| Author | Message | ||
| Craig (Ceieio)
Registered Member Username: Ceieio Post Number: 299 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 207.101.213.58 Rating: N/A |
Hello all. We (the 5 of us) just completed a trip in our MC7 and I was surprised at the MPG we obtained. The trip average was slightly over 7 MPG (rounds to 7.1). (Our MC7 has an 8V71 with a 4 speed auto, both out-of-frame rebuilt < 20K miles ago). The trip was a short one, 775 miles, but involved some mountain and high altitude driving. I filled the tank myself as we left, and refilled it at the same pump when we came home (although the price had gone up in that time) so I know issues like differences in level and pumps were not an issue in the calculation... the bus was in the same lane, facing the same direction, at the same truck stop. We crossed Willamette Pass in the Cascades (the summit is ~1 mile in altitude, but you only climb around 5000 feet from the valley floor. We drove up to the rim at Crater Lake, which is about 8300 feet, about a 4000 foot climb from the plateau area. We had a few more ups and downs, including the 1000 foot (portions in 1st gear) climb up to our house. The rest of the time was on the flats and doing tourist things. Odd to say, but I have never checked the bus mileage before. I always budget 5 to 6 miles in planning (usually 5, but in some areas will stretch it to 6 mpg when planning fuel stops). I have come to trust my fuel gauge, and did this whole trip without stopping for fuel. I guessed to within 5 gallons of what it took to fill it based upon the gauge reading. "So Craig, why are you writing this?" you might ask. Me too. I guess that it's because my doomsday planning of 5mpg becomes depressing, and the 7mg was a pleasant surprise. The room & board plus transportation cost was pretty darn cheap on this trip. (Only used one park, in Nor Cal, the rest boon docked in the Forests etc.) I wonder what this thing would do if home base was not surrounded by mountains? I guess I (re)learned that taking the bus, besides being fun, is not that hideously expensive yet. Craig - MC7 Oregon | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 66 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.40.223.242 Rating: N/A |
Craig, As I read your post I can relate to your Oregon trips, coming from Salem. Sounds like you enjoyed your cruise and are happy with the results. Thanks for sharing. By the way, nice coach. Paul | ||
| Craig (Ceieio)
Registered Member Username: Ceieio Post Number: 300 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 207.101.213.58 Rating: N/A |
Paul - thanks for the bus compliment. I need to update my bus picture. Last summer we pulled all of the bus windows out (we gave them to a fellow bus nut we met through this board) and skinned over the window area. We added Low-E dual-pane windows and I think it came out looking good. In the small world department, I got hooked on buses when in High School. We would charter Eagles from Hammond Stage Lines in Salem to haul our Jazz band around. We went as far south as Los Angeles, and up into British Columbia on those Eagles playing competitions, and doing band exchanges. More small world: From my house, I can look south and see Silverton, Mt Angel, Brooks, and a bit of Salem. I really wanted an Eagle like yours, but I knew I didn't have the time to put into a roof raise and all that (none of the Eagles around these parts were raised whenI was looking). I looked at Eagles, GM, and MCI's and took the best example for the money I found (it comes right down to the individual bus when they are this old). Anyway, I still like those Eagles and blame them for this hobby! Craig - MC7 Oregon | ||
| Jerry Liebler (Jerry_liebler)
Registered Member Username: Jerry_liebler Post Number: 268 Registered: 3-2005 Posted From: 67.140.167.82 Rating: N/A |
Craig, I have installed a very acurate (+/-1% or better) fuel guage that reads tenths of a gallon and found that filling my tank is at best a +/- 5 gallon thing. If you have a similar situation, despite your efforts, your mileage could be a bit lower or even higher. Even so it's not bad at all especially for an automatic. What speeds were you traveling? I've found, in my bus thats only a 35 footer with a 4 speed manual, that slowing down 5mph adds about 1/2 mpg. I'm getting 8.2-8.5 since I've slowed to cruising at 65. Regards Jerry 4107 1120 | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 678 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.117.21 Rating: N/A |
