Fuel Economy whilst towing...seasonal observation...

[Labswine]

So, just got back from a trip from home, just outside West Chester, PA to Edinburg, VA (a few miles south of Woodstock, VA) and back.

Filled tank here before leaving. Got to my first refill stop in WV, along I-81 just before the VA line, and calculated only 11.1 MPGs.

I got to the camp ground, drove all around there on the remaining tank, and refilled prior to coming home.

First refill stop was along the PA turnpike, about half way between Harrisburg, PA and my TPK exit. Calculated 13.3 MPGs.

I typically get between 12.5 and 13.5 MPG (obvious average of 13 MPG) towing in the summer time.

So, I'm guessing that here at home, they've switched to winter blend and haven't yet in Virginia, hence the difference. No difference driving styles, manually shifting, running at 65 MPH in 7th, the occasional 6th to maintain that 65 MPH on a grade but, other than that, the only thing I can think of for lower fuel economy is the switch from summer to winter blend gas.

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[DRMX]

Any wind or elevation change factors?

 

[Labswine]

Any wind or elevation change factors?

Well, for a little while the wind was against us going west on the PA Turnpike, but have had that before on other trips and still got around 13 MPG. Elevation changes, basically PA turn pike from where we got on, to Carlisle PA, has some grades but nothing egregious, and I-81 from Carlisle to the Woodstock VA area is also relatively flat-ish. Came home the same route, and did notice the wind was with us, kinda oblique as it was pushing the trailer around...as were the ruts in the road made by the tractor trailers, in that trying to find a place in the lane the trailer wanted to be because of the ruts, the trailer will want to move to the 'neutral' area by itself...but other than that, no real difference in terrain from other trips.

I actually think I-95 has more hills with significant grades than what we encountered on the PA Turnpike and I-81. We've taken I-95 both south and north bound on trips to Williamsburg, VA and Raleigh, NC. Outer Banks, we go down the DelMarVa Peninsula and across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge so, that's even flatter but, until this trip, all trips were right around 13 MPG average. This was the first time I saw only 11.1 MPGs on a trip.

That's why I'm guessing it's the winter blend gas, here, and they haven't changed over yet further south. I typically get around 21+ MPG just bopping around in the summer, and 20+ for the same type of driving in the winter...I lose 1 MPG on winter blend gas.

 

[MrJeep]

It's funny when I tow the TJ from here right next to West Chester to the Catskills I always get 12 going up and 13.5 going back. I thought it was the elevation but never thought about the gas.

 

[Labswine]

It's funny when I tow the TJ from here right next to West Chester to the Catskills I always get 12 going up and 13.5 going back. I thought it was the elevation but never thought about the gas.

I always noticed that when I lived in MA and came to PA to visit, I got better fuel economy 'south' bound than I did going the other way. I kinda wonder if it's more 'down hill' going south than going north

 

[Janster]

Your 11.1 mpg readings - that included you driving around the campground?

Was your route the same both ways? Were you traveling at a consistent speed both to & back? Was there any traffic delays or slowdowns? Any wind? Elevation changes? Soo many things to consier….

 

[Labswine]

Your 11.1 mpg readings - that included you driving around the campground?

Was your route the same both ways? Were you traveling at a consistent speed both to & back? Was there any traffic delays or slowdowns? Any wind? Elevation changes? Soo many things to consier….

That was my first fuel stop on the way to the camp ground. Consistent speed, as consistent as possible, between 63 and 68 MPH. Wind in my face on the way but, as stated before, have had that on other trips and still got around 13 MPG. Elevation changes, minor it's the eastern part of the PA Turnpike between the Downingtown, PA and Carlisle, PA exchanges. No heavy traffic to speak of. There was a mile or two of construction traffic in Carlisle, PA getting from the PA Turnpike to I-81 but that was only like a 5-10 minute delay.

Nothing different than any other sojourns we've made with the trailer, except, this time I think it was winter blend gas here where I live, and they hadn't changed over in VA at that point because the exact same route going home, that first fuel stop, I got 13.3 MPGs so...

 

[Janster]

That was my first fuel stop on the way to the camp ground. Consistent speed, as consistent as possible, between 63 and 68 MPH. Wind in my face on the way but, as stated before, have had that on other trips and still got around 13 MPG. Elevation changes, minor it's the eastern part of the PA Turnpike between the Downingtown, PA and Carlisle, PA exchanges. No heavy traffic to speak of. There was a mile or two of construction traffic in Carlisle, PA getting from the PA Turnpike to I-81 but that was only like a 5-10 minute delay.

Nothing different than any other sojourns we've made with the trailer, except, this time I think it was winter blend gas here where I live, and they hadn't changed over in VA at that point because the exact same route going home, that first fuel stop, I got 13.3 MPGs so...

I live in Lancaster PA …… My jeep is ‘new’ (as of March) so I haven’t seen the winter/summer gas changes yet on it.

Most all the vehicles I’ve ever owned over the years (including trucks) all got 2mpg difference between summer & winter gas. So, your numbers look like it could be a winter/summer gas thing….

 

[Labswine]

I live in Lancaster PA …… My jeep is ‘new’ (as of March) so I haven’t seen the winter/summer gas changes yet on it.

Most all the vehicles I’ve ever owned over the years (including trucks) all got 2mpg difference between summer & winter gas. So, your numbers look like it could be a winter/summer gas thing….

Yeah, that's my assumption as well. I typically get just over 21 MPG bopping around on summer blend and just over 20 MPG on winter blend.

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