Wind kills mpg

[Teamster4life]

On our 1st long trip with our new Cherokee 264L about 7100 lbs travel weight.We left home this am and for the 1st 200 miles lieometer showed 10.5 mpg .We then hit a 22 to 34 mph gusting wind from the front driver side for the next 225 miles with the lieometer showing 8.5 mpg . Fill ups hand calculated show about 1 mpg less than the lie o meter . Sure hope the wind dies down or better yet shifts to my tail end

2017 Ram 2500 6.4 Hemi
2018 Cherokee 264L

[Reverse_snowbird]

Originally Posted by Teamster4life

Sure hope the wind dies down or better yet shifts to my tail end

Going uphill you can almost see the gas gauge going down. From Houston almost everything is uphill. Hopefully, we make it up on the return trip.

Safe travels.

[Nascon]

Traveling West across North Dakota one time we averaged five mpg. Stopped for fuel and there was a 50 mph head wind.

[DieselDrax]

In other news, water is also wet. [emoji41] (Just some friendly ribbing. [emoji16])

[jrm1493]

Originally Posted by Reverse_snowbird

Going uphill you can almost see the gas gauge going down. From Houston almost everything is uphill. Hopefully, we make it up on the return trip.

Safe travels.

Last spring we drove from Houston to Cleburne SP and saw about 8mpg the whole way. This was "uphill" into 30-35mph north winds (from the front passenger side), and cold (for Texas).

This summer I've been seeing around 11mpg. Less wind and hot temperatures help a lot. Higher density altitude cuts down on effective wind resistance, and also reduces engine power which leads to a more efficient burn. Gas motors are most efficient when throttle is wide open, as long as they don't go into power enrich mode. Not sure if this applies to diesel as they don't have a throttle.

[elind]

Funny how the wind plays into fuel mileage. I was towing a loaded car hauler cross country into a head wind and was down to 8-9MPG at times. The last day of travel the wind changed and I had a strong tailwind. Then it went to 12-13MPG for the last 400 miles. So when people brag about awesome fuel mileage.....did they have tailwinds?

[youroo]

I have done a lot of research on "Fuel Consumption " my Research Team has found "Wind and Right Front Foot " are the leading cause of 'Fuel Failure "!Youroo! !

[grumpy0374]

We plan our trips where we are only traveling downhill or down grade with the wind always behind us.
Have found that I can coast most of the way. Recently did a 5000 mile trip and only used 2/3 tank of gas for the entire trip.
Did one 500 mile trip and found we actually made gas!!! Or was that as a result of the chicken wings and beer?

Grumpy

[WFD]

Like they say...if you want the wind to change direction, just hook up to your trailer...it will surely change to be head wind or side.

[TitanMike]

You'll also find that driving 75 mph into a 25 mph headwind will get you less mileage than if you drive only 55 mph into the same headwind.

Tailwinds are an RV'ers best friend.

As for the right foot, thicker floor mats under the pedal can help with that problem. So can a piece of 2x4

[grumpy0374]

If you go faster, you'll get there quicker, thus spending less time driving, and you'll use less gas!!!
Proof....
Two of us in same type rigs travel 500 miles to a campground.
I do 70 mph...takes me about 7 hours.
You do 55 mph....takes you about 9 hours.
When you get there, I'll have already been set up eating my chicken wings and drinking my beer.
You will have spent an extra two hours driving and using gas during that 2 extra hours.
Thus, driving faster uses less gas.
These calculations were done immediately after drinking 3 beers!!!

Grumpy

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by grumpy0374

If you go faster, you'll get there quicker, thus spending less time driving, and you'll use less gas!!!
Proof....
Two of us in same type rigs travel 500 miles to a campground.
I do 70 mph...takes me about 7 hours.
You do 55 mph....takes you about 9 hours.
When you get there, I'll have already been set up eating my chicken wings and drinking my beer.
You will have spent an extra two hours driving and using gas during that 2 extra hours.
Thus, driving faster uses less gas.

Grumpy

Your proof may prove something if we were using Gallons Per Hour but the standard is Miles Per Gallon. Using MPG it doesn't matter if it takes me 9 hours or 9 days, I still burn the same amount of gas.

BTW, I don't like Chicken Wings and don't drink beer

[Oaklevel]

Originally Posted by grumpy0374

If you go faster, you'll get there quicker, thus spending less time driving, and you'll use less gas!!!
Proof....
Two of us in same type rigs travel 500 miles to a campground.
I do 70 mph...takes me about 7 hours.
You do 55 mph....takes you about 9 hours.
When you get there, I'll have already been set up eating my chicken wings and drinking my beer.
You will have spent an extra two hours driving and using gas during that 2 extra hours.
Thus, driving faster uses less gas.
These calculations were done immediately after drinking 3 beers!!!

Grumpy

now that's funny............. a lot of that logic around.......

[grumpy0374]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Your proof may prove something if we were using Gallons Per Hour but the standard is Miles Per Gallon. Using MPG it doesn't matter if it takes me 9 hours or 9 days, I still burn the same amount of gas.

BTW, I don't like Chicken Wings and don't drink beer

All in fun TitanMike...same #'s can be arrived at by downing a few glasses of good wine.
Besides, as I posted, our trips are always downhill/grade, with the wind always behind us, so my gallons per hour are still less. Actually measure in ounces per hour.
And, before anyone asks, to get home how do I avoid going up hill?
Easy, I just drive around in circles till I find a downgrade going back the way I came. Easy-peasy!!!
And, there's always wind behind me...or, that just may be the chicken wings and beer again.

Grumpy

[aceinspp]

Yep your right wind cuts fuel mileage. Later RJD

[Hersbird]

A 25 mph headwind is worse than driving 25 mph faster because you get the added aero drag but you motor never gets to move into a more efficient powerband. Sometimes, especially on a high HP gas motor, driving faster will put you in a better BSFC spot for the motor. Meaning the added drag is slightly offset by less pumping losses and better efficiency factoring power output of the motor. Rarely would it get better economy at a 25 mph higher speed (maybe 20 to 45, but certainly not 50 compared to 75) but it isn't as bad as it is keeping the same efficiency point of speed and RPM, but adding another 25 mph in aero drag.

Side winds can be worse than straight on as well with little of a camper's or trucks aero profile setup to help in a side wind. Airstream would be the exception. You also never benefit from a "draft" in a long line of traffic on an interstate if the wind is from the side as it basically blows the draft off into the ditch where you aren't. I suppose if you drove besides a big truck or fellow camper but that would be a terrible idea in high winds.

[Jay2504]

We took a trip to Texas and went through Arkansas. I swear the interstate was uphill both ways. Jay