Improving MPG performance - best practices

[Homebrew]

Best way to save on gas is not to go anywhere or get an electric vehicle. Buying a newer gas vehicle is just a waste of money.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by Homebrew

Best way to save on gas is not to go anywhere or get an electric vehicle. Buying a newer gas vehicle is just a waste of money.

Back in 2017 I purchased a Gen 2 Chevy Volt. Doesn't pull my trailer but the resultant decrease in gasoline bill after I bought it was $400/month. The Volt handles all my "running around" and the truck relaxes in the garage between camping trips.


BTW, the savings on my gasoline bill was measured in 2017 when gasoline was a lot cheaper than today.

I still have to buy some gasoline as the vehicle's computer forces me to. One tank per year is it's goal so I appease the computer and buy ~3 gallons every 6-8 months just to make it happy.

[ARhappycamper]

Towing heavy/worried about MPG = oxymoron.

[Tabasco_Joe]

Fill up just before you hit PA and try to make it to the other side before you need to buy more fuel. In PA the right lanes are mostly patches, so you really do get better gas mileage in the left lane. You also have fewer rest stops as those patches are a pain in the bladder.

[Wintercamper]

Just checked the average gas prices per state as of this morning (5/16/22). These are some ugly numbers

FL - $4.48
GA - $3.97
SC - $4.17
NC - $4.24
VA - $4.32
WV - $4.28
MD - $4.47
PA - $4.63
NY - $4.73

[NewToTheForce]

Add about a buck fifty for California.

[jlynn721]

Originally Posted by Wintercamper

I'm looking for tips and suggestions on improving MPG.

We're getting ready to tow our travel trailer from Florida to upstate NY in a few weeks and the all time high gasoline prices are going to make this a very expensive trip.

I have a 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500 with a 5.3L engine. My travel trailer weighs in at just over 5000lbs but with everything loaded we will probably be at around 7000lbs. My truck is rated to pull up to 9600lbs.

I know that controlling my lead foot and driving slower speeds is probably one of the biggest things I can do to help improve mileage. I plan to try to maintain 60MPH on the trip.

Any other suggestions? Not going is not an option - haha.

Three things are the really only things you can do:

1) ensure tire pressure is at max cold pressure
2) lower weight of contents on truck and trailer
3) 55-60 mph, glide to stop lights, easy on gas when accelerating.

There’s not much else you can do that will make much of a difference (assuming truck is running well).

[NancyLH]

Originally Posted by Wintercamper

I'm looking for tips and suggestions on improving MPG.

We're getting ready to tow our travel trailer from Florida to upstate NY in a few weeks and the all time high gasoline prices are going to make this a very expensive trip.

I have a 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500 with a 5.3L engine. My travel trailer weighs in at just over 5000lbs but with everything loaded we will probably be at around 7000lbs. My truck is rated to pull up to 9600lbs.

I know that controlling my lead foot and driving slower speeds is probably one of the biggest things I can do to help improve mileage. I plan to try to maintain 60MPH on the trip.

Any other suggestions? Not going is not an option - haha.

I was just reading about chipping and asked our son about it. He said he had it done on his truck and it made a big difference in his mileage. Google "performance chipping 2012 Silverado 1500."

[2whlzstan]

Originally Posted by NancyLH

I was just reading about chipping and asked our son about it. He said he had it done on his truck and it made a big difference in his mileage. Google "performance chipping 2012 Silverado 1500."

I had a Black Bear tune done on a 2011 5.3 Silverado 1500. Picked up about 15 hp and 10 lb/ft at the rear wheels. Greatest benefit was smoothing out both torque and hp curves, the air/fuel ratio and firming up the shifts. All contributed to a notable improvement in the drivability of the truck and pulling our Rockwood 2304. No increase in fuel mileage though.

[TitanMike]

I just drove over the mountains from my home today and another 100 miles East of the Pass. My scan gauge showed a steady 13mpg while towing. Best ever. I wonder if the 33mph tailwind has anything to do with it?
[emoji16][emoji16]

[Puma26RLSS]

Two stray thoughts. One, I have seen ads at a couple of gas companies for discounted gas for a few weeks/tanksful, if you get their company affiliated credit card. Also, many cards have a 2% cash back on all charges. We are headed out to California in August, so I have given that some thought. Second, don't be embarrassed to drive at 55 mph. I do that regularly. You practically own the right lane of the Interstate 90% of the time. You can just put it on cruise and settle in for the trip. At some point folks are going to have to start thinking about their speed rather than just complain about gas prices...aren't they? Just enjoy being a trend setter! Good luck out there.

[Jcape]

Originally Posted by Wintercamper

I'm looking for tips and suggestions on improving MPG.

We're getting ready to tow our travel trailer from Florida to upstate NY in a few weeks and the all time high gasoline prices are going to make this a very expensive trip.

I have a 2012 Chevy Silverado 1500 with a 5.3L engine. My travel trailer weighs in at just over 5000lbs but with everything loaded we will probably be at around 7000lbs. My truck is rated to pull up to 9600lbs.

I know that controlling my lead foot and driving slower speeds is probably one of the biggest things I can do to help improve mileage. I plan to try to maintain 60MPH on the trip.

Any other suggestions? Not going is not an option - haha.

Use cruise control on the highway.

[yetavon]

Originally Posted by Wintercamper

Just checked the average gas prices per state as of this morning (5/16/22). These are some ugly numbers

FL - $4.48
GA - $3.97
SC - $4.17
NC - $4.24
VA - $4.32
WV - $4.28
MD - $4.47
PA - $4.63
NY - $4.73

Leaving WNC in a month for NY to.. Albany area... UGH... 05 Silverado 5.3 HO. Have used HP Tuners to build a custom tune and managed nearly 12 MPG pulling our Hybrid, but 10.8 with the ne TH... without the bike...

[5er_tom]

Originally Posted by Jcape

Use cruise control on the highway.

I’m not so sure about that. I feel the cruise control tends to “hunt” the accelerator to maintain the set speed, and thus uses a little more fuel. My experience has been a little better mileage by not using cruise control.

But, cruise control makes for a less stressful tow.

[Chuck_S]

If the transmission is "hunting" in cruise control try (1) change the "tow-haul" mode to the "other" setting and see what happens or (2) change your cruising speed to something else either faster or slower by (say) 5mph or even 2mph increments. Since we all remember that air resistance is the primary factor there will be different settings depending on head/tail winds. Sometimes cruising withOUT the trailer a headwind will force a downshift. Expect the truck to downshift on grades.

Trucks with 10 speed transmissions are more prone to hunting as they try to find the exact small power band -- just how it works. In olden days the transmission really only had the choice of 3d or 4th gear and often just stayed in 3d burning gobs of fuel.

Watch the transmission temperature gauge to determine if the hunting is excessive. If you don't have one and are serious about towing there are gauges that plug into the OBD2 port under the dashboard which have alarms that can be set for high trans temps.

-- Chuck