Best Way To Maximize Fuel Mileage Going Up Steep Grades?

I just wanted to get some advice from the veterans on here: when heading up a steep grade, are there any tips or tricks on how to boost your mpg? Should you keep it on a higher geat and just floor it the whole way up so you get the maximum turbo boost and get over the peak sooner? Should you ease up on the throttle during the climb and go super-slow in a low gear?

As long as your pulling the hill in a gear that you can give it throttle and speed up. You want the engine to run as free as possible. Peak torque is between 1350 and 1700 rpms.

Okay, I just wrote a beeeeauuuteeful reply, eloquent and informative, hit the wrong button, and deleted the whole thing.

I give up. I'm headed to bed.

On steep grades, do what Lawrence said. Emphasis on safety starts to outweigh fuel efficiency when it comes to managing a heavy rig on a steep incline. Most companies will not fault you for higher RPMs that Lawrence mentions, when they know you're on a dangerous grade. It's better to drive the way Lawrence said than to stall out here. Don't panic if it happens, but the way he describes it, you're safest using his parameters.

Having said that, I've never really needed to go all the way up to 1600 or 1700 RPMs in the mountains, as these engines, built in the last 10 years are pretty darned strong and will continue to pull, even when you think you're lugging. I've pulled doubles over Loveland, Vail, and Berthoud Passes, in the snow, and stayed below 1500 RPMs, no problem at all. As long as you're in an appropriate gear for your weight and grade, you should be able to maintain good RPMs, ergo decent fuel efficiency. There's no need to rush, on these grades, so the above can be done.

Stay safe.

-mountain girl

One thing to consider is the "big picture" for your MPG. Over 2000 miles, how many miles are on an up hill grade? A long 20 mile grind is 1% of your week. (So two round trips over the mountain makes 4%.)

Also, working the gears on the downhill side, your MPG goes way up, balancing those 3rd gear up hills.

Peak torque is between 1350 and 1700 rpms

Actually peak torque is considerably lower than that. Normally it's around 1100 RPM. Peak horsepower is higher in the RPM range.

There isn't much you can do about fuel mileage when going up a hill. It's going to take everything that truck has to pull heavy loads up a mountain. You'll keep it floored in whatever gear you're in. You could pick a really low gear that will allow it to climb the mountain half throttle but you'll be doing 15 mph. It's really not practical.

Thanks for all the replies everyone, I guess I'll just continue what I'm doing and not worry about it too much. I can usually take a hill fully loaded in 8th (or 7th if it's really steep) with the throttle just off the floor. And yeah, I guess it does balance out on the backside lol.

Thanks for all the replies everyone, I guess I'll just continue what I'm doing and not worry about it too much. I can usually take a hill fully loaded in 8th (or 7th if it's really steep) with the throttle just off the floor. And yeah, I guess it does balance out on the backside lol.

You've either got a pretty powerful truck or some lighter climbs. Going up Siskiyou, we were in 6th the whole way with a full load.

Thanks for all the replies everyone, I guess I'll just continue what I'm doing and not worry about it too much. I can usually take a hill fully loaded in 8th (or 7th if it's really steep) with the throttle just off the floor. And yeah, I guess it does balance out on the backside lol.

You've either got a pretty powerful truck or some lighter climbs. Going up Siskiyou, we were in 6th the whole way with a full load.

I guess it's the truck, I just took Lookout Pass eastbound earlier today, 8th was almost enough at full throttle, 7th was plenty and I had to play with the pedal to keep from over revving. Went up at about 30mph.

The photo I posted in the flatbed variety thread where I am playing pilot we went up McDonald Pass at 10 mph. And that truck is 550 horsepower.

My Cascadia last year had a fuel average gage on the right side of the dash. When I'd be climbing a steep hill it would turn on a bright yellow lite if it thought I was using to much power. At night it would mess up my night vision ! Finally Fixed it up with a piece of Black Electrical Tape :-)