scottybdiving

You guys aren't actually buying the fuel mileage indicated by the computer? The only way to really determine it is miles driven divided by gallons to fill up. Then it is subjective to angle of the ramp at pumps and cutoff poit on the nozzle. The only real way to determine is how much fuel is required over a long distance, say 1000 miles or more.

Comfy_Couch

My computer seems to be a bit too optimistic - consistently overestimating overall fuel economy by about 1-2 MPG, although the longer range mileage calculation is more accurate (which makes sense). I calculate mileage the way scottybdiving suggests, the actual miles driven divided by what went into the tank. One thing I've also noticed is that I seem to get more miles on the first quarter of the tank, than on the second, and so on, which leads me to believe the fuel guage is not exactly calibrated to the fuel level in the tank.

mortenmol

Nope, but normally with an average of 90 mph i do around 11L/100km over 300 km with quite a few acc. upto 120mph

This is the best I've seen, just cruising with around 55-60 mph, but then again I rarely drive that slow

dieseldoc

I wish I could drive that fast in he US

mortenmol

Well we're not really allowed, but nothing happens with my license when I stay below 100 mph, but they don't control much here, haven't been caught speeding the last 40K miles, or 2 years, not that I don't speed.

StevethePilot

Just don't do it in Switzerland!

Brocktoon

True, but even if it is out by 5-10% you have to consider just how mindblowing that number is.

Just think about it:

3 tonnes, all wheel drive, climate control on all the time, air suspension compressor running all the time, huge electrical load, over 24 in the city...

mortenmol

Tell me about it, my father has some cars registred in Germany, I took the ML63 with my friends when we went skiing in France. That was very expensive in speeding fines.

dgiturbo

38 MPG in a GL CDI? Best I have ever had in my ML CDI is 32MPG, driving at 50-60 mostly flat highway. How did you get this? What was your driving style and road conditions? Please give us all your tips as we could use the help with our rising fuel prices.

StevethePilot

A) That was the V8, which is not available in the U.S. and B) therefore, it's most probably Imperial gallons, which are larger than U.S. gallons (and therefore give what appears to be better fuel economy).

STP

Stumblefoot

I agree Comfy.

We went up-n-back to Beaver Creek this weekend, as well as up-n-down to Denver yesterday. Computer said that my mpg was 19.9 since the last fill-up and the fuel gauge was sitting at 5/8ths of a tank. After putting in 12.63 gallons into the tank, my calculation showed that my actual mileage was 17.8 mpg. So, as you state, my computer overestimated fuel economy by 2 gallons.

I'm curious to let the next tank go almost to empty before filling up to see if the computer adjusts better to full tank usage.

skymarc

What do you fly Steve?
For sure Turbos are more efficient at altitude.

I fly a C185 on amphibs floats, im looking for a Bonanza or Baron.
Do you know Barron Thomas in Scotsdale?

mortenmol

Right you are, forget about that, it's about 32,5 mpg.

My car has a KD-Box for extra performance, but also gives better fuel economy under normal driving, by full throttle it's the same.

It was a normal day, about 72 degrees fahrenheit, not much wind and more or less at sealevel.

Mostly flat road and about 56 mph with distronic on following traffic

Brocktoon

7.3 l/100 km is 32.2 miles per us gallon and 38.7 Imperial.

a great calculator can be found at:

http://tdiclub.com/misc/conversions.html

Comfy_Couch

I always wait till the yellow light comes on before refilling, but the computer hasn't gotten any more accurate.

StevethePilot

I know of Barron Thomas, though I've never met him. I've actually put flying on the back burner while I start a magazine. I was flying 172s & 182s (and a T182), but most hours were in a Seminole.

I do like having the turbo on the GL in Flagstaff! Acceleration is the same.

STP

Brocktoon

Is it an, ehm, "gentleman's periodical"?

StevethePilot

Heh ... uh, sure it is, yeah. Just subscribe and I'll send ya a copy!

http://www.EatFreshAZ.com/

STP

Brocktoon

Nice! I have a centrefold for you:

Some whole wheat ciabata I made. (I'm baking tonight)

dgiturbo

I don't feel that left out now that the Imperial Gal. issue has been brought into the mix. The K-D box also helps. Nice setup!
BTW Steve, back in the day the Seminole was my favorite to fly also. Maybe that's what got me hooked on turbo power

mortenmol

You should, we're doing the same MPG, but I have a bigger car and a bigger engine

according to Kleemann the 420cdi with the K-D box it's pushing 400 bhp and 700 lbs/ft , they couldn't Dyno mine because it's 4wd

dgiturbo

I'm definitely sold on the KD box. I have seen posts with the US spec 320 CDI's making good power, and keeping their mileage!! I think I will wait for the warranty to run out before I put one on though.

StevethePilot

I call that "food p*rn!"

You dirty, dirty man.

StevethePilot

Never flown a Turbo-Seminole (we have fun nicknames for that plane, btw), and I've wondered why the don't make them any more. Probably since it's used so much as a trainer and not really practical for much else, they decided there was too much possibility of low-time, low-experience pilots burning up the turbos, over-boosting, or just otherwise not handling the extra power at altitude. Though I will admit to having had a Seminole (non-turbo) at 13,000 feet with two aboard and about half fuel, at night. Briefly.

Brocktoon

Nah, here's some real whackin' material, Steve.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDQQa...eature=related