BCM Community

Hello everyone This weekend I took my mc5 on our first long trip I went from san mateo to vegas and back  I have a 6v71 and it  runs GREAT we ran 70mph most of the way and  went about 1400 miles round trip I spent $1150 on diesel is this right or is something really wrong Thank for your time JPULLEN

First, I assume you mean diesel.  Second, it would seem that 200 gallons should have done it, so that would be maybe half of what you spent.

GM Jay,
I agree with Lin, 200 gal would be 7 mpg range. I avg 6+ mpg @ 63 mph, mountains vs flatlands will vary.
Unless that 1400 miles is one way, and your total miles is nearer to 2800 miles (that is a heck of a weekend trip), I would say something is definitely correct. I did not see from where you hail.

Have a great day,
Another 5'er, Gary

$1150 on fuel is roughly 383 gallons at $3 per, over 1400 miles that's 3.65 mpg, which is half what you would expect.  Unless your trip mileage was one way?

Or you started with an empty tank, and finished with a full tank, that would put you about 280 gallons, which would be 5 mpg.  You would expect between 6 and 7 anyway with a 6V71N, if not a little more.  Like Gary I average 6+ with my MC5C

Brian

I believe that he is in San Mateo Ca. so it looks like the 1400 miles would be round trip.

Jay, I can't help with the mileage but, sorry we missed you on your trip to Vegas this past week end, we always look forward to meeting other bus nuts as they pass through.
We had a nice visit from another lovely couple yesterday ( Mike & Nina O'Rourke, RED RIDER) as they passed through on their way down south. I had a fantastic time, as we talked Buses, and had the opportunity for a personal guided tour of their great looking GM 4106, wow what a coach by the way! :) and look forward to spending some more time with them at the Q. :)

  Van & Cheryl

Jay -

Greetings from Spangdahlem!  Glad you had a good time!

How many gallons of fuel did you use on your trip?  $ amt doesn't really help w/o the actual mileage and gallons, then we can give you more intelligent answers.

For those who are not familiar with the topography between San Mateo CA and Lost Wages, Jay faced the following:

Heavy traffic in the SF Bay Area.

6% grades over the Altamont (580) or Pacheco Pass (152), depending on which route he took.

Flat land run down the Central Valley of CA to Bakersfield, freeway overpasses being the toughest grades.

6% grade over Tehachapi (58) to Mojave, then relatively flat run to Barstow.

Deceptive 3 & 4% grades on I-15 to Vegas - lots of running in 3rd gear.

Add to that any headwinds (not unusual) and that he's pushing his coach with a 6V71 @ 70 mph, and you can see where his fuel went.

FWIW & HTH. . .

;)

$1150 at $3.25/gallon = 353 gallons

1400 miles/353 gallons = 3.97 mpg

Something is wrong!!

This is how I added it up same as USBUSIN I ran it @ 70 mph pretty much the whole trip There was times not many that small amounts of black smoke came out the pipe but wow that hurt

Well, start with the obvious possibilities - service the air filters, look for blockages in the air intake from up beside the drivers side radiator, look for white smoke at idle, maybe have the engine tuned up, check that brakes aren't dragging or tire pressures low, and slow down.  70 mph is about on the governor limit (depending on what it's set for), I wonder what happens to fuel mileage if you just sit on the governor?

Brian

I would also look for a leak.  Check the tank, filters, and both supply and return lines.  On my first bus we had leaky return lines, but it was obvious since it was blown onto the front of the toad.

He is not far off the 6v71 with a auto transmission in a MCI 5 won't get much better, that is why Greyhound never ran that setup RJ is on the right path that route will suck the fuel mileage on any bus and heat is a issue in July and Aug


good luck

Someone just said maybe a rack problem When I had it worked on they ran the rack with less diesel so it wouldnt smoke as bad wonder if this is causing a problem making the motor work harder with less gas

I am with Clifford on this being normal for the little MOUNTAINS and a 6v71 on the governor for 1400 mile sticks

Thankfully Gas is a lot less money than Diesel ;D

LOL

Chris

Sorry for saying gas Its my first bus and first diesel engine ive ran gas engines for ever DIESEL DIESEL DIESEL ill get it sooner or later

Next time you take the bus out, lower your cruise speed to 60mph-you'll probably get 1-1.5mpg better.  In the trucking industry, we figure for every mph between 55-65 you loose .1mpg.  And between 65-75 you loose .15 mpg for every mph.  So the difference between cruising between 55 and 75 can be 2.5mpg!  A big deal when you're running a truck at 120,000 miles a year, but with us running around 5,000 miles a year? Yous makes yous choices.  Good Luck, TomC

How do you know how full the tank was before you started?

How different was the level when you finished, again, using what method to make your decisions?

There is easily 20 gallons difference between pump shut offs. A gallon of fuel is 231 cubic inches. Measure the top portion of your tank and be amazed at how skinny a gallon of fuel is.

Throws the calculations right out the window if you don't fill all the way to the lip at a level pump,before and after.

In theory, under that terrain, your fuel use is capped by the power that the 6V71 can make. An 8V71 would burn more, running the hills slightly faster. You should have fuel economy that would make most of us jealous in those conditions.

I'm VERY suspicious for fuel leaks.

Lots of fun!

happy coaching!
buswarrior

I had a 79 MCI5C  6V71 with auto.  I never checked my fuel mileage cause I really did not want to know!! I always had the pedal to the floor. Drive it like you stole it I was told, top speed uphill, downhill and on the flats was 69MPH till I got GPS, then I found out top speed was really 71 MPH.

Again I never checked my mileage but I know it was no where near 4 MPG, that's horrible even I would have noticed that!! I also towed a 98 Ford Windstar, that was usually full, it was as much a mobile shed as a toad!!

No matter where you go taking the same route if it's uphill one way its down hill the other, seems like it should be a wash?? Or am I missing something??  I know when I was a kid, school was uphill both ways!  6 feet of snow oh never mind.     HTH   JIm