Workhorse 8.1 MPG

[Ron & Dee]

I have seen this thread posted several times and thought I would browse through it just out of curiosity

fuel mileage

It looks like our Workhorse 8.1 stands up pretty well in comparison

I'm happy

Ron

[golden]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron & Dee I have seen this thread posted several times and thought I would browse through it just out of curiosity fuel mileage It looks like our Workhorse 8.1 stands up pretty well in comparison I'm happy Ron

I just looked at the first page of your link to compare mileage with mine and found that I'm at the low end. I average about 7.5 mpg, travelling at approx 60 mph. I haven't actually checked it closely for a couple of years as it was always so consistent for the first three years that I decided not to bother checking any more. To be honest, I've never particularly cared about my mileage, as long as it didn't drop to 5 or below, so that's normally just one less thing to worry about.

[Ron & Dee]

I always thought I wanted a DP, probably just because of a status symbol and when diesel was cheaper.

I don't tow and I'm pretty small compared to some rigs, but I do load pretty heavy for vacation trips.

My mileage on trips have been anywhere from 7.6 to 8.6. I think my local mileage since UP, has increased from the high 6's to the low 7's.

Ron

[hamguy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron & Dee I have seen this thread posted several times and thought I would browse through it just out of curiosity fuel mileage It looks like our Workhorse 8.1 stands up pretty well in comparison I'm happy Ron

My '02 Suncruiser 22.5 Chassis, U35, 8.1 WH currently has >76k miles. Average MPG over that run is now 7.327.

Obviously, YMMV

[jojolou]

I've gotten as high as 9 mpg. with a tail wind. Usually we get between 7 & 8 towing our Jeep and I'm NOT going to complain about that!

[davebw31]

Went from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. to Gainesville Fla. and back. I avg. 8.5 @ 65 mph @ 2,400 rpm. On my way to Gainesville I checked my dash computer ever so often and was getting 9.5 until I stopped at the first toll booth. Upon accelerating from zero back to 65 mph my mileage dropped to 8.5! I left with a full tank and refilled upon arrining back in Ft. Laudedale to verify the on board computer was correct. I took a trip last yr. to Bowling Green, KY and got 7.5, 4 adults, I teen, 1/2 in the montains, and fully loaded. BTW: This was with No toad

[AUSSI]

Hi: just computed last 1548m trip fuel mileage, with 35% of hilly I-81 and 65% on flat road I-95 with a stop and go of 36 minutes through a crash site the average came in at 7.61 mpg running around 62mph with Buick Regal in tow.

VIC (VE3IHK)
05 ITASCA Sunrise 33V WH 8.1

[mountainkowboy]

We only have around 8K on ours, but we average around 8.5-8.7 without toad and about 1mpg less with toad. I've got as high as 11mpg with a stiff tail wind for a few hundred miles and as low a 2.3 mpg runnin around in the mountains per tank.

[mrschwarz]

We had an 01 Suncruiser with a 454. I don't think I ever saw 7.0 mpg. Average was around 5.75.

[Ron & Dee]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrschwarz We had an 01 Suncruiser with a 454. I don't think I ever saw 7.0 mpg. Average was around 5.75.

WOW!

My 93 31 foot Brave with the 454 did excellent, as high as 13 MPG on level ground. Consistently averaged in the high 8's to the mid 9's, a lot of 10's and 11's.

Of course it was much lighter than I have today, and no toad

Ron

[bdaball]

Pretty good chance you could have seen the engine block on a 93 minus some of the plumbing of today!

I could have fit in the engine compartment of my 55 Chevy with the hood closed! You could actually see the plugs and oil filter from top or bottom.

[George Z]

i believe I read the 8.1 MPG improves with mileage. Does there seem to be any credence to that?

[DriVer]

Although these engines are pretty much broken in when the leave Tonawanda, running them for a few thousand miles I believe seats everything in place. I expect that mileage can also improve by default by choosing to use a quality 100% synthetic motor oil.

Slowing one's travelling pace also adds toward improving mileage. That we know for sure.

[davebw31]

Driver: I agree on the syn. oil in the engine, but switching to syn. in the trans. and rear has additional benifits in mpg also and will get you another .5 mph. However, I disagree on your statement that slower speeds will improve mileage, especically in moderate hilly county or intersate roads. Here is why, to much throttle is needed to maintain speed up and keep pace with traffic, thus lower mpg's (higher fuel consumption). I know this for a fact, as I have over 300,000 + miles of experience towing a race car trailer or toad with a truck or motorhome, and also another 200,000 without a towed car or trailer. I find that I can maintain a speed of 65 mph , which provides me with the best mileage, gas or diesel. I do this by "powering down a hill" with slight additional throttle pressure (usually 70-75 mph depending on the size of hill I am going up) reducing throttle as I go up the hill, while approaching the crest of the hill, I am usually back at my cruise speed of 65 mph. If I am on a flat roadway prior to a hill I accelerate slowly up to the speed I feel I need to maintain speed in the power band, which on my 35' NRV 8.1 is 2400 rpm (5 th gear) and on my 7.3 diesel truck is 3200 (5 th gear). Now, on long 7 % hills that is another story! LOL