Secrets to fuel mileage. (Page 1/5)
blackrams APR 22, 05:21 AM
https://international.cummi...economy--white-paper

Introduction: Understanding Fuel Economy
The importance of fuel economy to the successful operation of a trucking company cannot
be understated. Fuel is one of the largest variable costs in a trucking venture, and, while no
trucking operation can control the cost of fuel, it has at least some control over the amount
or rate of consumption.
Rock-Solid Rules
 Every 2% reduction in aerodynamic drag results in approximately 1% improvement
in fuel economy.
 Above 55 mph, each 1 mph increase in vehicle speed decreases fuel economy by
0.1 mpg.
 Worn tires provide better fuel economy than new tires, up to 7% better fuel economy.
 Used lug drive tires can get up to 0.4 mpg better than new lug tires.
 Ribbed tires on the drive axles provide 2–4% better fuel economy than lugged tires.
 Every 10 psi that a truck’s tires are underinflated reduces fuel economy by 1%.
 The break-in period for tires is between 35,000 and 50,000 miles.
 Tires make biggest difference in mpg below around 50 mph; aerodynamics is the
most important factor over around 50 mph.
 The most efficient drivers get about 30% better fuel economy than the least efficient
drivers.
 Idle time is costly. Every hour of idle time in a long-haul operation can decrease fuel efficiency by 1%.

Open this up and take a look, you may be glad you did.

Although, this white paper was primarily intended for the trucking industry, there's a lot in this applicable to anything on the road.
I encourage everyone to at least take a look at it. There are most likely things applicable to you.
With the current situation you and I are in, the price of everything especially fuel is going to keep going up.
Having transported vehicles and cargo all over this country, I can honestly say that avoiding wrecks and saving fuel are the two most important aspects.

Rams

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 04-22-2021).]

cliffw APR 22, 08:23 AM
Have you ever heard of "sticktion" ? That is the turbo getting ?gummed up? due to residue.
blackrams APR 22, 09:15 AM

quote
Originally posted by cliffw:

Have you ever heard of "sticktion" ? That is the turbo getting ?gummed up? due to residue.



I've heard of it but never experienced it. My assumption is that if you run clean fuel, turbos have significantly less issues with gumming up.
I learned a hard lesson several years ago about buying the cheaper fuels. The attached pic should explain why I no longer use Mom and Pop fuel stops unless I absolutely have to.
williegoat APR 22, 10:21 AM
This is something I studied thoroughly in the last 15 years of my career. The last company I worked for, a 48 state refrigerated carrier, ran super singles on drives and trailer, added trailer skirts and we were looking into hub caps and tail cones before I left.

Of course as a flatbed carrier, all of the aerodynamics in the world will not help you if your load is dirty. I'm sure you know about parasitic drag. If you are hauling some odd shaped equipment, you could have a Cd worse than a sheet of plywood. Sometimes a tarp can help. Wind resistance increases at the square of the increase in velocity and is worse in cold weather.

During my career, from the early 1970s to the 2010s, fuel economy for big trucks doubled because of improvements in tire and engine technology, and aerodynamics.

[This message has been edited by williegoat (edited 04-22-2021).]

blackrams APR 22, 10:28 AM

quote
Originally posted by williegoat:

Of course as a flatbed carrier, all of the aerodynamics in the world will not help you if your load is dirty. I'm sure you know about parasitic drag. If you are hauling some odd shaped equipment, you could have a Cd worse than a sheet of plywood. Sometimes a tarp can help. Wind resistance increases at the square of the increase in velocity and is worse in cold weather.

During my career, from the early 1970s to the 2010s, fuel economy for big trucks doubled because of improvements in tire and engine technology, and aerodynamics.




Agreed.

Willie, notice anything different about that pic?

Rams
williegoat APR 22, 10:36 AM
The only obvious odd thing that I see is the way the trailer is hitched, but I figured that was because at that angle, it could hit the bodywork of the pickup. It's still morning out here in the great southwest.
blackrams APR 22, 10:48 AM

quote
Originally posted by williegoat:

The only obvious odd thing that I see is the way the trailer is hitched, but I figured that was because at that angle, it could hit the bodywork of the pickup. It's still morning out here in the great southwest.



You got it right.

Due to the bad fuel, we had to load up the Dodge shown on the trailer but, knowing the ass end of the second trailer would be dragging if we coupled to the in bed hitch, I used the factory installed class five hitch with a 2 5/16th ball and pulled the rig home that way. 650 miles from home, 93 feet long, tandem trailers. We sure got a lot of looks. Figured we would get pulled over for doing it but, got passed by 7 different LEOs and passed by several different weigh stations with State DOT folks watching us and nothing was said.

I left the truck on the trailer idling (as best as it could) so we could leave the running lights and 4 way emergency flashers going the entire trip home. We tried to stay away from major traffic areas by re-routing around them which meant some two lane roads and small towns. Making some of those in town turns with a rig that long with the multiple hitches was interesting at some points. I've pulled tandem trailers before but, that was a very long trip home.

As I tell my wife, every trip is an adventure.

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 04-22-2021).]

williegoat APR 22, 10:58 AM
I thought about the lights, but figured he had some kind of "jumper" pigtail.
blackrams APR 22, 11:02 AM

quote
Originally posted by williegoat:

I thought about the lights, but figured he had some kind of "jumper" pigtail.



Didn't have one, was no where near a truck stop at two in the morning. Once I got it set up and working, I decided to run with it. Didn't expect it to last but, once the sun came up, we figured a higher power was on our side and kept rolling.

BTW, that Ram pulling the whole rig didn't get very good fuel mileage on the way home but, it still pulled like a freight train. The Dodge on the trailer did great fuel mileage wise.

Rams

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 04-22-2021).]

Notorio APR 26, 12:41 AM

quote
Originally posted by blackrams:

 The most efficient drivers get about 30% better fuel economy than the least efficient drivers.

....




So that looks like the biggest variable in your list. Can you describe what the Efficient Drivers are doing that is so beneficial? My dad always warned against jackrabbit stops/starts and speeding. What else is there?