MPG Update 2021

Ready to head North

 

Gasoline and MPG statistics for a 1,900 mile trek completed May 25 in our 2013 210P. 

Note: I don't separate gas with ethanol from gas without when I do my MPG statistics.  Ethanol has less energy content than gasoline and it has been reported that MPG numbers decrease when using gasoline containing ethanol.  According to the EPA:

"Ethanol contains about one-third less energy than gasoline. So, vehicles will typically go 3% to 4% fewer miles per gallon on E10 and 4% to 5% fewer on E15 than on 100% gasoline." Here's a link to the EPA site:

https://fueleconomy.gov/feg/ethanol.shtml

Trek Statistics

The overall trek distance was about 2,025 miles, but with a stopover of a few days in Illinois I considered that to be the end.  Several days later we continued to MI, but I have not yet refilled the gas tank, so I don't have a receipt for the final segment, and we'll be doing local driving for a while.   

The MPG statistics were determined using the gasoline receipts. The MPG varied with altitude and speed, which I would expect. Here are the summary statistics: 

Gallons consumed: 118.7

Total cost: $371.02 

Average price per gallon: $3.12 

Lowest price per gallon: $2.589 (NM) 

Octane: 86, 87, 88 (some stations carry 86 and 88, no 87 - see notes) 

MPG overall: 15.313  

Details

MPG for 745 mile segment at 55-60 MPH: 17.06 

MPG for 782 mile segment at 75-80 MPH: 13.24 

We travelled on interstates and highways, as well as local roads. The speeds on local roads were 25-45 MPH stop-and-go, 55-60 mph on highways, and 75-80 MPH on interstates in the west.  

Highest price for gasoline was for 13.255 gallons of gas in Ordway CO at 10855 County Road G.  The price for "plus" gasoline was $3.659 per gallon. I wanted to add a higher octane to offset the previous fill-up of 86 octane; 87 wasn't available.  I do this so as to maintain a blend of 87 octane in the gas tank, which is what GM recommends for this 6.8 liter engine in the Chevy chassis

With the above exception, the highest price for gasoline for this trek was in DuPage County Illinois. The price per gallon for 87 octane was $3.169 per gallon in Warrenville, Illinois.  That's lower in price than Chicago.

Insights - recorded mileage statistics

The MPG varied by segment. MPG was influenced by altitude, topography and speed. 

The best mileage was from Altoona, IA. to Warrenville, IL  This was a level stretch of mostly interstate travel. Altoona is 919 feet above sea level.  The MPG for that 324 mile segment was 21 MPG. That segment was nearer to sea level, and had a speed limit of 55-60 MPH.

The lowest MPG was from York, NE to Altoona, IA.  The MPG for this segment was 12.66 MPG.

How I Drive -This influences MPG statistics

I travel predominantly with prevailing traffic. I prefer to avoid the right lane, so I am usually one lane over. But, I never ride or hog the left lane. I do appreciate that many don't like to drive behind a billboard that fills their view.

So, I balance courtesy with reality.  And if I am one lane to the left of the rightmost, then I put the pedal to the metal and do whatever the traffic is doing in that lane.

If I am unwilling to do that, then I get back in the right lane.

As a consequence, my speed may exceed 80 MPH for very short periods.  My Verizon Hum lets me know each time I exceed that upper boundary.

Notes:

1. Load: Two adults, the outside fresh water tank was full, the inside tank empty. A couple of hundred pounds on a rear carrier.
2. Generator: we didn't use the generator.  According to Onan the generator consumes 0.28 gph at half load and 0.46 gph at full load.  If one uses the generator, it is to be expected that MPG numbers will decrease.
3. Overall about 90% of the miles driven were highway/interstate. In other words, about 200 miles were "local" miles with stop-and-go and speeds of 25-45 MPH. 
4. Some western stations have 86 and 88 octane but no 87. If there is no 87 octane available I'll use 86, then fill it the next time with 88, etc. The fuel in the tank is therefor a blended 87 octane, and the overall cost is an average of these.
5. The cost of "Plus" grade (89) was $3.659 per gallon at a NM stop.

Original Material Roadtrek210.blogspot.com

A Tale of Two Treks, as of 42,612 miles

We completed an 1,824 mile trek and this post compares mileage statistics with a 2,374 mile trek in the fall of 2019.

This trek was not one of those leisurely ones.  With various lockdowns in various states, campgrounds opening late or is disarray, and closure of restaurants and many sight seeing venues it seemed prudent to simply cover as much ground as quickly as possible.

The fall 2019 trek was more leisurely and at a slower pace.  Speed was at or slightly under the speed limits and was generally in the range of 55 to 65 MPH. Cooler weather and better gas also contributed to better MPG. (not that summer blend low mileage stuff).

The May 2020 trek was a direct run.  Daily miles ranged from a low of 303 to a maximum of 599.  Speeds were all interstate with a range of 65 to 80 MPH. The exceptions were construction on I-55 in Illinois and local roads to and from campgrounds and truck stops.

There was a significant difference in MPG for the two treks, per the gasoline receipts and vehicle odometer:

1. Fall 2019 = 2,523 miles,  156.98 gallons, cost $372.18, 16.1 MPG. At lower highway speed I clocked 16.5 MPG.  Average cost per gallon = $2.37.
2. Spring 2020 = 1,824 miles, 128.9 gallons, cost  $226.50, 14.2 MPG per gasoline receipts. I checked the idling and local city miles MPG and it was about 10.5!
3. Gasoline cost for the Spring 2020 trek was below $2 per gallon until we crossed into Illinois. Lowest cost was $1.599 per gallon in Miami, OK.  That was for 86 Octane; I usually fill up at 1/2 tank and when doing so I alternate 88 Octane and 86 Octane. That averages to 87 Octane. Highest cost was $2.249 for 87 Octane in North-East Illinois (near Chicago).
   

