Sweet spot for best MPG

[FX4Offroad]

So, I took a 400 mile trip today on the Florida turnpike at a consistent 68 mph as per cruise control.

At the end of the trip, my gas reading was 27.7 miles per gallon.

This is the best highway mileage I have gotten on such a long trip. I understand that the Florida turnpike is mostly flat where I traveled but I have made that trip dozens of times before and never gotten this good of gas mileage.

I have been running 92 octane for the past three or four tanks and it looks like it's starting to come around a little bit.

Very impressed with this truck.

To add an additional story, last week I made the same trip but this time I picked up two ATVs and brought them to two separate dealers for service. One was mine, one was a buddies. That day I put just over 500 miles on the trip, and at the end of the day I averaged 22.3 mi per gallon.

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[2020FX4]

Most of my driving is in the city, but the best mileage I have seen was 26 and change on a roadtrip... That was at 65-70 MPH and with the truck and bed loaded with camping gear.

 

[HenryMac]

In Aug 2020 we did a road trip in our FX4 SuperCab, about 9 hours of driving. What I'm finding is setting the cruise control @ 65 mph is the "sweet spot" for good mpg, we averaged 28 mpg.

Anything faster and the mpg stars to drop

 

[AzScorpion]

I agree that the sweet spot seems to be around 65 mph or so. But on a trip last fall to MX I had the cruise set to 75 mph both ways and averaged 26.1 somehow. I know some are getting better but I cant complain what I average overall which is 21.9.....I love this truck!! ??

 

[slowmachine]

For many years, I read reports from many sources saying that the best fuel economy was at about 45 MPH in the highest transmission gear. That was prior to widespread adoption of overdrive transmissions and serious attempts at better aerodynamic design.

Current EPA info, no doubt using calculated data instead of actual test results

https://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.jsp

 

[Vitis805]

IMO it’s folly to think you are ever getting over 24 MPG in real life with this truck, which sort of matches up with EPA ratings. Yes, I think if you drive between 55 and 65 MPH on flat roads, stock H/T tires and with cruise, you will see 24 or a little over, but never realistically any higher in the long run. The public and universal Fuelly data supports this theory. I have hand calculated nearly every gallon of gas and my best on a flat stretch on the 5 south freeway in California was just over 25 with stock H/T and cruise set @ 69 MPH. I have since switched to larger 32” A/T and a level lift which hurt mpg about 2 MPG.

 

[HenryMac]

IMO it’s folly to think you are ever getting over 24 MPG in real life with this truck, which sort of matches up with EPA ratings.

Folly? Our FX4 is bone stock, except for some rock sliders, we consistently get 27 mpg or better.

That's not over a couple thousand miles, that's over 17,000 miles at 8,200 feet elevation.

Hand calculated.

I have since switched to larger 32” A/T and a level lift which hurt mpg about 2 MPG. Worth it in my opinion because the truck now gets compliments everywhere on the street.

Yep... see... it's not folly at all. Your changes hurt the mileage.

 

[HenryMac]

I agree that the sweet spot seems to be around 65 mph or so. But on a trip last fall to MX I had the cruise set to 75 mph both ways and averaged 26.1 somehow. I know some are getting better but I cant complain what I average overall which is 21.9.....I love this truck!! ??

Agreed. Anything above what was on the window sticker when you bought the vehicle is icing on the cake.

 

[XL GT]

Folly? Our FX4 is bone stock, except for some rock sliders, we consistently get 27 mpg or better.

That's not over a couple thousand miles, that's over 17,000 miles at 8,200 feet elevation.

Hand calculated.



Yep... see... it's not folly at all. Your changes hurt the mileage.

If I can get 25mpg I'd be happier than a pig in the mud, but 27mpg, woah, that's pretty impressive! I only have 35 miles on mine so far, so I have some driving to do.

 

[Sib6019]

I went from Baton Rouge to Pensacola (4 hours) on Thursday, cruise set at 72 mph, 27.7 mpg, running stock 18" tires, 4x4 setup, early morning traffic.

 

[Trigganometry]

If I can get 25mpg I'd be happier than a pig in the mud, but 27mpg, woah, that's pretty impressive! I only have 35 miles on mine so far, so I have some driving to do.

Be patient achieving higher mileage in your new rig. Took a few thousand miles before I adapted to shifting and learning to lock out gears. I’m just hitting 7K now and my mileage improved greatly. I’m low 20’s now. I’m using Fuelly so I know what I’m seeing is accurate. It will take some time but you should eventually see better mileage. Well, that is if your not goosing it for the smiles! Honestly, that never gets old ?

 

[HenryMac]

If I can get 25mpg I'd be happier than a pig in the mud, but 27mpg, woah, that's pretty impressive! I only have 35 miles on mine so far, so I have some driving to do.

It's still an infant. ?

FWIW... 91 or higher octane fuel in the baby bottle will help your young Ranger to get it's best mpg.

 

[XL GT]

It's still an infant. ?

FWIW... 91 or higher octane fuel in the baby bottle will help your young Ranger to get it's best mpg.

That's my plan (91 and higher)after the dealership fuel is used up, which I would guess is 87 octane.

 

[AdamHarris]

I swear when I put it in sport mode and enjoy that sweet acceleration, the “avg. mpg” starts climbing slowly. Prolly just coincidence. Also, does anyone else feel a very slight hum or vibration through the brake pedal when in sport mode? Not complaining just curious.

 

[HenryMac]

Be patient achieving higher mileage in your new rig. Took a few thousand miles before I adapted to shifting and learning to lock out gears. I’m just hitting 7K now and my mileage improved greatly. I’m low 20’s now. I’m using Fuelly so I know what I’m seeing is accurate. It will take some time but you should eventually see better mileage. Well, that is if your not goosing it for the smiles! Honestly, that never gets old ?

Fuelly.... with respect to actual mpg... isn't doing anything you can't do with a pen, a note pad, and a calculator.

Wait, no, I'm wrong. The pen, note pad and calculator isn't spying on you, tracking your driving habits and location and then selling that data and your information.

https://www.fuelly.com/privacy
https://www.fuelly.com/terms

Never mind. Carry On.

When I think of fuellie... here's what comes to mind.... 1963 Corvette Split Window Coupe

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