Typical Mileage

[tweiss3]

I just bought a 2015 Titanium LWB as the new family hauler for my wife. We only have 2200 miles on the thing. Today we had a 4hour road trip where we took my siblings along. 5 adults, 2 in carseats, so we were pretty well loaded.

I ended up getting 24.5mpg at 75. I haven't verified the trip with a fillups, but id imagine thats close to actual. I also noticed milage start climbing as I hit construction and dropped the cruise to 55.

My big question is, where is the turning point in the milage? 65? With the speed limits all going up to 70, I cant stand the idea of not doing the speed limit on long trips just to get better milage.

[mustang]

55-60 mph is the sweet spot on my 2014 cargo van at 30-32 mpg

65-75 gets 26 avg mpg

[Osco]

I run the Super slab 10 to 12 days a week with 500 to 900 pounds of heavy equipment that's compact and low all loaded just over and forward of the rear axle.

I run a tank a day or more, 1300 to 1900 miles a week.

These trips Include driving Into and out of town but are IMO 80% Interstate

With no traffic at 75 steady with the only hills being overpasses I manage 26 mpg regularly

At 72 mph 27 mpg

At 67 mph 28 mpg

In traffic with all the added wind deflection and shielding from other vehicles things change,

At 75 mph I get 27 or better

At 72 mph 28 or better

At 67 mph,,,,,,,,,,,,,,29 mpg's often but not always.

To get these numbers I must always drive smooth and keep my eyes looking Into the future,,follow me ?

Several days a month I find myself on long lonely two lane back roads doing a cruise control ride at 55 to 60 mph with only 200 to 300 pounds of stuff

At 30 to 31 mpg.

In city driving I manage 22 mpg IF I am very careful reading traffic . I run errands on the weekends In city traffic.

I have the 2nd trip meter showing a average mpg of 25.9 and have not reset this in the last 20,000 miles

Always at 41 psi front tire pressure and 46 out back

Always running the AC, Regular fuel and the K&N Air filter and Mobil 1 full synthetic 5w-20w (I am careful to NOT over fill the oil by even a single ounce) :P

Edited June 11, 2016 by Osco

[mrtn]

I'm averaging 24-25 in mixed driving right now. LPG device going in next Tuesday. Should increase by 45% in monetary equivalent.

[NateTheFknGreat]

I average 19 miles to the gallon according to the fuel gauge.... We really can't get up to 30 miles of highway driving..... When my gf drives the van, she does seem to get better milage than myself... I average 70mph when I drive and I have a heavy foot... I wish my LWB XLT came turbo...

[G B L]

Hey mrtn tell Me about your LPG device

[mrtn]

Hey mrtn tell Me about your LPG device

It's not mine yet but I ordered this one: http://www.prinsautogas.com/en/products/directliquimax_system/directliquimax_system.html

This specific model is designed for direct injection engines and the tank replaces the spare tire.

The LPG is fed directly into fuel line before the high pressure pump.

Edited June 12, 2016 by mrtn

[103west43rd]

Nice mrtn. With the tank under the vehicle, you do not loose room in the Van, always an issue. Where are you going to mount the spare? Hang it on a bracket on one of the rear doors?

[G B L]

That looks like a great rig. The liquid propane would work very well in a direct injection system. Is your cost for propane that much cheaper than Petrol ? The high octane of the propane would allow the computer to maximize the power.

What to they say about the total performance.

Keep us up to date on your progress.

[mrtn]

Gasoline is 1.1/L (4.16/US gal)

LPG is 0.49/L

The LPG consumption is up to +20% compared to gasoline so I am looking at ca 45% savings.

EDIT: just handed the van over. Regarding the spare wheel: I'll get a space saver and fix it to the cargo area, possibly to the left wall for longer drives. I usually just use the foam.

Edited June 13, 2016 by mrtn

[G B L]

Well at that price difference it will match diesel for cost with performance close

to gas. very nice.

propane does not have much lubricant in it but the turbo rated valves should be

be up to the task.

how much for the kit?