Several days after this "stop"  I took the Roadtrek to the Chevy dealer for a full-synthetic oil change and multi-point inspection.  Cost $56.98.

Original material:  https://roadtrek210.blogspot.com/

MPG Update 16.5 MPG when driving 55-65 MPH

Periodically I check the MPG we achieve.  I do this for trip budgeting purposes. I don't trust the computer generated MPG display, but it is helpful, so I use the gas receipts.  On a recent 2500+ mile trek I made a spreadsheet from the gas receipts and I thought I would share it here.

There are a variety of factors that impact the MPG. Some are:

• Driving habits
• Speed
• Stop and Go
• Terrain
• Onan generator use
• Idling
• etc.

On this trek we were generally level, on interstate highways and I did the driving. I follow the speed limits and will stay in the right lane on divided highways with two lanes going in our direction. In urban areas I generally drive the expressway second lane from the right to avoid those who simply don't know how to merge, or exit. As a consequence our speeds are consistent with little hard braking or flooring of the accelerator. On this trek our highway speeds were usually 55-65 MPH. However there were long segments where the speed limit was 70-80 MPH.  The initial day had about 40 minutes of stop and go 20 MPH on the expressway because of road construction and that decreased the MPG for the first segment at 55-65 MPH speed limits.

I do use 87 octane gasoline as recommended by Chevrolet. In portions of the west there is a choice between 86 and 88 octane. I usually fill up at about 1/2 tank level. I simply alternate fill-ups between 86 and 88 octane to keep 87 blend in the tank.

The weather was cool to mild for most of the trek, low of about 32F and high of about 75F. Little precipitation as our route allowed us to avoid some really unpleasant weather coming in from the West.

Perfect driving conditions as far as I am concerned.

From this trek with speed limits 55-80 MPH, I again observed the best gasoline mileage occurred at 55-65 MPH:

• 16.5 MPG - not bad!

At 80 MPH, which we encountered in the West, the mileage decreased:

• 11.0 MPG

The trip average:

• 15.2 MPG

Best mileage is achieved at 45-55 MPH, but we had few segments at that speed range on this trek, so I didn't attempt to calculate the MPG.

Original material:  https://roadtrek210.blogspot.com/

Winter Trek 2018-2019

It was lovely, but it was time to leave:

First Snow, November 2018

The national radar picture looked good. No nasty storms headed eastward. The local weather was cool (about 35F) and overcast. To the southwest the daytime high temperatures were 50F, with nighttime lows in the mid 30s. Good driving conditions along the planned route.

NWS Radar Mosaic

The winter trek began on November 18. We had already had several light snows and it was clearly time to go to warmth. Total distance would be about 1,821 miles. I travelled with traffic, in the second from the right lane in 3-lane interstates, or in the right lane on 2-lane roads and U.S. Highways. There was rain part of the way, and I did stop early one evening when temperatures hovered at 33F with light rain. I was concerned about freezing conditions. Departure the next morning was delayed by heavy fog, which lifted at about 7:45am.

Here’s some statistics.

The trip summary via GPS. I guess I was travelling at Warp 2!

Here's the actual. The fuel costs and consumption is based on receipts:

• Driving distance: 1,821 miles.
• Driving time: 28.75 hours.
• Average speed: 63.34 MPH (using driving time clock).
• Peak speed limit 75 MPH.
• Average gasoline cost per gallon (86, 87, 88 octane): $2.433.
• Lowest fuel price: $1.979 per gallon Missouri, 87 octane.
• Highest fuel price: $2.869 for 88 octane.
• MPG for the trip, including idling time, speeds most of the way at 70-75 MPH: 14.6 MPG.

Travel Route 1821 miles (some "detours" on the way)

I was surprised by the haze throughout much of Oklahoma and portions of Missouri. I attribute this to the fires in California. I’ve travelled portions of this route many times, and I’ve never seen conditions this poor.

Tulsa, unretouched photo

Oklahoma City, unretouched photo

I took interstates and U.S. highways for the most part. The speed limits on the interstates were 70-75 MPH and on the U.S. highways 70-75 MPH with occasional areas posted 50 MPH.

Of course, using highways means encountering slow patches, and the occasional house moving down the road (see photo). It does take one on long stretches of up to 40 miles with no stops. It also takes one through small towns where the speed limit may be  20MPH. However, the U.S. highways provide some interesting scenic opportunities and shortcuts.

Here’s the basic route I followed: Local roads, I-88 to I-355 to I-55 south, I-255 to I-270 (bypass St. Louis) to I-40 Oklahoma City, etc. U.S. 54 south, U.S. 70 south to I-10 west to local roads.  I did a short trek out of the way on I-44. Actual minimum distance could have been as low as 1730 miles, but I did some scenic drives.

Interior of Texas Rest Stop

Texas Rest Stop, early morning

At the beginning of Mountain Time Zone

On U.S. 54 south, in New Mexico

New Mexico U.S. 54

Arizona ahead

Entering Arizona

First evening with friends at the destination

Threesome: baby ship, daughter ship, mother ship

Original material:  https://roadtrek210.blogspot.com/