We just got home from Grande Cache (northwest of Edmonton). We ran with friends for part of the trip and it was a great opportunity to see the effect of speed on mileage. Running alone at 100 km/hr on the way out to Alberta we got 11.25 MPG (Canuck gallon). Then I chased Alison & Camille up the icefield parkway at from 110-120 km/hr and got 6.82 mpg on that tank. They went home by themselves on Sunday and we poked our way home at exactly 100 kph and got 9.69 mpg for that leg. A couple of things on the 2nd leg accounted for the lower mileage. 1st, we ran the aquahot because it was *** cold. That likely didn't account for much but we did use some fuel for heat. More importantly, I ran in 9th for about 1/3 of that leg. My best mileage happens at 1500 RPM in 10th. I run almost exactly 100 kph at 1500 RPM and I can handle gentle hills in 10th. Coming out of the Alberta foothills I thought I needed to be in 9th & it cost me some points on that leg.
FWIW
It's starting to get deep!!! Just joking. I get 4 mpg no matter what.
Richard
Hey Bob ... is tenth an overdrive on your tranny? What HP is your 8V92?
Richard I get 7 on the flat @ 100kph, if I keep my foot out of it. I'm running 475 HP
Ron
Just remember to convert 'Canuck' MPG to US MPG multiply by .8327.
I have a fuel gauge that resolves 1/10 US gallons and is accurate within less than a % And with it I've found that refilling the tank is subject to at least a +/- 5 gallon uncertainty. BTW on my last trip holding 100 k/h I got over 10 MPG Canadian, that sure sounds better than 8.4 MPG US..
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120
I've logged every litre burned since we bought the bus 3-1/2 years and 50,000 km ago so I can say with certainty that the numbers are right. 10th is O/D but it really doesn't matter - its engine RPM that gives you mileage no matter how you get there. I've never had my 8-92 on a dyno so I really have no idea what HP it makes. And Jerry is right - Miles per Canuck gallon sounds a lot better than miles per yankee gallon. Just my opinion but I have always thought that running on cruise gives better mileage too. The better legs on our trip were run on cruise, FWIW.
Richard - Your the first person to ever post mileage that is worse than mine - thanks for making me feel better .... and for being an honest guy ......