Posts by Rivergoer
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New 1,000 Mile Club Member
Did it!!! 1,000.2 miles, one tank. Bone stock 2014 CTD. 54.0 MPG hand calculated.
About crapped my pants the last 50 miles, thought it was gonna be Hyperfail and call AAA. But I trusted you guys and ran 92 miles after the Low Fuel light came on. I must've been running on what was left in the fuel filter because it took 18.5 gal to top back up to the brim.
Thanks much to BradHerr for providing the inspiration and knowledge!
![Gauge Auto part Technology Vehicle Car]()
Did it!!! 1,000.2 miles, one tank. Bone stock 2014 CTD. 54.0 MPG hand calculated.
About crapped my pants the last 50 miles, thought it was gonna be Hyperfail and call AAA. But I trusted you guys and ran 92 miles after the Low Fuel light came on. I must've been running on what was left in the fuel filter because it took 18.5 gal to top back up to the brim.
Thanks much to BradHerr for providing the inspiration and knowledge!
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LOL, I'm still so new with this car (got it in April) that I wasn't aware of the "gallons used" function until I was re-reading this Thread today, so I failed to reset it before the trip. From now on that will be part of my Trip reset routine.
The DTE was showing that I wouldn't make 1,000 miles before the "Low" displayed. It was flirting around 990 to 996 but I was also doing a gradual climb out of the Palm Springs, CA area. Once I got over the 'hump' and headed down into the Los Angeles basin it was hypercruze city. MPGs were pegged on 99 most of the last 40-50 miles. That was my goal, try to get it over the hill and let gravity assist.
Also had a fortunate tailwind (35-40 mph) on the first 150 mile leg, ran 250 miles without even moving the needle off Full.
What really helped me was reading several posts that indicated you can go about 80-100 miles after the low fuel light. I had to really trust that because the fuel gauge was pegged on E for the last 60 miles. Figured worst case I'd call Auto Club for a tow and request a HyperFailure badge from Obermd LOL.
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LOL, you should come up with a little 1,000 mile tank sticker and put one on your trunk lid for each time you do it...kinda like the old P-51 fighter pilots.
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Well done Brad!
Chalk up #3, particularly amazing considering you have to be consistent over 20 days. A lot of variables have to fall into place including weather, traffic, no accidents or construction delays.
Mine was somewhat easier because it was two 500 mile round trips but still all those variables...
Congratulations!!
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Three main keys to my 1,000 mile tank were Time, Patience and Planning. I carefully planned and left lots of time. I knew I wasn't going to set any speed records because this was all about squeezing miles out of every drop of diesel.
Congrats on your "new" CTD, it's the ideal vehicle for long trips like yours. I'm not a math wiz so bear with me...all my comments are expressed in miles and gallons as opposed to metric.
I did four 250 mile trips across the desert between Los Angeles and the Arizona border. No city driving between trips and no rest stops. Each trip was about 4 hours or so.
I basically followed a lot of what Bradherr documented here (thanks Brad). I topped fuel to just below the rim of the filler neck. Tires were at 42 psi and had the A/C on the whole time. CC was set for 60 mph and stayed to the right with the trucks (California truck speed limit is 55 mph).
I was careful not to impede faster moving traffic. Paid attention to traffic both ahead AND behind. Planned lane changes so as not to use accelerator if possible (rather than speed up to pass, I found it was better to cancel CC and slow down for a short distance till faster traffic went by)
Kept stops to a minimum. Constantly checked GPS and traffic apps for potential traffic jams or road construction and changed route as needed to maintain constant, steady speed.
Weather was another factor. Favorable winds can really help, headwinds will kill mpg very quickly. Before leaving, I checked Weather.com to take advantage of tailwinds or made sure headwinds enroute were no greater than 10 mph.
Finally, I trusted reports here that the Gen 1 diesel, at 54-56 mpg would go 80-100 miles AFTER the Low Fuel light illuminated. It was very unnerving pushing that far past Empty, seemed like it would run out of fuel at any minute. Had a backup plan (towing insurance) in the event I pushed it too far (Did NOT want this to happen, diesels don't like to run out of fuel...air in lines...not good).
