Improve RV Fuel Economy

Improve Fuel Economy - Keep Your RV On the Road!
By Franz Williamsand Hilga Williams

With fuel prices heading toward record levels, you don't have to reduce your RV travel if you just keep a few things in mind. You can improve fuel economy in your RV by just practicing a few simple techniques. Fortunately the RV's of today are much more fuel efficient than years ago. But, there are things you can do to still improve fuel economy further.

Let's face it, the words fuel economy and RV don't usually get associated with each other. With most of the RV's in the thirty five foot and larger class, whether gas or diesel, they usually get between six to eleven miles per gallon. Some claim getting even better mileage but that was probably with a tail wind and heading east out of the western mountains.

I typically get in the low teens when pulling with my rig, and I am almost sixty feet long when hooked up. You can visit yourfulltimervliving.com for pictures of my rig. However, when I am traveling I practice some very specific methods to improve fuel economy. The first and most important thing you can do is to be sure your engine is tuned up. Whether diesel or gasoline, if the engine is not properly maintained, you will never get optimal fuel economy. Also, be sure to use the best oil suited for your engine. If you can use a synthetic, this will help to further reduce internal friction. Don't overlook the necessity of those regular oil changes!

Don't ignore your exhaust system! If your RV has been sitting for awhile, be sure nothing has built a nest up in there. Make sure your catalytic converter is not clogged and that your air filter has also been changed if it is dirty. Poor air flow and an inefficient exhaust system will certainly not improve fuel economy.

A lot of RVers let their engines idle unnecessarily. When you are not moving you are getting zero miles per gallon. If you are going to be moving for more than a few minutes, shut the engine off unless it's so hot it needs to run to cool down before shutdown. I have to let my diesel beast idle for at least two minutes after a hard workout to get the engine temperature below one hundred ninety four degrees or suffer damage to the system. So, there are exceptions to this, but mostly if you are not moving, shut it down to improve fuel economy.

When it comes to speed limits, every mile per hour over sixty five decreases your fuel economy by at least one percent. This can be significant on long trips. The great thing about RV travel is we don't have to be in a hurry. We have everything with us that we need, and anywhere we are can be called home. So, unless you are someone who is on vacation and only has a certain amount of time to travel, slow down and enjoy the view!

Hilga and I travel a lot of secondary highways as there is less traffic, lower speed limits, and the scenery is better. I have mentioned this in other articles: I like to travel at sixty two miles per hour as that is the speed my rig is the most fuel efficient. It hums along at sixteen hundred rpm's in overdrive, and that is one of the ways I improve fuel economy in my travels.

I also use my cruise control to keep speeds steady and reduce driver fatigue. When planning my route through busy metropolitan areas I avoid rush hour as idling in traffic is not the way to improve fuel economy. And when traveling in metropolitan areas that involve traffic signals, a slow steady acceleration at green lights will aid greatly in reducing fuel consumption. It's all about torque and kinetic energy!

And lastly, don't forget about tire pressure. This one is very important, not only for fuel economy, but for overall travel safety. Check cold pressure in the morning and inflate to the proper pressure based on load ratings for your tires. Believe it or not, front to back, and curbside to road side, tire pressure can vary based on the load distribution of the RV.

I have watched my tire pressure rise as much as fifteen psi while traveling on hot days. If you inflate your tires while warm, you could over inflate them and create a situation for a blowout. I monitor each tires pressure with a tire pressure monitoring system. I would not travel without one. The savings from averted problems due to incorrect tire pressure have paid for the system at least ten times over.

If you use these simple methods with your RV, you will improve fuel economy! There's no reason not to enjoy the RV lifestyle while enjoying phenomenal miles per gallon from the fuel you use. For Hilga and I, it's not all about the destination we are going to next, but as full time RVers, it's about the journey while getting to where we want to go. Happy travels!

Thanks for stopping by! Franz and Hilga have been RVing for 10 years, and enjoying full time RV living for 4 years (they live 365 days a year in their RV). With over 50,000 miles traveled in RV's, they have many useful experiences to share. If you are interested in the full time RV living lifestyle, you can visit http://www.yourfulltimervliving.com for more articles, pictures, and updates.

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