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Old 09-21-2016, 07:40 PM   #1
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Gas Mileage

I did my first gas mileage check, 6.44 mpg. Is this about normal for a 1989 34' P30 with the genny running?
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Old 09-21-2016, 07:50 PM   #2
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It sounds about right to me, that's about what mine does. You could get better, or worse, on your next tank, but personally I wouldn't expect much difference.
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Old 09-21-2016, 07:56 PM   #3
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It sounds about right to me, that's about what mine does. You could get better, or worse, on your next tank, but personally I wouldn't expect much difference.
Headers and good exhaust help any?
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Old 09-22-2016, 06:26 AM   #4
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Headers and good exhaust help any?
In the group I converse with most, the consistent opinion is -
"Probably Not"

The thing that is universally agreed to most effect fuel economy is driving style. As this is the first you have driven this coach, you will have to work on that.

If you have a vacuum guage, use that as a good indicator. It isn't perfect, but perfect would cost more than the fuel you might save.

Frank
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Old 09-22-2016, 07:45 AM   #5
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I agree, try to change your driving style (if applicable). I've given up trying to get up to speed 'fast', especially in town - it's just not going to, so there's no since in pushing fuel through it trying to make it do so. They have lots of mass, you can take your foot off the accelerator LONG before a stop and they'll keep rolling quite nicely.

On the interstate mine sounds 'happiest' at about 63mph (and happier yet at 55), when I start asking for more speed, which it can certainly do, the tone of the engine tells me it's working much harder, and therefore burning more fuel. This is just 'seat of pants' since I don't have anything that actually tells me how much fuel I'm burning (or vacuum as mentioned above).
I do have an odbii reader connected to it that SHOULD tell me instant mpg, but haven't had a chance to use it yet to see what it tells me.
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Old 09-22-2016, 07:52 AM   #6
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try watching your tachometer. 454's like 1600 to 1800 rpm's for good fuel economy. Yeah, I know, that is about 48 mph.
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Old 09-22-2016, 07:05 PM   #7
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I figured that at 58-60 is the best that I have done around 8MPG. A little less pulling the toad. Really could watch the gas gauge go down @ 65. I think my tac says around 25-2800 @ 60.
1982 P-30 454 / 4 barrel Pace Arrow, keeping a fresh coat of wax helps too ,less drag.
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Old 09-22-2016, 07:56 PM   #8
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1996 Itasca 454 F.I., gen set running, speed 60 MPH avg 7.5-8 mpg
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Old 09-23-2016, 07:20 AM   #9
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I managed just under 7mpg with the 38' Mountain Aire towing the Big Dog to Phoenix and back to Colorado Springs earlier this year. I generally held her at 65mph. I was very surprised economy was that good since the curb weight is just over 17K lbs., and we were battling 60mph winds all the way through New Mexico on the way down there.
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Old 09-23-2016, 07:42 AM   #10
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I have a moho class A 26' 98 Itasca with a chev 454 FI. I tow a 4 door sedan 3500lbs. I get 10mpg at 48 mph. if I drive 55 it drops to 8.5 and if I drive over 60 it drops to 7 and stays there. It is all about the speed and using your tranny shifts for up hill climbs. Had an 85 itasca, it got 8mpg, it was a carb model like you have. I could get 11 out of it but had to slow down to 48 also, but that was when I was young and had lots of money, and gas was $1.65 per gallon, so I rarely did under 65mph. Slowing down is a hard thing to get use to when you live in the city.
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Old 09-23-2016, 09:16 AM   #11
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try watching your tachometer. 454's like 1600 to 1800 rpm's for good fuel economy. Yeah, I know, that is about 48 mph.
Yea, thats not going to happen. 1 or 2 miles per gallon isn't going to break the bank since we don't go too far from home. 6.5 mpg is with the genny running fridge and a/c and, not taking forever to get up to speed, not flooring it to the secondary's either. I don't have a tach yet
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Old 09-23-2016, 09:24 AM   #12
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In the group I converse with most, the consistent opinion is -
"Probably Not"

The thing that is universally agreed to most effect fuel economy is driving style. As this is the first you have driven this coach, you will have to work on that.

If you have a vacuum guage, use that as a good indicator. It isn't perfect, but perfect would cost more than the fuel you might save.

Frank
not the first time driving this, first time checking fuel mileage. Usually only go to the rec club we belong to, which is 5 miles away. Never driven it more than 100 miles untill last week
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Old 09-23-2016, 09:57 AM   #13
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Over 20 years ago, (when I was looking to buy my 1st class A motorhome), I was told by an old timer with a lot of motorhome experiance: "Anyone who claims they get fuel mileage which averages more than 8 MPG with a class A gasser or more than 10 MPG with a class A diesel is lying".
Mel
'96 Safari, with an honest average of 8.5 MPG, (over 121k miles)
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Old 09-23-2016, 12:50 PM   #14
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We recently completed an almost 5K mile trip to Michigan and back to Phoenix. We were loaded heavy and towing my wife's Tracker. Average going there was around 6.5mpg.
I have gotten almost 9 mpg on the flat, not towing, no a/c on, and no wind at about 58 mph.
I found the 7 blade engine fan sucks the gas when the clutch is engaged. To minimize the fan running I installed a 180 degree thermostat in place of the OE 195 degree. The fan clutch engages at 195 degrees. With the dash a/c on the fan will cycle on and off pretty regular. With the a/c off and outside temperatures below 80 degrees the fan only engages on hills if not towing.
I did install a vacuum gauge and it helps me obtain better mileage, especially if driving on roads with lots of stops and starts.
Driving style, well tuned engine, and properly inflated tires are probably the easiest and cheapest things to do do increase the mileage.
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