[mrtn]

€2300 incl installation. 18 month breakeven point for me.

[G B L]

Neat, Is your access to propane easy? How do you handel the road tax?

How big is the tank?

The price of propane here not low enough to make the conversion worthwhile

Maybe in the Midwest.

The major reason for propane fuel is engines that run indoors and Auxillery Generator sets, where the fuel does not spoil

[G B L]

Looking forward to the install photos

[mrtn]

LPG and other variants are widely available in every other station. One is a few miles from my house. I don't think there is any extra tax on it. Everything is included in the fuel price. Socialist are not in charge yet so no aux road tax. Cargo vehicles (vans, pickups, lorries) get full sales tax return on running costs.

The toroid tank is 65L (17 US gal) IIRC.

Neat, Is your access to propane easy? How do you handel the road tax?

How big is the tank?

The price of propane here not low enough to make the conversion worthwhile

Maybe in the Midwest.

The major reason for propane fuel is engines that run indoors and Auxillery Generator sets, where the fuel does not spoil

[G B L]

Thats excellent. The fact that it is at the regular fuel stations means it is treated

the same way as gas and diesel.

The tank size will mean close to the same range and if both are used double.

really looking forward to the install and the road test.

[G B L]

Mrtn  How is the propane conversion working out? 

[mrtn]

Thank you for asking. I'm only on my third tank (different stations) and would like to fill up at least three times at the same pump to make sure the off-switch triggers exactly at the same pressure and can make precise calculations. The trip computer thinks it's averaging 25 mpg but my calculations at the LPG pump say 21.7 so it's within specs. I'll get back to you.

[G B L]

Great looking forward to the info. Sounds like a good thing for you!

[mrtn]

As promised. After 7 LPG fillups I can do some adequate calculations. Been to different stations, sticking with one specific does not really work if you want to maximize the range.

Average mpg in LPG: 21.2

Average mpg in LPG adjusted to gasoline cost: 47

Pretty good. 50/50 town/highway.

Edited July 21, 2016 by mrtn
mixed up UK and US gallon

[G B L]

Nice report.  The propane conversion is really going to work out for you.  I will be interested in the long term durability of the kit. Keep us updated from time to time. 

[G B L]

Does your Van still like the propane?

Have you done any testing on the performance difference between the Gasoline and Propane? You are no doubt enjoying the cars pep!!

 

[mrtn]

Thanks for asking. I'm yet to learn the car's language but I'm trying to explain the immediate experience:

• throttle response is noticeably mushier on LPG right after you have switched the fuel source but you only register it for a little while and get used to it. Torque response is similar, it can still climb 12% inclines at 1500 rpm with no downshift
• there are moments when it takes a few seconds (2-3) to crank before the engine starts, this is due to the reason of LPG thinning at the injection pump. The circulation system takes care of having fresh LPG everywhere in the system but it may change at the right temperature and moment
• the shift points at acceleration are a bit higher running on LPG
• 20.6 mpg all time average on LPG for the 2400 LPG miles, total cost €225

So I'm almost at 50% savings in fuel costs. There's a significant pump capability difference in different stations, some are able to fill an additional gallon or more before stalling.

Edited August 21, 2016 by mrtn

[G B L]

Very nice could you take a picture of the fuel tank install ? Did you go with a space saver tire or Fix a Flat ? When you shift fuels does the ecu switch the fuel gauge?

 

[mrtn]

Thanks.

The tank looks like a spare. I thought of ordering a space saver but then discovered the original spare fits in the boot like a glove. I also have a can of Fix-a-flat foam.

The gauges are independent (ECU cannot display LPG economy figures, it thinks it's gasoline), you can see the Prins button which selects the fuel source. The Prins logo is lit when the engine is running on LPG. The intensity of the LED under the button is ambient light sensitive, really nice touch.The button also has its own level indicator, see the arc of squares. The leftmost square turns amber (from normal blue) when there's 50 miles worth of LPG left. Running out it beeps and switches to gasoline.