MH900e
Barre, MA
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Joined: 04/27/2005
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We have 25,000 miles on our 2005 Journey, CAT 350. I've tracked all of the diesel we've used. For some reason I seem to get better MPG in hilly areas than on flat land. I first noticed this on our trip to FL the winter of 06. I've noticed the same thing on our current trip. On the current trip I've been driving at 60 mph and seem to get about and extra 1/2 mpg in hilly turain. I don't think it is wind direction as I've observed the wind in both terrains. I could understand if on flat we had a large head wind on in the hills we did not but that was not the case. Very curious.
Roger, Joy and Tucker
05 Winnegago Journey 36G
Rog - Ducati MH900e, Harley Low Rider
Joy - Pfaff 2140 - Babylock Ellegante
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RCMAN46
NorthWest
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Joined: 02/24/2008
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Lower speeds in the hills??
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WTD44
Ca.
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Joined: 09/01/2003
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I can't say you are wrong, but it is very strange and hard to believe. It takes more energy to move a given weight up hill than on flat ground. (winds not being a factor) I do know that I get terrable mileage going west toward Reno from Salt Lake City as there is almost always ahead wind for the entire trip.
'07 H.R. Scepter 40 ' PDQ
Cummins 400 ISL
Alison 6 speed World
'04 Jeep Wrangler X
Wife and,
Sparky the Wonder Dog
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bldrbuck
Boulder, Colorado
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Joined: 02/11/2001
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Come to Colorado and try some real hills
93 Ford F350 Turbo Diesel, DRW, Crew Cab. PullRite Hitch. 90 Nomad 28' 5er, 375 Watts Solar, 2800 Watt Yamaha Generator, 1750 Watt Inverter, 4 Trogan T105 Batteries, Spare tire and wheel and folding ladder. Me, wife and 2 spoiled Maltise furkids.
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wny_pat
Western NYS
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Joined: 08/11/2007
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Cats love hills! So much more torque.
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sch911
Rochester Hills, MI
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Joined: 04/13/2003
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You do use more fuel going up a hill than you use on flat terrain. However what goes up must come down. You don't use anywhere near as much on the down grades. So those two somewhat tend to cancel each other out. That leaves your average speed as the major difference. Your average speeds in the hilly regions will be lower than the flats. This is where the savings occur....
2003 Damon Challenger 348 Class A - Triton V10
Posted by Macintosh
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skipnchar
Topeka Kansas USA
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Joined: 12/17/2003
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I get some on my best MPG in mountains also mostly because mountain roads often require slower speeds due to curves etc. climbing shouldn't cause excess fuel use since you always go DOWN on the other side. Half the time you go up and half you go down. Slower speeds is often the determining factor.
2004 F-150 HD 3,050 lb. payload
Rockwood 8314SS 34' travel trailer
We have enough YOUTH...how about a fountain of SMART
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Terryallan
NC
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Joined: 06/28/2004
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Our Expediton got better mpg in the mountains as well. It seemed the higher we went. The better it ran, and the better mpg it got.
and yes Cats, Love the mountains. The 82 CLT 9000 Ford with the 400 Cat. Liked the mountains as well. Especially the ones in Colorado. Took 80,000 lbs to Alamosa, with no trouble.
Terry & Shay
Pioneer 23T6
04 F150, 5.4, Lariat SuperCab
Lazy Campers
NC
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RayChez
Barstow, Ca. USA
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Joined: 09/13/2003
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Nothing like a Cat for driving in mountain roads. Also your engine is barely starting to break in. I notice on my Cat that I can go up mountains at higher speeds now that it has 37K miles on it, then when it was new.
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spitfirepete
Great Outdoors RV resort
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Joined: 11/17/2003
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Are you sure that on the flat land you are driving fast enough to get the transmission to shift to overdrive? 60MPH may not do it.... big difference in mileage from 5th gear to 6th gear...
Peter and Linda
2007 Mandalay Presidio ISC
1975 Triumph Spitfire toad
2007 Saturn Vue toad
Bichon and Cocker (spoiled puppies)
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