Fuel economy and additives

[Tom_in_Tulsa]

I drive a Forest River Georgetown w 4 slides an a V10 Triton gs engine. Typically i drive 62-65 mph on the hwy.
I will be doing a gas log of my fuel economy, but I think it is 7.5 mpg fully loaded. I do use regular unleaded gas ($2.25 per gal in Tulsa area now).

Questions: 1. Do fuel additives work and which ones do and don't. Fillups are around 50 gallons on a 75 gal tank.

2. Is going to 100% gas (no ethanol) cost effective?.

3. My Class A is 2008 (11 years old) with 53,000 miles. Is it time for a tune up and what gets tuned up? Spark plugs, injectors, wires?
I am not a mechanic and am only guessing.

What works and what doesn't?

The Bluegrass Boy.

[Sam_Spade]

Tom in Tulsa wrote:
The computer in the engine is basically tuned for unleaded 87.

The engine is DESIGNED to run on unleaded 87.
The computer doesn't do it ALL.
And there are limits to how much it can adjust and under what circumstances.

[Tom_in_Tulsa]

I did find an engine manual and ACTUALLY read it. The computer in the engine is basically tuned for unleaded 87. It will automatically adjust, so I won't put good money or unleaded real gas in there if it will not help. Boy....not like the old days. Computers are taking care of alot. I have some miles to do this summer so will keep track of mileage and gas used.

[1320Fastback]

Maybe I'd read it's for a vehicles designed to pull or diesels then. My peak torque is at 1,600RPM and in 5th gear that equals 57 mph with 3:54 gears. Seems to the be sweet spot aerodynamically and coincides with my engines efficiency.

[DrewE]

1320Fastback wrote:

Also your best miles per gallon should be in the highest gear possible at peak torque.

Not really; peak torque is probably where the engine is most efficient, but that does not mean it's the most efficient speed for the vehicle as a whole. Usually the most efficient speed would be about as slow as you can go while still staying in the top gear and not lugging the engine too much.

Air resistance, a major contributor to the frictional losses of a vehicle (and especially so for one as aerodynamic as a barn or brick), increases with something between the cube and the fourth power of speed. A relatively small increase in speed requires considerably more power, and hence a greater rate of fuel consumption.

I haven't done much study with my motorhome, but I can definitely say that with my car 45 mph or so is noticeably more fuel efficient than 65 mph, while the peak torque in the top gear would be at some speed above 75+ mph. (I don't know precisely what its torque curve looks like.)

[Bill_Satellite]

Tom in Tulsa wrote:
I drive a Forest River Georgetown w 4 slides an a V10 Triton gs engine. Typically i drive 62-65 mph on the hwy.
I will be doing a gas log of my fuel economy, but I think it is 7.5 mpg fully loaded. I do use regular unleaded gas ($2.25 per gal in Tulsa area now).

Questions: 1. Do fuel additives work and which ones do and don't. Fillups are around 50 gallons on a 75 gal tank.

2. Is going to 100% gas (no ethanol) cost effective?.

3. My Class A is 2008 (11 years old) with 53,000 miles. Is it time for a tune up and what gets tuned up? Spark plugs, injectors, wires?
I am not a mechanic and am only guessing.

What works and what doesn't?

The Bluegrass Boy.

1) NO!
2) NO!
3) What do the manufacturer specifications say?
Don't waste money trying to make a super heavy square box with wheels preform like a sleek, lightweight, automobile!

[1320Fastback]

My understanding is that fuel additives only work by making your wallet lighter and a lighter vehicle is easier to move down the road.

Also your best miles per gallon should be in the highest gear possible at peak torque.

[Dale_Traveling]

Tom in Tulsa wrote:
,,, Questions: 1. Do fuel additives work and which ones do and don't. Fillups are around 50 gallons on a 75 gal tank.

2. Is going to 100% gas (no ethanol) cost effective?.

3. My Class A is 2008 (11 years old) with 53,000 miles. Is it time for a tune up and what gets tuned up? Spark plugs, injectors, wires?
I am not a mechanic and am only guessing.

What works and what doesn't? ,,,

1. For the purposes of increase fuel economy fuel additives do not work. If one did every gas RV owner would be buying it in by the pallet load.

2. Cost effective? No. 100% gasoline fuel does have a higher percentage of BTUs and may increase mileage slightly but it is unlikely you will see enough of an increase to make up for the higher cost of the fuel.

3. The plugs are good for 100,000 miles. Coil packs (replaced the plug wires) area replace on failure item. You could try an injector or "top end" cleaning service but if the coach is performing adequately at speed then do nothing.

What works to help with mileage?. Pretty much nothing you can buy. Best practices will help the most. Stay on top of routine maintenance and inspections. Keep your load and associated coach weight as low as possible. Watch your speed and go easy on acceleration from a stop.

Consider a Scan Gauge which you can use to monitor instant and average fuel usage to help lighten your right foot. When you see an instantaneous usage of 1.2 MPG it has a way of getting you to back off the throttle.

[time2roll]

I would do nothing. Just drive and enjoy the trip. All sounds like you are running good... so don't fix what is not broken.

[udidwht]

For best MPG's find out where the low-high torque curve is on your engine and keep it in that range when driving on the highway. With my RV (94 Southwind Storm 28ft) that is roughly 58-62mph. Go north of 62 and the MPG's drop fast.

My last track from Renton, Wa. to Medford, Or. I netted 10.4mpg. Coming back same stretch it was 8.4mpg (headwind). No towing.

[Tom_in_Tulsa]

Jackpot!! https://owner.ford.com/tools/account/how-tos/owner-manuals.html

Thanks!

[msturtz]

Tom in Tulsa wrote:
So now i am trying to chase down a owners manual for a 2008 Triton V10. All Google does is route me to their highest paying advertisers or send me to some site that wants me to download their softwre on my PC....year. right...like i will do that.
I do need a PDF of a 2008 Triton engine if some some can send me a link without installing porn or some other cookie on my PC...LOL!

try duckduckgo.com they don't do that.

[Tom_in_Tulsa]

So now i am trying to chase down a owners manual for a 2008 Triton V10. All Google does is route me to their highest paying advertisers or send me to some site that wants me to download their softwre on my PC....year. right...like i will do that.
I do need a PDF of a 2008 Triton engine if some some can send me a link without installing porn or some other cookie on my PC...LOL!

[midnightsadie]

so in the end of this fuel mpg post we arn,t driving great gandpa,s truck. the computer knows whats best.

[Chum_lee]

rgatijnet1 wrote:
I'm not sure if the Ford can use 85 or not.

I can use less than 87 octane fuel but it lights the Check Engine Light on mine (stock 1999 V10 2 valve) every time I hit a hill of any magnitude. I notice no drivability issues, but clearly, the ECU doesn't like it. If I clear the fault code, it returns promptly on the next hill or in a strong headwind. Switching to 87 octane cures the CEL issue every time. The Owners Manual clearly warns against using less than 87 octane fuel. Sometimes I forget to check when buying fuel at higher elevations. Ooooops. That **** light is on . . . . . . again.

Chum lee