With the new 6 speed Auto, what gear do you guys drive in town? I have been using 4th gear for around town and traffic (30-40 mph) and 5th for long stretch of secondary highways. I'm going to use 6th gear for open highway with no traffic. I know this will affect my mileage, but I'm thinking it will help with the amount of regen.
What do you guys think?

 

I have tried both driving light and like a bat outa heck...

My last tank I drove around and babied it... getting around 16.5 to 17 on the overhead. This mpg lasted for about 150 miles. Then it was getting 15. Then at about 250 it was getting 14.. All miles driven where babied, no fast take offs, slowing down long before lights. At the fill up, hand calculated mpg was 14.5

Now on the flip side, if I drive the heck out of it for the entire tank, guess what I get... 14.5.

So in the end, it doesn't matter for me. Regen or not, it gets the same mpg All miles were in town, stop light to stop light....

I say leave it in "D" and drive it like you stole it, it's more fun and keeps you feeling younger.

On a side note, how do you like the insight? I have been thinking about getting one and it seems that there are people having some difficulties with them.

 

I agree with 4th around town and I don't baby it.

 

So you guys are just hitting the little "+" or "-" switch next to the "Tow Haul" button on the shift lever to adjust your top gear right? I haven't tried it yet...

 

Exactly. Coming from a stick, it gives me something to play with

 

I haven't done quite as extensive of a test, but I've noticed the same thing. If I baby the crap out it, at first my mileage numbers on the overhead are high, as high as 19 mpg. But by about a half tank, the average has dropped to a steady 15 mpg, dipping sometimes into 14 mpg.

However, if I make it a point to get on it a bit more, my mileage figures increase a few tenths. I'm not talking pedal to the floor, but definately seeing more than 2,000 on the tach during accelerations.

This is also true if I run at 75 mph up to 80 mph on the freeway rather than 65 mph. Mileage figures rise.

Except for during the test drive at the dealership, I've never even touched the manual gear selector switch.

BTW, I run the exhaust brake constantly. Love the sound, and the tech at the dealer said this will help keep the turbo healthy.

 

I have noticed the same thing. 80mph nets better mileage than 70mph does. This has not been hand calculated but is what the overhead is showing. I'm still on my first tankful after the long drive home from the dealership. I am loving it so far......
That 80mph is only at 2000rpms too....

 

Oh sure just rub it in......I was running late this morning, hit I-40 at 80 mph. SCREAMING at 2500 r's. Bet you won't miss that any.

Chris

 

Dude, when I jumped in the 07 for the last time at 3:30am saturday and punched in the address for the dealer down there and I saw that is was over 450 miles away you can bet that fuel mileage was not an issue. I did no less than 75 but mostly 80mph all the way down there until I hit the mountains. 2500rpms and 14mpg at 80 mph..... Arrrgh....... That was a great truck but this one is just too cool with all the extra stuff it has........

 

I like the insight for the ease of installation, and use. But the software that comes with it, could use some help and so does tech support.

 

It is the overhead numbers that are wonky on the freeway anyway. I had noticed the same kind of thing and I could not reconcile with the little I knew about the physics involved. I then started hand calculating and the numbers made sense again. It's aerodynamics over anthing else once you are over 50 mph. To double your speed you have to "cube" your power output. A pickup has to push a lot of air so the base number is not too "cube" friendly. With diesel at $4 I think about these things more driving down the freeway.