Dale Avery
Advanced Member
Posts:682
 | | 19 Mar 2010 12:11 PM |
| The price of gas and diesel are creeping up again. Petroleum is hanging around $82+/barrel and will be going up with the summer driving season approaching. I'm expecting gas prices to surge over $3 and diesel to hover around $4 within the next couple of months. I've recorded my mileage for a decade now in the Tacoma, and have measured it for my other vehicles as well. The addition of ethonol certainly isn't helping. This is what I am getting now: Cannondale-Robin/Surbaru hybrid 35 cc motored mountain bike 170-200 mpg, 87 octane gas (top speed 28 mph), single seat and dangerous in traffic 2002 BMW F650GS Dakar motorcycle loaded up (rider + gear ~ 300 lbs) 60+ mpg, 89 octane gas, top speed 75+ mph, single seater high visibility jacket so less dangerous in traffic 2004 Subaru Outback with auto tranny 24-26 mpg, 87 octane gas - driven by wife 1992 Mazda Miata manual tranny ~30 mpg, a little better on the interstate, 89 octane gas - driven by wife 2000 Tacoma Xcab armoured up and loaded including rooftop tent increases average weight to ~5,200 lbs, 16 mpg in town, 20-21 mgp hiway, 15 mpg 4-wheeling, 87 octane gas Since getting the Dakar in Oct, '09, I have put 1,700 miles on it. In the past year, I have only driven the truck 4,000 miles. That is down from 8-10,000 average per year in the past. The bike is a new toy and lots of fun, but the money savings on gas is also a big player on my decision to ride it rather than taking the Tacoma. The mountain bike can be carried on a rack on the back of the truck. It's fun on single and two-track trails, but makes me feel vulnerable in Spokane traffic. The Miata is a great three season in-town car for SWMBO. When it needs gas or repairs she even lets me drive it. Useless off-road. The Subaru is a perfect suburbanite's vehicle; minor camping capabilities but no severe off-roading. The Taco is a tank. I'm addicted to gas powered vehicles. How have you been affected by increased prices and the inlusion of ethonol? Has it changed your driving style at all? What are you driving and mpg? | | |
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Scott Williams
Advanced Member
Posts:880
| | 19 Mar 2010 12:59 PM |
| Ethanol is much less efficient fuel. A 10-15% drop in economy seems to be standard across the board since it has been mandated (in WA). It is also corrosive and most older vehicles will suffer fuel line degredation as well a premature pump wear. | | | |
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Mike Rupp
Veteran Member
Posts:1354
| | 19 Mar 2010 12:59 PM |
| 1997 Land Rover Discovery: 12-13 mpg on a good day
2007 Honda Pilot: 15-22mpg
I just refinanced our home which will pay for all of our gas consumption and will still put money in our pockets. | | | |
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Ben Bailey
Veteran Member
Posts:2561
| | 19 Mar 2010 01:08 PM |
| '04 DII with mostly calibrated ScanGauge II says 13-16. | | | |
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Grant Mossman
Veteran Member
Posts:1409
| | 19 Mar 2010 02:02 PM |
| 97 4runner, v6 winter mileage 15-17
94 Toyota pu 4cyl winter mileage 16-19 | | | |
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Scott Tarrant
Basic Member
Posts:378
| | 19 Mar 2010 02:47 PM |
| '00 Discovery II - 13-16 (initially) Though I all but gave up checking due to the fact it's a Land Rover and I've since added larger tires, RTT and a lead foot. I used to get a hair over 300 miles on a tank, now I'm lucky to get 250-275 (though uncalibrated). -Scott | | | |
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Benny Benson
Veteran Member
Posts:1681
| | 19 Mar 2010 03:10 PM |
| 07 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited, With the roof rack I'm averaging 17mpg on 87 Octane/10% ethanol gas. Gotta really pay attention to tire pressure as just 5psi low on one tire will drop it into the 15-16 mpg range. | | | |
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Todd Eliason
Veteran Member
Posts:3515
| | 19 Mar 2010 03:26 PM |
| 1993 Range Rover Classic - 25-28MPG Teehee! | | | |
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Grant Mossman
Veteran Member
Posts:1409
| | 19 Mar 2010 05:16 PM |
| Posted By Todd Eliason on 03/19/2010 3:26 PM 1993 Range Rover Classic - 25-28MPG Teehee!
yew sack I've been thinking- a turbo diesel in my little 94 pu would be pretty sweet... bet there's some canadian that could make it happen, with the right number of Molsons | | | |
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Grant Mossman
Veteran Member
Posts:1409
| | 19 Mar 2010 05:22 PM |
| my wifes 83 volvo 240 wagon is getting 24mpg.
