MPG tricks

[Hulk337]

Hi All - Just got back from a 2500 mile road trip and averaged 21.2 MPG. Honestly that's the best I've done. The tonneau cover helped. Cruise control helped as well as keeping speed around/under 75 MPH. Tires at 35/36 PSI. Anyone else have their hyper mileing tips?
Thanks!

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[Mustang2Ranger]

I only use the AC on downhill

 

[seasprite]

Going with 91 alcohol free gas gets me 26.5 @ 65-70 mph. Only cost me $0.55 per gallon more and its pretty much a wash for the increase in the mileage.

 

[bobobama]

A few years ago Consumer Reports did a MPG test of pickups in various configurations. Bed as it comes from factory with tailgate up vs. tailgate down vs. covered bed. They got the best results with the first configuration, open bed with tailgate up. I think it had to do with something like the back pressure this created helping to push the truck forward.

I recently did some back-to back 500 mile trips with the bed open/tailgate up, mostly on the interstate, and got around 26 mpg. As you say, maintaining a steady pace at a reasonable speed (I stayed between 70-75 mph, made easier with cruise control) and proper tire pressure certainly helped. Not sure of any other tricks, although I suppose keeping it in drive mode may have helped.

 

[got3fords]

A few years ago Consumear Reports did a MPG test of pickups in various configurations. Bed as it comes from factory with tailgate up vs. tailgate down vs. covered bed. They got the best results with the first configuration, open bed with tailgate up. I think it had to do with something like the back pressure this created helping to push the truck forward.

I think I saw a YouTube video that showed the same results, empty bed tailgate up, no cover best MPG.

 

[Canadian Ranger]

It's not so much speed as it is RPM....lower the better, and what gear you're in. You may get a lower RPM at a higher speed if the gear you're in is higher. But I just use the cruise control, you drive yourself nuts watching gears and RPM all the time.
Mileage tricks I use....

Pull away at green lights and from stop signs slowly.
If I'm not impeding traffic I drive slower than the posted speed limit.
Shut the vehicle off in drive thru's. Idling kills your mileage, obviously.
Tires.....All seasons are better than AT's

When I'm watching my driving I improve from 20mpg to 24mpg.
I'm running Goodyear Duratac's, so I'm only going to get so good anyway.

 

[Zrider]

I think I saw a YouTube video that showed the same results, empty bed tailgate up, no cover best MPG.

Yea, Mythbusters tackled this a few years ago. Empty bed, tailgate up was better that tailgate down.

 

[LT Dangle]

So, I recently took a trip from lower NY out to Cape Cod to visit a buddy.
'21 Tremor only mods are k&n, mishi charge pipes, and Borla exhaust. I'm running 87 octane

My only advice is to stay easy on the throttle inputs i guess. ?‍?

Almost there:

Getting back home:

A few weeks later of normal driving:

 

[Msfitoy]

Plan your drives when the sun (or moon) is low on the horizon and only drive towards it's general direction (tacking like sailboats) to maximize the gravitational assist...just as importantly, avoid roads that go uphill...

 

[Chris M]

Plan your drives when the sun (or moon) is low on the horizon and only drive towards it's general direction (tacking like sailboats) to maximize the gravitational assist...just as importantly, avoid roads that go uphill...

Because....gravity!

 

[bbeverag]

This is in a Tremor, which should in theory get worse mileage. While the screenshot shows 30mph that is when I was exiting the highway at the end of my trip, the rest of the trip was almost entirely 75mph highway with a few stops for gas and breaks. And yes, I need to dust.

 

[AzScorpion]

I like saving money as much (probably more) than anyone. But it's a darn truck and they're not meant for getting great gas mileage. Saving 1-2 mpg isn't going to make any significant difference. Lift it, drive it, work it, enjoy it and if you want good mpg buy a Prius. ?

 

[AzScorpion]

Plan your drives when the sun (or moon) is low on the horizon and only drive towards it's general direction (tacking like sailboats) to maximize the gravitational assist...just as importantly, avoid roads that go uphill...

Let me guess, you walked to school up-hill both ways? ?

 

[Msfitoy]

Sound ironic, but having ruined my Ranger's mpg through all the mods, I've became a "hyper-milers"...techniques I use to maximize mpg:

1-look far, far down the road
2-time traffic backup and traffic lights
3-minimize braking and acceleration, coast often
4-drive like there's a open cup of coffee on the dash
5-drive towards the Sun, as mentioned before...

 

[Msfitoy]

Let me guess, you walked to school up-hill both ways? ?

All of our generation did...in my case, through 10 foot snow drifts lol...

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