Bought the truck and immediately drove it 1200 miles ( with MSD off, going for a proper break in here...I want oil to get in my new lifters for the first 1000 at least ) averaged 14. Around the city, getting 11 on stock tires.
Put 35s on and it dropped to 8 in the city. ( haven't done a road trip with the 35s yet) i know I didnt buy it for the fuel economy but did expect better. This is 1970's 454 camper special mpg. In 2021, I expect a little better.
Here's my thoughts
The programming is all wrong! ( hear me out)
The transmission is always looking for the truck to be at the lowest RPM's possible. Problem is, low RPMs does not equal low fuel economy, especially in real driving situations.
The other huge factor thats killing any chance of increasing the fuel mileage is the variable cam timing. the engine can make a ton of power at really low RPMs BUT, it still needs more fuel to do it.
so when the two ( variable valve timing and the transmission programming ) start working together, it creates a condition were the engine requires more fuel to make the power to needed to satisfy the lower RPM programming. This programming is putting the engine in this condition mostly during light driving conditions. this is typically where most of the driving takes place, so all opportunity for fuel economy is lost. I think this is why some people comment that they do better when they just accelerate to speed and coast rather than just taking it easy on it. that style of driving defeats the programming and gives you the truck back essentially.
This becomes noticeable when traveling up a hill, it feels like the truck holds the gear longer than i think it should, but at the same time it does have the power to do it. Even when you give it a little more gas, it doesnt want to change. it reminds me of going up a hill in a manual in 5th, you can do it, just by giving it more throttle, but its working harder than if you drop back to 4th.
also noticeable when first pull out from an intersection and began to accelerate, if you decide to increase your rate of acceleration, the truck will hold the gear much longer than i want it to and it seems that when you exit the programming limits, it wakes up and will drop 2 gears and RPMs jump to 4500. Its as if I asked the computer for more power and it says " how this? how about this? and this?" then gets mad "oh so thats not enough is it! you want more do ya!! ok well how about all 410hp!!!! hows that sound!! do ya like that?!?!...WELL do YA". Back to reality... of course i like it! and I roll with it, I put my foot into it and let her rip! im having a blast! until i notice the spidy senses tingling... first I check rear view for the red and blue...nothing...look down at the gauges...nope...then notice the passenger who happens to be my beautiful wife, giving me a look that needs no words to express her thoughts...and yet somehow I still say it , "what?" ( its amazing how well she can communicate without saying a word) .
Long winded but i thought id share my observations with a group of fellow PW owners.
stay tuned, I'll be posting a couple reviews on a few different other topics, steering ( video game like), safety group ( waste of money), 12" screen ( changing settings... before you drive)
