MPG higher than expected

I bought this truck in August last year, and until now every tank has been about 90% pulling a 6000-pound trailer -- that's why I bought it.

But today my wife and I had appointments in opposite directions, so she took the car and I put about 100 miles on the pickup on mostly 2-lane roads. Driving at the speed limit like my automagical fuel mileage indicator is showing 19.4 for the tank.

I usually drive it into town without the trailer to fill it up, and it usually holds about 16 until I hook up the trailer, and it plummets to 9 or 10. But I just decided to see how high I could get it.

 

Those are some feel good numbers, do an actual calculation

 

Mine is pretty close. .2 MPG + -

 

I can get that but my speed isn't above 55mph.

 

I plan to. I wanted to stop by and fill up at a station near home, but it was jam-packed full when I went by. I'll probably take it over tomorrow.

 

That's the key. I did a few miles of interstate at 70, but then I hit two-lanes and ran about 60 for a bit. Then I hit traffic and just backed off them and coasted a lot.

I admit I was making a game of it trying to get it to 20. I was coasting down hills, lifting early for corners, etc. but still keeping up with traffic or holding 60 in the straights.

 

I tracked it on my 2021 for 1000 miles. It was a mix of pulling a trailer at 10mpg, unloaded hiway at 19mpg and around town. I checked at each fill-up and the truck numbers were within +/- 0.1mpg each time for both each tank and the average for the total.

pdf

 

16.4 yes never 19.4 must be the crappy summer blend we have here in CA or the fact you have to drive 80mph once you get thru traffic…

 

I have never seen mileage over 18 once in 24,000 miles that I have had it. I will admit, I am very rarely under 70 mph on the highway. My highway mileage is usually mid 15 to 17

 

I ran a whole tank out and it said I got 18.3 MPG for the tank. But when I filled it up and calculated it was more like 15 MPG.

 

I just did a trip a couple weeks ago and with the cruise set at 57, I saw 19.9

usually 17 at 70 mph

 

I finally took it over to fill it up -- OK, I needed to mail a package and took the truck with me, but still ..........

After stopping and yakking with my brother-in-law for a few minutes with the engine running and AC on then waiting through a couple of lights, it had dropped to 19.0.
Odometer ending - beginning was 136 Gallons were 7.298. Calculated mileage for that short distance was 18.6. Actually not far off the 19.0 indicated in the automagical tank mileage. Consider, if you will, that if the pump had cut off 18 ounces earlier it would have been perfect

 

This! I'll tell ya what, I've stopped driving like a jackass in the last few weeks and magically, my MPGs have gone up