With 20 psi tire pressure so it'll ride nicer.
It weighs nearly 3000lbs.
And you can sleep in the back
It costs $205 a year to insure | | | |
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Dale Avery
Advanced Member
Posts:682
| | 19 Mar 2010 05:24 PM |
| Turbo diesel??? You Dog! I'm green with envy! | | | |
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Craig Miller
Posts:11799
| | 19 Mar 2010 05:31 PM |
| My hiking boots are getting great gas mileage... been w/o a vehicle since July. Like anything, at first it was annoying but now I'm kinda getting used to it.  Even when I get another truck, it's going to spend most of it's life sitting in the garage waiting for overland trips. Anyway, just wanted to put the idea out there that *not driving* is the best way to get good gas mileage. Save the fuel for the mountains. | | | |
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Grant Mossman
Veteran Member
Posts:1409
| | 19 Mar 2010 05:33 PM |
| Right on, Craig! | | | |
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Nate Skate
Advanced Member
Posts:725
| | 19 Mar 2010 06:01 PM |
| Posted By Grant Mossman on 03/19/2010 5:22 PM
my wifes 83 volvo 240 wagon is getting 24mpg.
With 20 psi tire pressure so it'll ride nicer.
It weighs nearly 3000lbs.
And you can sleep in the back
It costs $205 a year to insure I miss my 240. I think the late model (sans biodegradable wiring harness) 240's were some of the best cars ever made in terms of longevity, looks, and reliability. | | | |
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Brian Rutherford
Advanced Member
Posts:667
| | 19 Mar 2010 06:30 PM |
| 15.8mpg 2006 Sportmobile 4x4, Ford 6 liter turbo diesel, auto trans. 21mpg 2001 Suzuki Grand Vitara 2.5 liter V6, manual trans. The SMB is a 10,000 pound vehicle, so I'm OK with almost 16mpg from it. That figure is an average overall including trips, town and 4x4 driving. The GV would do better with the I4 if you wanted better mpg. 21mpg is not very good for the size of the vehicle, but it's heavier than most cars its size. Brian Rutherford | | | |
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Jason Rose
Basic Member
Posts:147
| | 19 Mar 2010 09:00 PM |
| Posted By Todd Eliason on 03/19/2010 3:26 PM 1993 Range Rover Classic - 25-28MPG Teehee!
WOW! I'm impressed. How much is your RRC modded?
Mine has a lot of kit.......sliders, front and rear HD bumpers, HD front and rear drive shafts, NATO wheels, 265 75R16 MT/R's, Detroit, etc.
On the freeway taking it easy, I'm about 20. Best I got was 22 with my front and rear bumper not attached. In town around 18. | | | |
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Ben Bailey
Veteran Member
Posts:2561
| | 19 Mar 2010 09:13 PM |
| I think the RRC is almost always going to be less of a brick than a Disco, but I would also think you should be getting more like 25 MPG, Jason.
When you coming to town? | | | |
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Jason Rose
Basic Member
Posts:147
| | 19 Mar 2010 09:33 PM |
| Posted By Ben Bailey on 03/19/2010 9:13 PM
I think the RRC is almost always going to be less of a brick than a Disco, but I would also think you should be getting more like 25 MPG, Jason.
When you coming to town?
I think you're right. Should be getting a little more. I know Doug is getting 26 in his RRC that is completely stock with the 300tdi and lt230......... Well, not sure yet. I'm trying to plan a little bit around your schedule. I've been meaning to call you and get your spring break schedule. Are you going to Cali, Utah, or hanging out? For some reason I thought you might head over to Bend. What's your plan?
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Jay Erickson
Advanced Member
Posts:811
| | 20 Mar 2010 01:11 PM |
| I've kept track of every single fill up since getting my Xterra and it's holding at a median of 16.8mpg, with a low down in the 12s and highs in the low 20s. That's through 87 tanks & 20k miles, for the most part the scangaugeII has been within just a few tenths of the calculated mpg but try as I might I just can't seem to keep my foot from putting a smile on my face.
I tried a bit of hypermiling and by the end of the day I was so flabbergasted from being tail gated or having close shaves that I decided it wasn't worth an extra 2mpg for all that hassle.
If Gas makes its way back to $4/gal I'll probably start selling plasma to pay for my wanderings! | | | |
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Dustin Morrow
Basic Member
Posts:471
| | 20 Mar 2010 05:53 PM |
| Portland to Bothell today- 16.4 in the LR3. Dustin | | | |
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