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02-15-2012, 01:32 PM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Friendship, Maine
Posts: 483
M.O.C. #6338
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Winter Fuel Economy
Left Maine at 9 degrees F. Three days of traveling my mpg's is down. Must be the cold weather as today it has improved.
However I have had to bleed off air as we traveled south into warmer temps. (16lbs in total so far). Seems like a lot but that is what it has taken to get to 80lbs (cold). Of course cold down here is 60 degrees, not 9 degrees.
__________________
2012 Big Sky 3400, now an SOB 5th wheel
2007 Montana 3075 previously
2015 GMC 3500 Dually
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02-15-2012, 01:49 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: corning
Posts: 694
M.O.C. #6635
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I have done the same with tire pressure. And yes, diesel fuel economy is worst in cold weather. Diesels do not like cold as well as warm plus I think they put anti jell stuff in the fuel that reduces mileage in cold weather. But the fuel flows.
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02-15-2012, 04:07 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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Out west you also have the altitude issue. Air in, air out, air in again, next year we're staying in one place a lot longer.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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02-16-2012, 01:34 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Winfield
Posts: 7,327
M.O.C. #6846
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I have been very fortunate this winter in the sense that even with the diesel fuel prices increasing, it has not affected the operational cost per mile for the dually. I will admit, for the purpose of clarification for these claims, that the dually has been sitting in the driveway and has not moved! Now granted, that obviously will change in a couple of months (insert with emphasis added: "C'mon Spring"), but for now the impact of diesel prices on the wallet is an enjoyable respite! Such is the life of us'n "Northerners"
Bingo
__________________
Bingo and Cathy - Our adventures begin in the hills of WV. We are blessed by our 2014 3850FL Big Sky (previous 2011 3750FL and 2007 3400RL) that we pull with a 2007 Chevy Silverado Classic DRW CC dually.
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02-16-2012, 09:08 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Land O Lakes
Posts: 2,783
M.O.C. #10246
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We always have the same experience of having to let air out of our tires as we leave our Maine camp site in the fall and head back to Florida...as pointed out above, this appears to be normal.
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02-16-2012, 02:49 PM
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#6
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Derby
Posts: 91
M.O.C. #11859
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I did read that the winter blend diesel will have some negative effects on fuel mileage. I run anto-gel all the time through the winter also so mine is really suffering.
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02-16-2012, 07:41 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Murrieta
Posts: 5,816
M.O.C. #9257
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Well that explains the drop for my truck every winter - I've been thinking it's something I was doing. I didn't realize the winter formula is worse but it makes sense. I get between 19 & 20 when not towing. In summer, I easily get 20 and as high as 22. These are highway mpgs. I am not an aggressive driver and find that without towing the sweetspot is between 70 and 75mph.
Street driving is 15-16 in winter and 16 to 18 in summer without a load.
Please consider for me living in southern California the daytime winter temps average about 60 to 70 during the day and about 40 at night and in summer it's 90-100 during the day and about 60 at night. I'm only talking averages. We've been known to get to lows of 25 degrees in winter and highs of 110 in summer. When the temps are at these levels we stay home.
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02-17-2012, 08:10 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by tracyclifton
I did read that the winter blend diesel will have some negative effects on fuel mileage. I run anto-gel all the time through the winter also so mine is really suffering.
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Same here. I don't have exact figures but it seems to be close to 10% less mileage with winterized diesel. And, of course, if I don't check tires when the weather cools then I'm sure lower inflation impacts the mileage, too.
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02-26-2012, 04:43 PM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Overland Park
Posts: 155
M.O.C. #5481
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Well, I no longer am going to worry about winter fule milage any more. We just were in Casa Grande, Az and bought a park model. So from now on we will be spending the winter in Az. and the truck will be parked in Kansas City. During the summer we will still be in KC and a few miles will be put on going camping at the local lake.
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03-04-2012, 03:09 PM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Friendship, Maine
Posts: 483
M.O.C. #6338
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Good info.
My milage is much improved here in Florida. Actually it is the best I have had to date. Truck is finally broke in which may have something to do with the better milage.
Drew
__________________
2012 Big Sky 3400, now an SOB 5th wheel
2007 Montana 3075 previously
2015 GMC 3500 Dually
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03-05-2012, 12:50 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Chip
Good info.
My milage is much improved here in Florida. Actually it is the best I have had to date. Truck is finally broke in which may have something to do with the better milage.
Drew
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There are a few things that affect mileage in the northern states. The biggest is the use of winter fuel, which contains additives to prevent jelling, but adversely affect fuel mileage. The other is most people warm their truck up before driving, which also reduces fuel mileage. Even if you don't warm the vehicle up first, thicker fluids (engine oil and trans fluid) will rob power and thus mileage.
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