stock suspension and tire size (245/65/17) with 16mpg???????

[Blazintrails03]

just got back from a weekend trip to OBX. only got 300 miles on a full tank. averaging between 60-80 on the highway the whole way home barely any traffic. i was holding around 45-55 through nags head barely any running around while i was there. rpo code says im 5750lbs gross and all i had was a back pack with enough clothes for the weekend. i did have my lift kit and shocks/struts in the back (since the shop wouldnt install them), a shop vac which isnt that heavy, and my rolling jack and basic tools which are always back there. i have a basket on the top which was empty and has a fairing on the front with a pretty generous angle to it.

16mpgs sounds kinda bad to me with driving with the windows up and not using the ac at all

remember cleaning the throttle body a couple of months ago but not sure exactly how long ago it was

through a CEL at one point too but it went out the next day(ive checked the code before and pretty sure it was tstat). code came on cause it was colder out, drove around the next day when it was warmer and light went away

any thoughts? suggestions?

[Blazintrails03]

forgot to mention i also have 3.42 gears

[DirtyBacon04]

Well, did you calculate that from 22 gallons or the refuel amount? I was always thrilled if I got 300 on a tank

[fishsticks]

You could be me and get 13...

[Blazintrails03]

I drive an 03. It has a 18.7 gallon tank I have read

[Blazintrails03]

I have drove from TN and got almost 400 miles to a tank before. But that was before the basket was up top. Could it cause that much of a difference?

[NC_IslandRunner]

I get around 11mpg

[JCrayton99]

Highest Ive ever seen was 17-18

[navigator]

Bobby, I drive to Raleigh a lot from where I live and it is about 320 miles round trip.
I usually get around 16 as well and I run about 78 on the interstate.
I think the high speed hurts the mileage a lot.
I'm on a 2.5 lift with 30" tires.

I also need to change my Tstat and temp sender, I have the parts just need to do the work.

[Trail X]

Was that based on the DIC fuel average? It can be a bit off, but so can your refill quantity at the pump, because not all pump shutoffs are the same.

I can get 15/16 on the highway, if I draft a lot, I get 17ish. That's with my RTT and driving like an old man.

A broken Tstat will rob some gas mileage (because you're losing more energy to the coolant than needed). So will cruise control (if you were using that). Also, roof top baskets will probably steal more fuel mileage than a lift will.

[Blazintrails03]

I reset my trip meter when I got gas down in NC. It was almost exactly 300 miles when I had to refuel

[dvanbramer88]

Up to 80 mph is your problem, and the roof rack doesn't help. I can drive at 62mph and milk 18 out of my truck or i can drive 80 and get 13 mpg. Speed destroys fuel economy. And also, i agree with James, your method of calculation might be flawed.

[JCrayton99]

Aerodynamics of a brick. The basket/tire is adding another brick on top of the first.

[Blazintrails03]

Every time I have gotten gas the pump shuts off around 18 gallons and I'm pretty sure my manual said I have an 18.7 gallon tank. My mom and sisters pair of 07's have around 22 gallon tanks. Therefore 300 miles puts me at just a little over 16mpg correct?

The only variable I didn't think of was that I was running Lucas fuel system cleaner through at the time but I don't think that should have caused a big change. I am actually thinking about taking a trip to charlottesville this weekend so I might try to seafoam it and see if anything changes

[DirtyBacon04]

Do you run it to fumes everytime?!
I usually fill up right before it hits "light on", and its usually 17-18 gallons, while I have a 22 gallon tank. I dont think our trucks will run with .7 of a gallon in the tank...

[dvanbramer88]

Aerodynamics of a brick. The basket/tire is adding another brick on top of the first.

That's you're first problem.

Do you run it to fumes everytime?!
I usually fill up right before it hits "light on", and its usually 17-18 gallons, while I have a 22 gallon tank. I dont think our trucks will run with .7 of a gallon in the tank...

My truck has a 25 gallon tank, and the MOST it's ever taken was 23.5 gallons, and that was with it sputtering and struggling for fuel pulling into the gas station.

[navigator]

300/18 = 16.67 wow you are getting 17 mpg!

[v7guy]

Damn, last time i checked i was getting a tad better than 15mpg. I don't check too often anymore.
32s, 3" suspension lift. Roofbasket with tire.

[Blazintrails03]

I'm thinking this weekend a might try to get some maintenance work done. I changed the plugs and cleaned the TB a couple thousand miles ago so I figure I'm due for a fuel filter, air filter, maybe seafom it too

Come to mention it I have a K&N that's a couple years old and probably needs to be replaced. I've seen people talking on here about a "green" filter and I have also seen aem has a dry flow filter that doesn't need to be oil. Anyone know anything about these?

Also with many saying I'm wrong about the size of my gas tank does anyone know how I can find the exact amount that it holds?

[navigator]

I think the older SWB TB's had a smaller ~18 gallon tank.