Community Forums

cologman · 11-15-2022, 10:13 AM

My wife is appalled at the gas mileage we get which is pretty consistent at 6mpg. I tell her this is pretty typical of a gaser. Any comments one way or the other.

Unplanned Tourist · 11-15-2022, 11:29 AM

Spend a little more each trip on gas, or a bunch on a newer more efficient rig. It's your choice. You won't get a lot better mileage with a newer rig the same size going the same speed, so just enjoy what you have.

I always say if you are so concerned about costs of fuel, don't go.

Flyer15015 · 11-15-2022, 11:51 AM

Cologman,
I think yours has a 454 Chevy in it.
My OLD '87 Georgie Boy 38 footer w/ a tag had the same motor.
I put new plugs and wires in jacked the timing up just a bit and added a cold air duct from the grille to the air cleaner, and it helped a bit.
The real improvement came when we changed the rear ring and pinion at a shop way out in East Aurora, just north of Colfax.
Milage went from 7 even, to about 8.5+, as measured by hand on 3 trips to Florida, up to Maine and back to Colorado.
That old 454 ran 3200RPM @ 65 the old way, and after the change she ran 2700 RPM @ 65 MPH.
We never towed back then, but she pulled the hills just as well with the new rear end. And that is with the old 3 speed transmission.

Mike in Colorado

wolfe10 · 11-15-2022, 11:55 AM

Not sure paying $$ to change the rear axle ratio on that old a coach would ever show a "break even".

Best you can do is SLOW DOWN. MPG above 55 MPH drops off very quickly with that drivetrain and the aerodynamics of a brick.

George Schweikle · 11-15-2022, 01:35 PM

The 454 came in 3 different versions: Carburetor, Throttle body fuel injection, and port fuel injection. Each progression gave more HP and better fuel mileage. Yours probably has a carburetor, and 6 MPG isn't too bad depending on what speed do you drive at.

Also, as indicated below, a really good tune up may help; even though you don't do any further modifications.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyer15015

Cologman,
I think yours has a 454 Chevy in it.
My OLD '87 Georgie Boy 38 footer w/ a tag had the same motor.
I put new plugs and wires in jacked the timing up just a bit and added a cold air duct from the grille to the air cleaner, and it helped a bit.
The real improvement came when we changed the rear ring and pinion at a shop way out in East Aurora, just north of Colfax.
Milage went from 7 even, to about 8.5+, as measured by hand on 3 trips to Florida, up to Maine and back to Colorado.
That old 454 ran 3200RPM @ 65 the old way, and after the change she ran 2700 RPM @ 65 MPH.
We never towed back then, but she pulled the hills just as well with the new rear end. And that is with the old 3 speed transmission.

Mike in Colorado

1972VWbus · 11-15-2022, 06:10 PM

Even with the newer rigs MPGs are more or less the same. Using the word 'efficient' with even a newer rig is an oxymoron if there ever was one.

MinntoMich · 11-16-2022, 03:23 PM

This may strike some as odd or maybe false but I've never had less than 9 MPG. Usually it's in the neighborhood of 9.7 and sometimes higher. I don't have a Southwind but I do have a 1992 34' Winnebago with a single axle on the Chevrolet chassis. That might make a difference. I keep my tire psi on the high end and keep to the speed limit or a bit less. I will gain speed going down a hill so I can be easy on the accelerator driving up the next rise. I have yet to use the cruise control.

No toad either.

cadillac_al · 11-16-2022, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MinntoMich

This may strike some as odd or maybe false but I've never had less than 9 MPG. Usually it's in the neighborhood of 9.7 and sometimes higher. I don't have a Southwind but I do have a 1992 34' Winnebago with a single axle on the Chevrolet chassis. That might make a difference. I keep my tire psi on the high end and keep to the speed limit or a bit less. I will gain speed going down a hill so I can be easy on the accelerator driving up the next rise. I have yet to use the cruise control.

No toad either.

I thought it was odd that mine was getting 9 mpg too. I fully expected to get 6-7 mpg. I used to joke that there must be something wrong with it because it wasn't getting 6-7 mpg. I also drive economically at the speed limit and maybe more going downhill. I figured being only 23 foot had something to do with it.

D Gardiner · 11-17-2022, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cologman

My wife is appalled at the gas mileage we get which is pretty consistent at 6mpg. I tell her this is pretty typical of a gaser. Any comments one way or the other.

6 MPG is a bit low for a Chevy P30 from 1992, with an overdrive transmission.

If you have a 460 Ford with a 3-speed automatic, and a high numerical final drive, you might be on the money. Of course you don't say if you are towing, have a 38 footer with a tag axle, or how fast you are driving.

Let us know more.

RickNC · 11-22-2022, 01:05 PM

Just tell her you can spend $200K on a new one and get 8-9 miles to the gallon.

Flyer15015 · 11-22-2022, 01:15 PM

Well, if you are in Califfuny, gas is six bucks a gallon and you get six miles per gallon, the equation is very simple.

Honey, it's a buck a mile, where do you want to go?

Mike in Colorado