Many people run their on board generator from the main diesel tank and therefore never get an accurate average. Plus, many run against the governor all the time. Good mileage!; with some thoughtful driving style, I think many could improve their mileage. With single digit averages, even a mpg or two increase can save some serious coin in fuel and oil costs. | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 68 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.40.223.242 Rating: N/A |
Craig, I used to attend the October Fest in Mount Angel, when I was a much younger lad. Also loved going to Silver Creek Falls State Park. Nothing like it in the USA. Gorgeous country, and what may you ask why I moved to Texas. Long story.:-) My brother just bought a place in Sisters to retire in next year, hope he builds a pad for our coach. :-) Paul (Message edited by dreamscape on July 31, 2007) | ||
| Craig (Ceieio)
Registered Member Username: Ceieio Post Number: 301 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 207.101.213.58 Rating: N/A |
Jerry - I agree. Since I *finally* decided to check the mileage, I just ran the diesel pump until the fuel level was at a mark in the tank spout; I did this at the same pump, at the same angle on both ends of the trip. So with the bus setting in the same spot at the same pump, I could physically see the level in the tank and get it to the same mark. I am pretty sure I am within a quart or so. It should be pretty close. John - you are right; part of the reason I have not bothered to check the mileage in the past is that I heat with a Webasto diesel fired boiler; many of our trips have been such that I run the Webasto for heat or hot water. I knew this trip that I would not be doing that (we also have a marine electric unit with water to water engine heat exchange to heat the water for shower / domestic use). Also, our genny is a Honda EV6010 gasoline model. I would prefer a diesel, but between my hobby cars, trap shooting, motorcycles, horses, teenage kids and so on there is only so many cubic dollars to go around. On this trip, I kept the speed down mostly in the 60 mph range. Most of the trucks were running the same speeds. (Quite a change for the trucks from a couple of years ago!) Craig - MC7 Oregon | ||
| Craig (Ceieio)
Registered Member Username: Ceieio Post Number: 302 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 207.101.213.58 Rating: N/A |
Paul - we still love Sisters despite the growth... it was our last stop before home on this trip! Craig - MC7 Oregon | ||
| JC Alacoque (Jc_alacoque)
Registered Member Username: Jc_alacoque Post Number: 41 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 74.127.203.95 Rating: |
My bus only goes 55-60 mph and I've noticed lately that a lot of trucks arn't passing me as fast, and some go my speed. Also on the Open Road XM radio show, there is a lot of talk about slowing down to 60-65 to save on fuel... | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 680 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.117.21 Rating: N/A |
Yeah, you're right about a lot of trucks, but most of the damn cars are still flying on the interstates. | ||
| David (Davidinwilmnc)
Registered Member Username: Davidinwilmnc Post Number: 181 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 75.180.200.138 Rating: N/A |
On my last trip in my MC-8, I got 7.1 mpg. This is with a 4-speed manual transmission, gasoline generator, and using the OTR air. Some of the driving was small, rural roads at 45-50 mpg (near the top of 3rd gear) or interstates around 65-70 mpg. About an hour of the 7 hour (350 mile) trip was against the governor at 73 mph. I'd like better, but I didn't feel that it was that bad. David | ||
| Kevin Black (Kblackav8or)
Registered Member Username: Kblackav8or Post Number: 69 Registered: 8-2005 Posted From: 24.152.174.198 Rating: N/A |
Apples and oranges comparison: My Big Cam III Cummins will get about 10-11mpg running light. Now this is a converted truck into a motorhome at about 20k weight so it isn't loaded down all that much. I would say at the speeds you are running with a detroit that you are doing just fine. I would like to re-gear to 3.70's or get a quieter overdrive or better yet both so I could do 70 at about 1800 or so. As geared I can probably do over 80 in OD but at the expense of a very noisy ride. |