After the Low Fuel light illuminates, the computer will no longer tell you distance to empty. You will need to check odometer reading at that point, anticipate what the odometer will read at true empty and plan to end AT or very near a fuel pump. You don't want to be searching for a gas station with nothing left in the tank.
Be careful, stay safe and good luck.
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Exactly LOL.
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If you have a Gen 1 CTD, the tank WILL hold over 18 gallons...you just need to be very patient.
When diesel fuel comes out of the pump it foams. That foam creeps up the fill pipe and clicks off the pump.
To truly “top off” your tank to the very end of the fill pipe, you have to keep clicking the pump on very slowly till the foam reaches the top, stop for 10-15 seconds and repeat. This process will go on for about 10 minutes.
Eventually the diesel level will reach the top of the fill pipe and you will visibly see diesel (not foam) level with the fill pipe opening.
My experience has been that the point at which diesel fuel pumps click off varies from station to station. But generally after the pump clicks off on the Gen 1 CTD, you can get another 2-3 gallons into the tank/fill pipe.
That can equate to another 100-150 miles of range on a filler-up!
(added note: 18+ gallons would be achieved only after running the tank down about 60-80 miles PAST the Low Fuel light)
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Yeah I tried that “cover-the-hole” technique a few months ago, didn’t work for me at all...made no difference with the foaming.
I’ve been topping my diesel to the rim for a year with no adverse effects whatsoever. My understanding is this should NOT be done with gasoline vehicles but OK for diesels.
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Just missed another 1,000 mile tank by 35 miles.
![Car Vehicle Speedometer Auto part Gauge]()
Topped off at 17.7 gallons so 1,000 was definitely doable. Low Fuel light illuminated at 906 miles.
Started in Phoenix, AZ, drove to Anaheim, CA then through Las Vegas, NV, St. George, UT and ended up at Page, AZ (Lake Powell). Pretty amazing car.
Topped off at 17.7 gallons so 1,000 was definitely doable. Low Fuel light illuminated at 906 miles.
Started in Phoenix, AZ, drove to Anaheim, CA then through Las Vegas, NV, St. George, UT and ended up at Page, AZ (Lake Powell). Pretty amazing car.
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Weather seems to have a lot to do with my fuel economy. Heat and wind can really impact mpg.
I regularly run I-10 between Arizona and California. From about May to October the prevailing winds out of the West can cost me 3-4 mpg heading into CA. On the return trip to AZ if I catch a tailwind it can cancel out most of that loss but not always all.
Then there are those trips where I fight headwinds both ways. Depending on time of day the winds can switch from West to East.
Add to that it’s HOT (less-dense air = decreased efficiency). The turbo helps to negate this impact but it’s still noticeable.
Winter to Spring the winds die off for the most part. It’s on those calm, cool days where the car is most efficient.
I regularly run I-10 between Arizona and California. From about May to October the prevailing winds out of the West can cost me 3-4 mpg heading into CA. On the return trip to AZ if I catch a tailwind it can cancel out most of that loss but not always all.
Then there are those trips where I fight headwinds both ways. Depending on time of day the winds can switch from West to East.
Add to that it’s HOT (less-dense air = decreased efficiency). The turbo helps to negate this impact but it’s still noticeable.
Winter to Spring the winds die off for the most part. It’s on those calm, cool days where the car is most efficient.
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Cruise set on 60 mph, right lane (also a couple years ago the car got ‘lighter’ and there’s a spare tire in the trunk...wink).
However, I did accomplish the first 1,000 mile tank before the ’diet plan’. Same driving pattern combined with a lot of luck (no traffic jams, little wind and very few stops).
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Yep, AC doesn’t seem to make much difference. The wind and stop/go traffic are the biggest negatives for mpg.
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Yeah I hear ya. Doing 60 in a 75 would be dicey at best.
Most of my drive is in California where truck/trailer limit is 55 mph. One would think I’d be fine at 60 mph (5 over their limit) but I still manage to piss off a lot of truckers doing 70+.
Most of my drive is in California where truck/trailer limit is 55 mph. One would think I’d be fine at 60 mph (5 over their limit) but I still manage to piss off a lot of truckers doing 70+.
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