pnichols wrote: You guys with V10 engines and the 55 gallon Ford tank with them might want to be aware of something that makes it tricky to accurately measure your mileage.
My 55 gallon tank is VERY DIFFICULT to fill up to the same point with each gas stop. I cannot go by the automatic stop on gas station nozzles. The only way I can consistently fill it back to what I think is very close to 55 gallons - and hence get consistent values for mileage calculations - is to trickle fill my tank until just short of spilling gasoline out the top of the fill tube.
This takes around 10 minutes longer to fill up and can only be done with some fueling nozzles. If I don't do this, my tank is never full - maybe only around 49 or 50 gallons in it - and it most likely gets filled to a level that varies plus or minus 1 or 2 or more gallons with each refueling ... depending upon the shutoff control's sensitivity for any given station's fuel pump nozzles.
I've noticed that an extra three or four gallons can be squeezed in after the auto shutoff. But, the true MPG will show in the long-term statistics, regardless. Here's three trips we made for comparison:
In 2006 on a trip to GSMNP we averaged 8.19 MPG over 1871 miles.
In 2007 on a trip to Canada we averaged 8.65 MPG over 5405 miles (much mountain driving).
In 2008 on a trip to GSMNP we averaged 9.28 MPG over 1835 miles (same trip as 2006).
We were loaded identically. For the 2007 trip I started adding Marvel Mystery Oil to the Gas. I maintain a fairly steady 58 MPH and disengage the cruise control when it gets too hilly. Most likely the increase in MPG is attributed to "driver education" as we paid more attention to fuel use and, in particular, driving habits.
I do check the tire pressure every morning and carry a compressor for this purpose--not one of the tiny electric ones--a much larger electric one. We keep maximum inflation because we are at maximum weight.
In 2007 I felt that I had to bop the bugs out of the air cleaner every morning too. Dust would fly!
Lastly, I do change the engine oil and filter after each trip or 1500 miles.
What it comes down to is proven methods: driving habits, proper tire inflation, clean air filter and properly maintained engine. But I'll still keep the Marvel.
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