Horrible fuel economy...winter diesel?

[nxski]

Today I've had the worst fuel economy I've experienced so far with my van by a long shot. my first fill-up of the day I got 12.5L/100km which is actually quite good considering my aerodynamics and weight. The second fill had me at 16L/100km and the third at 15.9L/100km. I went into the gas station to ask if they were using winterized diesel already and he said they were but that every fill I've done since the beginning of September should have been winterized so that doesn't really explain the sudden change. I'm going to dig out my 2-stroke oil and see if that helps and clean my air filter but is there anything else I should check? I actually ran out of fuel on the highway at only 440km since the last fill (the tank + lines only seem to hold about 70L)!

[rezdiver]

I think swerving side to side on the road while keeping an eye on your tailpipe exhaust smoke and gage temperatures will greatly reduce fuel economy. I would try driving in a straight line to see if it improves things.

[tonydca]

Handbrake off

But seriously - three fillups in one day? Thatsa lotta miles!

Noticeable lack of power? Change in smoke output? Seized brake caliper? (Does it roll easily in Neutral on a flat surface?)

Edit: Just noticed your other post about going 1100 kms in 16 hours; saw a bunch of pics with you in water over the axle. Check for crud in calipers/wheel assemblies. If you've got time jack up each corner and see how the wheels spin.

[nxski]

Everything still works fine, I had good fuel economy since the dip in the lake. Handbrake off, it rolls easily, I haven't lifted it up and tried spinning the wheels but I haven't noticed any more smoke or hot rims or extra smoke.

[rezdiver]

tire pressure?

[nxski]

Just inflated them, 45 front, 42 rear

[dfnder]

Are you travelling with the Jet Stream or against it? All kidding aside I hope it is just an something minor.

[nxski]

Hopefully, everything seems to be running fine other than the fuel economy so if it doesn't sort itself out I hope CVI can figure our what's wrong when I get back.

[thedjjack]

my $$$ is wind...rode my bicycle in that direction...lots of head wind...

Wind + Brick + Cargo Boxes = 16.5L/100km

[Feds]

Plus you're heading mostly north, which is uphill.

[nxski]

Not wind and the hills haven't been anything unusual. I filled up today and got 15L/100km which is better. I then checked my past fills and realized what it is. I was comparing to my driving in the Maritimes and Manitoulin Island where I was driving about 80k. I'm now driving around 100k and 15L/100km is in fact what I have been getting for that speed on winterized Diesel. The 12.5 was unusually low as I usually average 13.5. It was much colder yesterday than I've had so far this trip (1-3 Celsius) so maybe I was driving more aggressively because the water temp was lower or maybe it was just the cold that caused the extra litre. At any rate with fuel prices what they are, I'm just under my $100/500km budget which is acceptable for the route home.

[CREGAN]

You're gonna love it the closer you get to Alberta. Diesel is high for us right now at $1.13/L, which is still pretty low in relation to much of the rest of the country. You might have enough left over in your budget to buy some drinks!

Craig

[nxski]

I am looking forward to those prices! My budget is actually pretty arbitrary since I'll be in debt when I get home (especially with the trailer I'm buying) but its how much debt I feel comfortable with. I also didn't factor my larger tires into the equation so my economy is slightly better than what I've been listing.

[tonydca]

You're gonna love it the closer you get to Alberta. Diesel is high for us right now at $1.13/L, which is still pretty low in relation to much of the rest of the country. You might have enough left over in your budget to buy some drinks!

Craig

Groan. Filled up today at the Shell around the corner in Vancouver; $1.39/L for the "cheap" stuff. Buy your drinks before you get to B.C.!

[CREGAN]

You're gonna love it the closer you get to Alberta. Diesel is high for us right now at $1.13/L, which is still pretty low in relation to much of the rest of the country. You might have enough left over in your budget to buy some drinks!

Craig

Groan. Filled up today at the Shell around the corner in Vancouver; $1.39/L for the "cheap" stuff. Buy your drinks before you get to B.C.!

Yeah, BC is horrible for diesel prices. Found out the hard way in August on our trip to Tofino and back. We also went back through Kelowna and there were some hills there that I think I could actually see my gauge dropping... could just be the tilt of the van though

I do feel really lucky to be getting it on the somewhat cheap, but I still think diesel should be way less than gasoline. It is after all, a by-product. It really irks me when gas is cheaper than diesel. I think we are due for a "diesel shortage" soon because someone farted in Indo-china. Happens every couple months and causes prices to go all "BC" on us.

Craig