A Visit to Quartzsite, Arizona

In Mid-March, 2003, as gas prices in many parts of the country reached $2 a gallon, we asked the readers of RV Traveler to email us their gas-saving tips. Here are a few of their suggestions:

One thing that we do regarding gas prices - when traveling and we go into a "town" for gas instead of the first place we see. We talk to a local person and ask them where the cheapest gas can be found, sometimes it is only a block or two out of our way and we have usually been able to save quite a bit. And an added bonus is we get to see something of this area instead of just flying on by. (However, sometimes it doesn't work out - but mostly it does.)

Several things will help. One is to keep the coach exterior as clean as possible and use the expensive wax for fiberglass. Small airplanes really suffer if they are not very clean and polished. A dirty airplane won't even take off.

Also, use the lightest engine oil recommended by the manufacturer for your engine and driving conditions. Heavy oil creates a tremendous drag on engine rotation. The oil pump creates drag (power loss) on the engine. Heavy oil makes the loss of power much greater for no real reason.

Chevy 455s have a problem with spark plug wires. Change them when you change spark plugs. I had wire failure at only 40,000 miles. Plugs on the older units like my 1995 only last 30,000 miles.

Go to a less restrictive air cleaner which can be purchased at speed shops.

Use the speed control as much as possible. I find that my Bounder likes to creep up faster and faster on level ground. Speeding up and slowing down is really bad for mileage. Some people like to pump the throttle constantly from nervousness, I guess.

You can find the fastest speed vs. mileage with a simple test. Find a level road with no wind blowing if possible. Accelerate to an obviously high rate of speed like 70 mph and then put the transmission in neutral with the engine running and watch how fast the vehicle slows down. There will be a point where the rate of de-acceleration will be slower and then there will be a speed where it seems that you will coast forever. The sweet spot for by Bounder is very close to 55 mph and below 50 mph it will roll for miles. Above 6 mph the air resistance is like a brake being applied. Now I know that the highest speed and best mileage is at 55 mph or less. The more efficient the body shape the higher the speed before air drag is excessive.

Down shift on steep hills and avoid lugging the engine. Higher engine r.p.m. with a light accelerator pedal is far better than 3/4 throttle in a higher gear.

Make sure that the exhaust system is not restricted by a plugged cat.-converter or a damaged exhaust pipe.

This advice is for folks driving an older motorhome or truck which is still using the good old carburetor.

If you don't already have a VACUUM GAUGE (most important) and a tachometer - GET ONE NOW. When you are driving the vacuum gauge should read LESS THAN 7 inches of mercury. If it does not, change down a gear.

Start driving and do your gear changing manually, particularly when going up a grade - THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT CHANGE FAST ENOUGH.

If you keep your revs (indicated by the tachometer) over about 2,000 rpm, and your vacuum under 7, you will save a lot of fuel.

To save gas make sure you don't run the defogger/defroster which means your AC is on and dropping your gas mileage considerably.

My tip is that before you trip unload a bunch of stuff that ends up in RV after a previous trip and you don't really need there! All the extra clothes, books, shoes, canned goods, etc. Back into the house, don't drag it around!
Carry enough water for the trip, fill up again when you arrive. Travel with empty black & gray tanks of course!

And, obviously, make sure you engine is in good working order and tires at right inflation. Consider explore taking trips closer to home! We left our tow car home for our last trip, rented a car one day for about $30, and that was a lot cheaper than towing.

A couple of years ago I accepted a Shell gas credit card (actually it was a Mastercard underwritten by Chase Bank) to earn a five percent rebate on Shell gas. Frankly, I didn't use it often because I would find Pilot or Flying J to be a better deal without the discount — not to mention the free dump stations they offer.

But, recently Chase dropped the Shell affiliation and now I get five percent off on ANY gas purchase and one percent on all other purchases. The rebate shows up as a credit on my next bill. I have even used it to increase the savings I get on Sam's Club gas.

We installed a "Cat Back" exhaust system (made by FlowMaster) on our 2000 Pleasure Way Class "B" and noticed an immediate mileage improvement (roughly 10 percent), increased performance, and a beautiful "hum." Sounds very much like my 1954 Super '88 Oldsmobile.

This may be repetitive to some who may already have this information, but I wish to share it with those who do not already know. As you know Wal-Mart is world wide and has about 4,000 stores in the USA. Well Murphy's gas stations are popping up at many of these locations, more and more everyday. The stations usually are a bit cheaper than most and if you use a Wal-Mart gift card to purchase your fuel you receive an additional three cents a gallon off. I know that does not sound like much but if you have duel tanks, as I do, and 40 gallon capacity, it adds up quickly during a fill-up.

Cruise control will give you less miles per gallon when you use it. When you use the cruise you are allowing your vehicle to use the fuel that it thinks it needs through the computer brain. When you are in hilly or mountain country you will notice this with your overdrive and r.p.m.s. When the cruise is not in use, you control the gas that your vehicle needs and use less fuel. This also works in flat terrain country as well.

I only use the cruise when I need to stretch my accelerator foot or leg. Depending on your vehicle, you may increase your gas mileage one to three miles per gallon.

If you think that your vehicle is having a difficult time with accelerating in hilly and mountain country pull off the highway safely and turn off your vehicle off for a couple of minutes. This will enable the computer to catch up with its fuel mixture for the altitude you are in. It should run better when you start back up.

I have found two simple rules that work for me and it has been a big help as my total income is social security retirement.

1. I travel at night and don't (or seldom) use the air conditioner, just floor vents and one rear vent for exhausting inside air. On occasions I do run dash fans. We camp days when we can keep cool using park electric for air units. My old 1983, 31-foot, 454 gas powered Diplomat III, runs cooler and operates better.

2. I always make a point of "No cruse control, No music". It has long been proven that listening to a radio while driving will cost in MPG. Can't keep the foot still.

Works for me:

Things like improving airflow into the engine and out the exhaust are obvious but cost versus results are iffy. We also move our motorhome to a central spot and then use our "toad" to explore the surrounding area up to several hundred miles even overnighting in a motel sometimes.

Inflate all tires 10% above normal pressures (do this with tires cold). Use pure synthetic oils in engine, transmission, rear axle (also front axle if 4X4). Use synthetic grease in wheel bearing. Do not use Cruise control on undulating roads as Control module will apply more fuel to compensate for drops in speeds.

I have a 105 gal auxiliary tank in the pickup and when I run into cheap diesel I load up the tank.I know i am hauling the weight of the fuel but I think in the long run I come out to the good, and I don't have to go to stations as often. I usually fuel up in rest stops and they are usually better for stretching the ol' legs.

We have found if the fuel filters are changed we will get one to two more miles per gallon of gas.

I am fearful that soon the RV enthusiast will be targeted by all kinds of gas saving scams . It would be very enlightening for all of us if we could be pointed to where we can find honest help sorting gas saving facts from fiction.

I recall the last big gas gouging period we Americans went through. The snake oil people came out of the wood work peddling gas saving gimmicks .I recall items like gas line magnets, kits that redesigned the fuel delivery system, special spark plugs, fuel additives., etc. Some of these did nothing or actually reduced mileage. How do we separate the facts from the fiction?

FROM THE EDITOR

The Department of Energy offers some good fuel-saving advice at its website. One tip: "Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional ten cents per gallon for gas. Observing the speed limit is also safer." Read more.

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