80mph with the generator
> > running
> > > and four A/Cs on full blast. Later in the trip, when I slowed
> down
> > to
> > > ~70mph, I got about 5mpg. I believe if I keep my speed down and
> am
> > > careful on my next trip I'll be able to coax her closer to 6mpg.
> > > Honestly, for a coach that weighs in at 41,000lbs, that's not
> half
> > > bad.
> > >
> > > -Ryan
> > > '86 PT-40 8V92
> > >
> >
>