Winter Fuel Milage

[SuperVan7.3]

ice... you can have it all! that's all we're getting up here! We'll get about an inch or two of snow, and then RAIN!

I'd rather play in the snow than slide my van into some dodge!

... then again... maybe that wouldn't be so bad

[SuperVan7.3]

Now that I've had a few weeks to calculate a good average, I’ve found that I'm getting about 9.14mpg in-town in the winter and 12.57mpg in the summer. However, on the highway I’ve averaged around 15.14mpg (winter). I'm right around the 10,000lb. mark and I drive mostly in-town, so I’m starting to deal with the fact that 9mpg is just what I’m going to have to live with. It just bugs me because I get 10mpg (in town) in my 5.8L gasser, all year long.

Someone said that a higher thermostat and a grille cover might help? Which makes sense, but has it worked that well for anyone else?

On a side note, I made a REALLY dumb mistake. When I changed my fuel filter, I forgot to drain the water out of the bottom (was pressed for time). I haven't had any trouble with the fuel yet, and I use Stanadyne fuel treatment (help remove the water), so do I need to worry about it? Should I pull the filter back out and drain the water? Do I need to replace the filter again?

Thanks again everyone!

[blageurt]

You don't have to remove the filter to drain the water. You just have to loosen the cap a little. If you decide to remove the filter to take a peek inside you can just re-install it. the biggest part of the job ,as you know is removing the airbox. As far as mileage I get the same numbers as you. I was told NOT to change the thermostat by Jody (DP Tuner) as it will get alot hotter when I install my other PCM soon. As far as winterfronts I also have been contemplating slapping a piece of cardboard in front of the rad, but have not done it yet . As far as buying one They are not cheap. I will live with the bad mileage for the 2-3 months .

[scottyryan]

Over the past 4 tanks - I have gotten an average of 14.28 mpg. I have been mostly rural in town here in Wi. Usually I get about 10 miles on the van per day - Not good - So I try to not drive it at all..... I was going to mount up a 203 degree T-stat - But don't have the extra cash right now... So I decided to go and make a grille cover for the radiator - Worked pretty well - The engine does warm up quicker while driving - But I don't like the idea of restricting air flow to the cooling system.....

[blageurt]

I wouldnt worry about that, especially in winter in Wisconsin. We have 26 litres of coolant , you could probably run it without a fan and not notice a difference. The thing I would uncover however is the tranny cooler, especially if you tow .

[van_350sd]

I don't think the Fuel Companies change the Diesel in the winter in South Florida, I think it is the same year round? Anyone know for sure?

I put the AMSOIL Cetane Boost Additive in my tanks, works great.

[anash13]

Still getting 20+ mpg. depending on how heavy my foot get that day.
FYI: Yesterday I paid $1.96 gal. for Fuel in Eloy, AZ
I filled up for under $50.00 have not done that in a long time

[macmaniac1]

bad fuel can do alot of damage to a fuel system, gas or diesel. I have seen and experienced this is both. I had a mercury lynx that was getting 40mpg before and 26mpg after bad gas. I did everything except changing the carb and could only get back up to around 32mpg. I was going to college at that time so that is all i could afford to do. A friend of mine was getting 20mpg unloaded and 14 to 16 mpg towing before and 8 to 9 unloaded and 5 to 7 mpg towing after the bad fuel in his powerstroke. He ended up losing the truck due to poor financial planning before he could find out what was wrong with it.

[whjco]

I usually get 14-17 mpg in town and 17 - 20 mpg over the road and drop about 2 mpg with winter blend. I'll average about 10 mpg pulling a 24' enclosed trailer that weighs #9500. My van is my work van and it weighs about 8200# as it's equipped. The only time I've gotten less than 10 mpg was when I had the trailer and was bucking a stiff headwind in South Dakota. I'm running a stock drive line.

[MADVAN]

The 203* stat is in no way to hot!
The early PSD came with 205*. The only reason for the
change to the 190/192/195 was for emissions. Even with a full winter
front on the grill you still get alot of air threw the bumper.
Its a diesel, it gets its ignition from the heat of compression.

Bill

[Turbolag87]

I avg 14mpg in the winter in mostly City driving. In the summer i Was getting around 19mpg

[Alaskapsdvan]

One of the things that will drive the mpg down is idle time, the more that it idles the lower the mpg will be. One could try the Alaskan winters where temps of -20 are more of the norm..

The first part of Jan I was down to 8 or so on mpg... now I am back to around 12mpg around town. (less idle time)

[SuperVan7.3]

After replacing all of the pulley's, serp. belt and the water pump and with the temps avg. above 32*, I’ve defiantly seen an improvement in my mileage. Then again, like Alaska mentioned, idle time defiantly is cut down too. My truck hardly sits and idles compared to just a few weeks ago. Can't wait for spring/summer!

[mcinfantry@me.com]

i drove to new orleans and back with the iat sensor plugged in and NOT attached to the air filter housing. 20.3mpg. i put it back in the housing and never came close again. i have logged all mpg for last 9000 miles. i could figure it out so for a WAG i bought a new IAT sensor, changed it an picked up 2mpg in last two tanks.....

[Alaskapsdvan]

Originally Posted by mcinfantry@me.com

i drove to new orleans and back with the iat sensor plugged in and NOT attached to the air filter housing. 20.3mpg. i put it back in the housing and never came close again. i have logged all mpg for last 9000 miles. i could figure it out so for a WAG i bought a new IAT sensor, changed it an picked up 2mpg in last two tanks.....

Where is that IAT sensor?

Cost?