Operating costs

[tightgroup]

I love my Burban, but as of late, I am paying about 1.40 per liter in Montreal, or 5.60 per US gallon or 33 cents per mile in any case no matter how you crunch the numbers its alot of coin per driven mile.


In my area (Montreal) the veg producers have cornered the market. They have a quasi monopoly of the fast food joints and have the access to the reusable oil that these establishment produce. So veg for me is almost out of the question.

My question to the group, is the following;

1) What is best mileage ?
2) How did you achieve it ?

If you can describe what you did and how you achieved such mileage, in a clear and repeatable format, so that we can reuse such knowledge and further help the usefulness of our beloved 6.5 TD, this would be a great thing.

In my case I cannot continue to spend 200 dollars a week on fuel, while I have other means of cheaper transport available. Should I alternate or increase the usage of my other vehicles to compensate for the cost of fuel, sure.

Do I really need a Burban, well maybe yes. Maybe re-purposing the Burban to a more useful status would make the fuel expense more palatable. However any increase in fuel mileage is greatly appreciated.

On a side note I was pondering the Bill Heath ECU and Turbo wastegate. Can anyone chime on if this setup would benefit fuel mileage ?

 

[Woody35]

yes get the gle for the best mileage. power service will boost cetane a little which will help. see if you can advance the timing a bit. if tires are not stock size get some smaller ones and inflate close to max psi. but the best mileage gain will occur from the right foot. i like to press at the bottom of the pedal because its harder to press it down farther. keep it under 2k rpms and use cruise control a lot unless your on hills. learn to coast to stop lights. also keep the air filter clean. i went from low 15s in the city to 16.5 mpg just by changing my driving habits. yeah im the slow guy in the right lane keeping up traffic but screw the guys behind you that are just on your bumper. they are not paying for your fuel!

 

[Paveltolz]

I concur with Woody. Driving habit changes to a more conservative launch and cruise control whenever possible will help the most. I ran the (now Max E Torq T) with the TM on my GM-5 turbo and saw my mileage increase from Low 16s to high 17s on summer blended fuels. I'm now running the "P" tune with the ATT which has helped with the winter blends (17.5 vs 15.5 averages). I admit to having to change driving styles with the ATT but it has helped in every area to include mileage and it is becoming more fun to run than the GMX. But, there comes a point of diminishing returns with the costs of improvements and how long it takes for fuel mileage gains to offset or pay for them. That choice is something you'll have work through. If the other car(s) are paid for, then repurposing the Burb is probably the most economical choice. Same with a new car, I was considering a new car but $300+ payments will go a long way towards the costs of fuel with this truck.

 

[Acesneights1]

These truck suck on MPG. That is just the way they are. Park it until fuel prices come down and buy a TDI.

 

[WarWagon]

These truck suck on MPG. That is just the way they are. Park it until fuel prices come down and buy a TDI.

Trading a car or buying something else during the temporary price spike will not pay you back.
Looking for a place closer to work or 4 day work weeks can help. So could a fuel surcharge.

 

[tightgroup]

These truck suck on MPG. That is just the way they are. Park it until fuel prices come down and buy a TDI.

Well I do have a 2003 VW TDI which gets great fuel mileage. I bought the Burban to help out my son, and fell in love with the monster. Once you get comfy in that truck you do not want to drive anything else.

I did need a hauler for my offroader which is a 1975 Range rover, so I will try and repurpose the Burban to its new task. I am a little hesitant as it is rated at only 5000 lbs for towing purposes, which is slightly less than what I need. I figure I should be in the 6500 to 7000 lbs max with trailer and offroader.

Still if I can get my mileage up, it sure would be good.

I read alot about driving styles, i wonder if a vacuum gauge would be useful ???

 

[NVW]

Well I do have a 2003 VW TDI which gets great fuel mileage. I bought the Burban to help out my son, and fell in love with the monster. Once you get comfy in that truck you do not want to drive anything else.

I did need a hauler for my offroader which is a 1975 Range rover, so I will try and repurpose the Burban to its new task. I am a little hesitant as it is rated at only 5000 lbs for towing purposes, which is slightly less than what I need. I figure I should be in the 6500 to 7000 lbs max with trailer and offroader.

Still if I can get my mileage up, it sure would be good.

I read alot about driving styles, i wonder if a vacuum gauge would be useful ???

That works for gas motors, with a TD you need a boost gauge and try to keep the boost at a minimum.

 

[Acesneights1]

Take the turbo off and cut the fuel way back like a 6.2. They get somewhat better mileage. Of course you'll hate the truck...

 

[Paveltolz]

Well I do have a 2003 VW TDI which gets great fuel mileage.

My operating cost option is now gone. The 2001 TDI in my signatur block just got wrecked courtesy of my dear daughter, that's the second car of mine she's destroyed...and the last.

 

[buddy]

What year is your Suburban and what gearing does it have, what wheels are on it?

Best mileage comes from having a warm engine, get the hottest T-stat available, 195F is stock, and make sure the fan clutch doesnt lock up until about 210F, although we have to mod them to get them to lock up that low, just dont want it lock up too soon. Using 180F stats can drop you a few MPG.

Make sure the IP is timed correctly and when not under load limit boost to about 3psi while cruising. Although like Kenny said, best thing would be to ditch the trubo and put some reasonable headers/manifold on there that aren't so restrictive.

If you have 3.42 gears, and mostly drive in town, keep the tires short, like 28" tall, but if its a highway or interstate cruiser get taller tires like 30-31" which lowers the cruising RPM, but reduces low end torque. Around town the shorter tires reduce fuel consumption because it takes less power to get up to speed with stop and go, will accelerate faster, and the engine likes to be around 1700rpm anyway, even if only going 35-45mph.