How can I get more mpg from my semi truck?

Top 20 Ways for Truck Drivers to Improve Fuel Efficiency

MINIMIZE CRUISE SPEED. This one may seem obvious, but going faster means you are going to burn more fuel.
MANAGE CRUISE RPM.
USE THE LOWEST COST STATIONS.
TAKE THE SHORTEST ROUTE.
AVOID UNNECESSARY DRIVING.
AVOID UNNECESSARY ITEMS.
MONITOR TIRE PRESSURE.
MINIMIZE IDLING.

Does drafting a semi save gas?

In scaled wind-tunnel tests, driving 100 feet behind a semi at 55 mph will reduce drag on your car by 40%. In road tests, the testers achieved an almost 20% improvement in gas mileage at a distance of 100 feet (at 55 mph) and a 45% improvement at 10 feet.

Does drafting improve gas mileage?

Mythbusters: drafting 10 feet behind a big rig will improve mileage 39 percent. Anyway, they found drafting increases your miles per gallon up to 39 percent at 10 feet distance away from a big rig.

How close do you have to be to a semi to draft?

It depends on what you consider “a good distance.” Drafting requires you to follow 100ft or less behind a semi which is considered an unsafe distance at highway speeds.

Will removing tailgate improve gas mileage?

How can leaving the tailgate up be more fuel efficient? When the tailgate on your pickup truck is closed or “up”, it actually increases fuel efficiency. This is because there is a type of air pocket created that is called a “separated bubble effect” within the bed of the truck.

How many miles per gallon does a semi get?

Going down that same hill can bump the mileage up to 23 MPG. Other factors that impact fuel economy include wind resistance, the weight of the load the truck is hauling, the condition of the tires.

What happens to gas mileage when you drop the tailgate?

This theory is backed up by tonneau makers, who claim that using one will improve your gas mileage by 10 to 13%. During the first test, the Ram got a combined 22.3 mpg. With the tailgate down, the truck got a combined fuel economy rating of 21.5 mpg. This shows that buying into this popular myth is actually worse for your car in reality.

What makes a truck get better gas mileage?

Better gas mileage? The basis around this belief is that too much air trapped in the cargo box increases the drag on the vehicle. With the tailgate down, the airflow increases, making the truck more aerodynamic. Without the added drag, the truck would theoretically get better fuel economy. However, this isn’t an option for all truck drivers.

Why does a tonneau cover improve gas mileage?

For the third test, a tonneau cover was secured over the truck bed. Many truck owners believe that a tonneau cover will improve a truck’s gas mileage just as well as leaving the tailgate down. This is because the cover will supposedly distribute the air evenly across the body of the truck instead of collecting it in the cargo box.

Going down that same hill can bump the mileage up to 23 MPG. Other factors that impact fuel economy include wind resistance, the weight of the load the truck is hauling, the condition of the tires.

How to get better gas mileage on a semi truck?

Similar to the drop from increased speed, semi trucks can experience a 1% drop in gas mileage for every 10 psi a single tire is underinflated. As a general rule, you should set your steer tire pressure at 110 psi for a 12,000-pound front axle.

Why does gas mileage increase with tailgate up?

This is a good theory. Without an easy way to measure it, it stays just a theory. Another theory I have seen is that the mileage will be higher with the tailgate up because air going over the cab creates a vacuum in the bed when the tail gate is up, causing the air to go over the bed which reduces drag. What should I believe?

How much fuel can a semi truck hold?

Where these benefits fall short, however, is when it comes to fuel stops. With a fuel capacity of anywhere between 160 to 300 gallons, semi trucks are well known for having to make repeated fuel stops during each route.