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Old 04-11-2008, 12:43 PM   #11
jcjim4
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Would like to know if most of your mpg info is from 87 octane gas or higher? I seldom use 89 octane, but when I do I get about 3 mpg better. I got 14.4 on my last 2100mile trip on regular. Noticed that at some stations in Texas I was filling up with 86 octane.
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Old 04-11-2008, 01:16 PM   #12
commodor47
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Bruce,

I kept track (spreadsheet) of our mileage (cost, total miles traveled, dates, locations) for this years winter trip. Traveling from Western MA to Tucson, AZ totaled 2700 miles with an average MPG of 15.45 (best: 17.54; worst: 13.57). Touring the Tucson area (not towing, mostly highway) the MPG averaged 21 (best: 22.85; worst: 19.01). We drove from Tucson to Ruskin, FL then to Port Charlotte, up to Gainesville, GA then home. Total trip was 10454 miles with an overall MPG of 16.85

I can send you a copy of the spreadsheet if you like.

Dick
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Old 04-11-2008, 06:44 PM   #13
P and B
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We get about 16 towing and about 21 without. Our dealer told us to expect about a 40% decrease in mileage. It's a little worse but they were very close.

Phil
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Old 04-11-2008, 08:04 PM   #14
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16 around town
19 highway
15 towing highway 75 mph
16 towing highway 65 mph
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Old 04-11-2008, 08:45 PM   #15
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05 Honda pilot, 08 2720SL, 87 oct., 65/70mph, hwy 17mpg.
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Old 04-12-2008, 05:32 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jcjim4 View Post
Would like to know if most of your mpg info is from 87 octane gas or higher? I seldom use 89 octane, but when I do I get about 3 mpg better. I got 14.4 on my last 2100mile trip on regular. Noticed that at some stations in Texas I was filling up with 86 octane.
It is interesting that you get better gas mileage with higher octane. I always use 87 octane, but might try a tank or 2 of 89 to see how it does.

Chap
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Old 04-12-2008, 08:41 AM   #17
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Default octane and hidden ethanol in gas

Kansas along with other states has legislation that does NOT require pumps to indicate the addition of 10% ethanol to regular grade fuel. This does boost octane. In other words, the pumps in Kansas say regular octane, but that is the minimum. Missouri was considering similar legislation, which I assume is due to legislative support of farmers, corn growing, increase prices for corn and other consumer non-friendly ideas. Refineries and end producers pay less tax when gas is diluted with 10% alcohol. Note that if you do not know the ethanol content of the fuel you use your mileage will be lower since grain alcohol mpg is about 15% lower for E85 fuel (15% regular gas and 85% ethanol) when compared to true regular gas (no ethanol). So that even on the hidden 10% etoh that is found in "regular" gas, this will result in a small loss of mileage/gallon.
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Old 04-12-2008, 02:33 PM   #18
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Toyota Tacoma Prerunner V6, '06 3326, flat land, no to light wind, results from ScanGuage.

@70 not towing 20-23 MPG
@70 towing 13-14.7 MPG
@60 not towing 28 MPG
@60 towing 15-18 MPG

I was able to get up to 20 MPG drafting about 200' behind a 18 wheeler. ScanGauge is really neat.
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Old 04-12-2008, 07:22 PM   #19
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I think what you are seeing in all of this data is that it takes about 14-16 mpg to drag a GCVW of 8000-9000 lbs with a frontal cross-sectional area of about 4x7 feet. I don't think about it as "what percentage of gas mileage will I lose" so much as "what will the end mpg be dragging the trailer around." Notice that the full size pickups and SUV's like Expeditions wind up with very similar mileage to the Explorers and the Mercedes SUV despite having very different starting points without the extra drag of the trailer.

This is still outstanding for pulling a trailer around compared to a full size trailer; poke around rv.net and you will see threads talking about 9-11 mpg, which is what you get when you are dragging an 8x8 box through the air at 65 mph.

I actually saw an increase in mpg with my Expedition when I went to Co Springs to pick up the TM - about 14.1 mpg going down there and over 15 mpg returning. However, that was 75 mph going down vs roughly 60 mph returning, and it's 1000 ft higher in altitude down there. So I'm sure my end mileage will be similar to what's been posted; 14-15 mpg with the trailer and 16-17 mpg without it.
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Old 04-14-2008, 10:34 PM   #20
TREXHUNTERS
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I finally got another data point. 13.8mpg going north on I25 in New Mexico. The only thing I did differently was add a little air to the TM tires to get to 65psi. I probably need to do the same with the Tundra tires. Unfortunately, I have Michelin ATs which are max rated at only 44psi. These probably aren't the best tires for towing.
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