ROAD TRIP!!!

[<Tug Daddy>]

Well, we're tired of Central Florida...

So we're heading to Missouri to visit dear ol' Mom for a spell before hitting Arkansas for a season or two.

Gonna be pulling "The Diggs", of course, so I figured I'd report here on the numbers I get while we're on the road.

Maybe we can all learn something from long-haul numbers under heavy load...

I'll report in every night with the day's distances, averages and hiccups - if any.

We leave Saturday morning from Kissimmee, Florida and plan to arrive in Warsaw, Missouri by Tuesday evening.

I've done all I can to ensure a well-maintained rig, especially in preparation for the tug, so hopefully we'll get there without a hitch...the "grunt" hasn't failed me yet.

Please feel free to opine with any suggestions for the road...I ain't too proud to learn.

[<Tug Daddy>]

Well, we decided to get a jump-start and left today at noon...

Averaged about 62MPH from Kissimmee, FL to Tifton, GA.

AVG MPG: 10.6
AVG/MAX TFT: 166/169
AVG/MAX ECT: 206/216
AVG/MAX EOT: 216/226
AVG/MAX Delta: 10/17
AVG/MAX EGT: ~1100/~1300

Outside temp ~90
Air intake temp ~102

[<Tug Daddy>]

I'm a total noob to actually "paying attention" to my rig's vitals, so please, Guys...chime in if you have any input...I really only know what you folks teach me.

[<Tug Daddy>]

Left out of Tupola at 06:00 this morning...

Averaged about 60MPH from Tifton, GA to Tupelo, MS.

AVG MPG: 9.3
AVG/MAX TFT: 166/171
AVG/MAX ECT: 208/216
AVG/MAX EOT: 219/229
AVG/MAX Delta: 11/25
AVG/MAX EGT: ~1100/~1300

Outside temp ~90
Air intake temp ~102

Pretty much the only steady change was the MPG, though the hills were to blame, I believe. I did get a delta of 25 for about 5 seconds after I pulled outof the Atlanta, GA valley area (long-*** hill). Basically she hit 229 EOT and 216 ECT and when I crested the hill and coasted under low throttle for about 7 miles, I believe the coolant just cooled faster than the oil. It settled back to about an 11 degree delta pretty quickly, so I'm not super concerned yet or should I be?

...and lemme say this: If you're headed anywhere via Birmingham, Alabama...reroute. The friggin' roads through there were so bad I thought my truck was going to break in half at times.

[NYC F-350]

Originally Posted by <Tug Daddy>

It settled back to about an 11 degree delta pretty quickly, so I'm not super concerned yet or should I be?

...and lemme say this: If you're headed anywhere via Birmingham, Alabama...reroute. The friggin' roads through there were so bad I thought my truck was going to break in half at times.

Numbers look good to me. No need for concern.
You think those roads were bad, you should try Brooklyn. 4 lane roads where if you didn't just hit a pothole, you didn't move the truck. Literally one after another, and the traffic is going 35-45 MPH and tucked up under your rear bumper blowing the horn if you slow down for a second. Crazy

[<Tug Daddy>]

Decided to get an early jump on traffic today, so we split Tupelo, MS around 03:30 Averaged about 60MPH all the way to , Warsaw, MO.

AVG MPG: 10.9
AVG/MAX TFT: 166/170
AVG/MAX ECT: 204/225
AVG/MAX EOT: 214/225
AVG/MAX Delta: 10/20
AVG/MAX EGT: ~1100/~1250

Outside temp ~88
Air intake temp ~102

Most of the trip today was pretty gravy...went through the Ozark foothills for about an hour, and then through Amish hill country for another 90 minutes at the end of the leg...but the trip was good, and I really gained yet another notch of respect for my grunt.

Well...I've hugged my momma, and today's my birthday, so I'm gonna head to parts house and order a few nice aftermarket presents for the ol' grunt...not really sure what yet...but the b*tch deserves something for another trouble-free trip...