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2019 FJ Summit: Fuel consumption log. CA > CO & back

5K views 13 replies 9 participants last post by  FJtest 
#1 · (Edited)
Finally had a chance to review all my fuel receipts for the Summit trip from So. California, with some interesting observations.

Vehicle is 2014 FJC with 2 medium-size adults + 1 medium-size dog, hard-shell RTT, aluminum armor + steel sliders and a full compliment of camping gear. Weighed the rig in Cortez, CO and was slightly shocked to see the curb weight was 5,540 lbs with a full fuel tank & 5 gallons of water. This is only 30 lbs under max GVWR. Tires are 265-75R16, "E" range BFG KO2s kept at 45 PSI for highway use. Air conditioning was on for 90+% of the entire trip, which typically reduces efficiency by 1 - 1.5 MPG. Cruise control was usually set at 70 MPH.

Total distance traveled was 2,355 miles, average fuel consumption for the entire trip was 19.11 MPG, with a total of ~122 gallons burned. Best mileage was 24.12 on the downhill run from Flagstaff AZ to Newberry Springs, CA where I got 339 miles out of the tank and the reserve light wasn't on yet.

Average MPG was 20.66 on the highway, and 15.56 on the trail runs, some of which included a fair amount of highway driving (Ouray to Telluride, etc.).

The only things I did to enhance fuel economy was to turn off cruise control as we approached grades to avoid screaming 4K RPM downshifts into third, and occasionally turned the AC off for short periods on the steeper grades. Given that much of the trail running was in low range, 1st and 2nd gear, with less than 10 MPG showing on Torque Pro, the overall fuel economy seems pretty good for a 5,500+ pound brick.
 

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#2 ·
Finally had a chance to review all my fuel receipts for the Summit trip from So. California, with some interesting observations.

Vehicle is 2014 FJC with 2 medium-size adults + 1 medium-size dog, hard-shell RTT, aluminum armor + steel sliders and a full compliment of camping gear. Weighed the rig in Cortez, CO and was slightly shocked to see the curb weight was 5,540 lbs with a full fuel tank & 5 gallons of water. This is only 30 lbs under max GVWR. Tires are 265-75R16, "E" range BFG KO2s kept at 45 PSI for highway use. Air conditioning was on for 90+% of the entire trip, which typically reduces efficiency by 1 - 1.5 MPG. Cruise control way usually set at 70 MPH.

Total distance traveled was 2,355 miles, average fuel consumption for the entire trip was 19.11 MPG, with a total of ~122 gallons burned. Best mileage was 24.12 on the downhill run from Flagstaff AZ to Newberry Springs, CA where I got 339 miles out of the tank and the reserve light wasn't on yet.

Average MPG was 20.66 on the highway, and 15.56 on the trail runs, some of which included a fair amount of highway driving (Ouray to Telluride, etc.).

The only things I did to enhance fuel economy was to turn off cruise control as we approached grades to avoid screaming 4K RPM downshifts into third, and occasionally turned the AC off for short periods on the steeper grades. Given that much of the trail running was in low range, 1st and 2nd gear, with less than 10 MPG showing on Torque Pro, the overall fuel economy seems pretty good for a 5,500+ pound brick.
Thanks for sharing!
 
#9 · (Edited)
Oops, forgot to include fuel grade. I normally run Regular, but for this trip I used Mid-Grade exclusively, as much of the trip was at ambient temperatures of well over 100F.

The 45 PSI is my normal "on-road" tire pressure, primarily for reduced rolling resistance (fuel economy).

I was shocked at the 5,540 curb weight. This was the first time I ever weighted the vehicle, and it was definitely less heavily loaded than it was for the '17 Summit.
 
#10 · (Edited)
It's a hard-shell Maggiolina, mounted as low to the roof as possible, so it's pretty streamlined, but obviously it does increase the total frontal area substantially.

The highway-only fuel consumption was 20.66 MPG, the 19.11 MPG was for the entire trip, including the off-road sections.

When the truck was brand new, W/O any mods or even a roof rack, it occasionally got 23+ MPG on the flat at 65 MPH, but that was during the 5K mile break-in and it was being driven pretty conservatively.
 
#13 ·
Yeah I run mine at 45 on the road too. My F150 I would run my KO2 'E's at 50psi on the road. I'm using a butt cushion now with my FJ, so I sit higher and I don't feel those bumps quite so bad.. :cheers:

Thanks for the trip info! I wish I could pull those kinda numbers on my 07. I think I cracked 18mpg one time, but I was going 65 on the interstate with favorable winds to get it.. :mecry:
 
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