Question 2024 Dutchstar fuel economy

[Joe Hogan]

On our recent trip down from Newmar, the DSDP averaged slightly more than 7 mpg. Around 45.5K in weight towing a Ford Flex.

Normal? Or does this engine need more than 1200 miles to get true Average Fuel Stats?

 

[Just George]

@Joe Hogan My 23 DutchStar 4369 previously towing a Ford Explorer and now a Chevy Silverado gets ~6.4 mpg. ~28K miles. I would love to see 7. Previous coach was a 15 Ventana 4369 towing the Ford Explorer averaged ~ 8 mpg. So based on my experience 7 mpg on the new coach seems normal and pretty good.

 

[sheridany]

There are a lot of factors that go into fuel economy: terrain, age of coach, etc. If you are getting 7 mpg, you are doing pretty well without any real break-in period.

 

[Joe Hogan]

Yes agreed lots of factors. Road was all interstate, 62-65 mph. Relatively flat terrain, no a/c running. only traffic was in and out of Atlanta, very little stop and go.

 

[J&JD]

Joe, our 17 DS has 60k miles on it and has been all over the country. 7 is about what the average has been. Sometimes less, sometimes more and usually cruising @62-64. Climbing hills, especially here out west, and strong head winds are the main killers of mileage. Surprisingly, I have found very little difference whether I cruise at 55 or 63. Go figure.

 

[GUS2000]

Just for comparison, our 2024 on the initial trip and towing a Ford F250 from Minnesota to Tennessee we got about 6mpg.. But I was still trying to find the sweet spot so we were cruising usually 66-68 MPH.. From Tennessee to Louisiana (towing the F250) were at 7mpg setting the cruise at 67mph.. that seems to be the sweet spot..

 

[JRS]

7mpg on a new DS is excellent! Are you sure you didn't have a lot of tail wind on your trip to Atlanta lol?
I'm currently getting 7.25mpg

 

[GUS2000]

LOL... we avoided Atlanta, that may be why we got 7 hahahaha

 

[Jim]

On our recent trip down from Newmar, the DSDP averaged slightly more than 7 mpg. Around 45.5K in weight towing a Ford Flex.

Normal? Or does this engine need more than 1200 miles to get true Average Fuel Stats?

Hi Joe! If I reset my mileage meter when I start out, and I drive for 5-6 hours (in Florida), I'll finally get to where the meter is showing 7. So I would say you're probably getting pretty good mileage.

 

[Jabber Jaw]

My lowly gas powered Canyon Star gets from 6.8-7.2 mpg constantly towing , and has for 29,000 miles.

 

[Rich W.]

I agree - 7+ is doing just fine. I am often in the 7’s and even 6’s depending on terrain with my 6.7 31,000lb Ventana. Best I’ve ever done was 8.9 and that was in ideal conditions and really trying to hit 9mpg. 7-8 is typical for me traveling between 60 and 65mph.

 

[Neal]

I don't know how much "space" foam displaces but IMHO if you want to get an accurate mileage assessment, you should slow fill to full avoiding foam, drive a route that's near level and get the fuel level as low as you can stand, then slow fill again to avoid the foam, then measure your result. I think we all know it's something around 7 for these beasts, beyond that I stop counting or worrying. The biggest thing is trusting your fuel gauge. This last leg home I had to put that trust to work and arrive at the fuel station in "ding" mode (low fuel alerts) and even still, I had 20 gals (out of 100) remaining after a slow fill. Mine calibrated/checked good. I did have to have a sending unit (or something along that line) replaced about two years ago from the fuel gauge going wonky on me.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I don't know how much "space" foam displaces but IMHO if you want to get an accurate mileage assessment, you should slow fill to full avoiding foam, drive a route that's near level and get the fuel level as low as you can stand, then slow fill again to avoid the foam, then measure your result. I think we all know it's something around 7 for these beasts, beyond that I stop counting or worrying. The biggest thing is trusting your fuel gauge. This last leg home I had to put that trust to work and arrive at the fuel station in "ding" mode (low fuel alerts) and even still, I had 20 gals (out of 100) remaining after a slow fill. Mine calibrated/checked good. I did have to have a sending unit (or something along that line) replaced about two years ago from the fuel gauge going wonky on me.

An add! Any change in fueling pad level, and you would need to count for surface area in tank.

Fuel systems must monitor flow into the system in order to inject proper fuel volume. That is why mileage data is available from the computer. All the data that seems to be for your amusement, like ambient temperature, is needed to compute fuel injection timing based on environmental factors. The efficiency display is simply a feed from the engine control computer. This means the data is very accurate. My guess is if you have access to computer feed you could display much more than you think!!!

 

[Neal]

I had a fueling stop recently that was pretty out of level and as I have air leveling, I used that to fuel.

 

[newmarokie]

kevin,
I have often wondered and come to the conclusion that fuel burn for the generator is not included in the MPG registered on the dash. Do you concur?

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I had a fueling stop recently that was pretty out of level and as I have air leveling, I used that to fuel.

Don't have that option! Quit calculating some years ago. When I did do that I filled to the top of the filler . Today I use the tools supplied knowing that it is only as accurate as the odometer/GPS.

 

[Neal]

It wasn't for calculations, I don't care about mileage. It was to get as much fuel on board as I could.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

It wasn't for calculations, I don't care about mileage. It was to get as much fuel on board as I could.

There lies the difference. Having roughly 500 mile range I vote for "none of the above", I got what I've got, and that will not change in my near future (I think") .

 

[team bradfield]

That's about right, I've been averaging 7.5 on this trip, went to Florida last with no toad and got 8 to 9, I hold 63 mph

 

[Rich W.]

So I’d get about the same milage with a Dutch Star. Hmmmm…..