Victor

Well I got in Seattle a few days ago and since my laptop power supply decided to die I'm borrowing a computer to post. A few observations:

1. I can get an average of 18.6 with combined city/freeway driving back home. With speeds of 70-75 my gas mileage has been 19-20 MPG. I used to get 22 MPG before the bigger tires. Bigger tires + no regear = crappy gas mileage:pat:

2. My truck absolutely sucks on mountain inclines. I felt it in the Grapevine of California but I could downshift to 4th and keep going with only about 10 MPH deceleration. In Oregon my deceleration up the hills was horrible - from 65 down to 35 MPH in a few places! The 3.0 is a dog and coupled with taller than stock tires it really sucks.

3. The MAF seems very slow to respond to altitude changes. I went from 1200 meters (El Paso) up to 1800 meters in AZ and then back down. As soon as I approached my normal altitude power got pretty good but didn't improve as I approached sea level. Its taken nearly a week at sea level for the power to really level out down here. Hills aren't so impossible. Hoping that helps on the return trip through Oregon.

4. Anyone know an easier way south than I-5?

You guys are very lucky up here in WA. I've been to Central 4wd and a couple of other places in Kent and a couple of classic Mustang boneyards. It is nice to have such a selection for my car needs. Weather has been great and I'll be doing a lot of 4 wheeling next week.

Mad Chemist

Hey Victor,

Welcome to Washington- going to be here long? I-5 is probably the main route south, no other options that I'm really aware of. Some of us are actually going off-roading tonight (Thurs) if your interested. Enjoy your time here!

rimpainter.com

There is an alternative way to go. It involves going through Boise and then straight down through UT into AZ. Then, when you reach US 60 in AZ, you can cut straight across to ELP.

This way will not help your current complaints in any way, as there are many mountain passes and steep incline/declines. However, if you are further interested on the route, drop me a PM and I will get you more info.

Basically the route is much farther, but much more scenic than I-5.

From Seattle to ELP it would be about 2100 miles (not sure how you went 2200 .

BT17R

Not making excuses for the drop in economy, but did you throw in the correction for the indicated speedo/odo readings showing low for the bigger tires? Also, parts of the Pacific Northwest have oxygenated fuel year-round which will also hit fuel economy up to another 10% compared to non-oxy fuels.

Dr. Zhivago

Another thing to add:

The 3.0 does NOT have a MAF (Mass Air Flow), it has a Vane Air FLow Meter. The AFM can NOT compensate for Altitude, there is another device that does that on those trucks.

A MAF is a completely different, and much more accurate device than an AFM. It measures the weight of the air entering the engine, an AFM doesn't. The way a MAF works, it accounts for altitude and changes in barometric pressure automagically.

Just wanted to clarify that.

Dr. Z

Victor

Thanks for the clarification Dr. Z. The truck seems to be running well at this altitude now as the uphill on I-99 from Downtown Seattle to Burien no longer is hard to go up. I'm hoping that luck stays throughout my drive home in a week. It is very obvious that the ECM doesn't compensate for altitude well as in certain areas I went through large altitude changes and it didn't adjust well at all.

I did compensate for the tires for the odo/speedometer. I guesstimated the 2200 miles using the map. Last time I went home through Idaho to Salt Lake City but after that there are no good ways to go south. That sucked majorly taking such an out of the way 2 lane through northern AZ.

Mad Chemist thanks for the invite. Tonight there is a party for my sister-in-law but if I get out early I'd love to go. PM a number and I'll call if I get out of the family obligations early.

Mad Chemist

Victor,

We'll be meeting up at 7:00 PM, right off exit 42 heading east on I-90 from Seattle, and will probably be out for ~2 hours, although I don't know if we'll stay in that area or go someplace else. If you can make it, just meet us there, or if you show up late, give a holler on CB channel 4.