The mythical 800 mile tank barrier has been broken... 801.4!
 

And I still had probably 50 in the tank. You may remember my previous post at 775 miles on one tank here...

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/226602-new-record-775-miles-one-tank.html?highlight=775

I made 801.4 today just as the reserve light came on. I put 21.854 gallons in, which means I theoretically had 70 miles left in the tank if every drop could have been used, which is not realistic.

I will admit to conciously trying to keep a lighter foot for this tank to reach the 800 mark, but this tank included plenty of 70+ mph highway work and a few bits of stop and go.

Gotta love it.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 271K

Awesome mileage. Lately I've been hypermiling to the extreme to see what mileage I can achieve out of my current tank of fuel. Last night I drove 5.5 miles and most of it was with the engine idling or around 1000/1100 rpm in 4th gear at 25mph. When I accelerate I do it as gently and slow as possible, never exceeding 1900rpm, and shifting at the bottom limit of every gear.

Mathematically, I read the 617 uses about a gallon of fuel every three hours when idling at an average idle speed. (650?) So, on flat ground going 25mph...it is possible for a 300SD or 300D with a 3.07 diff to maintain 25mph at 1000-1100rpm or so, virtually no engine effort at all, (as well as little to no wind resistance) its pretty much just a high idle..... I wonder if you drove on flat ground at 25-30mph for an entire tank, if it would be possible to see mpg's around the 50-60 mark. As idling at 25mph would get you 75mpg.....but its obviously using a little more than at idle....

I bet 50+ is possible if you keep the speed to 25-30mph. Model T speeds! :D Perhaps someday I will test it.

I've come close twice, but I had an extra 18 gallon tank in my trunk back then. :D

5/12/06
195595
799.4
38.601 gallons
3.05 $/G
118.08 total
20.71 mpg

Numbers close to 45 mpg are possible at 40-45 mph. The additional fuel required to get the engine speed up to approx. 2000 rpm is quite small.............but the distance covered per hour of engine time is up over 50%.

I don't think you can see 50+ under any conditions........except downhill.

Ive seen 700 miles to a tank in my SD before I got fuel.


My reserve light record is also 79 miles and still haven't run out of fuel

........you didn't.........

Lol

I second that. :D I ran out of fuel at 514 miles before, so 700 is impossible.



Anyways, 40-45 mph eh, thats more bearable.....I will look into that. :D


Last night I filled up after many many miles of slow city driving. (sloooow acceleration, coasting all the time, and keeping it around 1000-1200rpm or so at 25-30mph always) and I got......drumroll.......34.2mpg!!!! Wow!

Yep, the SD gets 28 mpg now and it's running out of fuel on cloverleaf turns when the meter shows 530 miles. 20 gallons is definitely the end.

this may sound like a dumb question, but...does my '85 300td have a reserve light. I don't recall ever seeing a light when my tank get low.

I got like 2000 miles on my last tank of dino :) ...read sig

Yes it does, but most of them do not work at this point because of gunk inside the fuel level sender or a problem with the sensor wires in the sender. Mine doesn't work. :D I am going to try to fix it as soon as I run my tank down though.

Your reserve light should come on when you turn on the key and go out when you start the engine. If its not coming on you have a burnt out bulb.

I got I think it was 601 on a full tank a few weeks ago coming from SC in the 96 model. I think I could have done a little better, but I have a heavy foot on the mountains. Hard on the brakes, hard into the throttle. Would there be a significant difference in the mileage between 40 cetane and 45? I cant find 45 around here anywhere, but I did in VA, and thats what I got the 600+ miles on.

It could also be a broken wire in the fuel sender....my bulb is just fine and it doesn't come on.