Average Class C RV Gas Mileage and How to Improve MPG?

Last Updated on September 19, 2023 by

Class C RVs are beautiful vehicles for camping and long trips that offer a lot of features to put your interest in.

People buy these RVs so that they can have endless fun with their long trips to every corner of the country and enjoy all types of weather and views.

This requires great fuel consumption as these motorhomes do have bigger engines and more weight.

This allows them to consume a lot of fuel on your trips which can be pretty heavy on your pocket.

This is the reason that you have to understand more about the mileage provided by the class C motorhomes.

The average mileage that you can get from a Class C RV is about 8 to 10 MPG (Miles Per Gallon). For diesel engines, this figure rounds off around 10 – 12 MPG (Miles Per Gallon).

Factors Affecting Mileage in a Class C RV

The greatest elements that influence RV gas mileage are speed, wind, weight, and ethanol.

1. Speed

Speeding can cause an increase in the fuel consumption of an RV.

The ideal speed for the greatest eco-friendliness in an RV is from 55 to 60 miles per hour.

In this way, in case you speed up or more slowly than that range, you won’t get the ideal gas mileage.

Keeping the speed maintained without revving the engine so much can give better mileage.

2. Weight

To build your gas mileage, it’s ideal to have a lightweight motorhome or reduce its weight by removing unnecessary components and features.

The heavier your camper, the lower your gas mileage will be. Also, the weight you truly should be worried about is your weight with your provisions in general, and stuff stacked ready.

So by draining out your water tanks, you can expect a better mileage as an example.

3. Wind

The wind is a great factor that can affect the mileage of your RV.

The flow of wind can affect the speed as if it is in the same direction as you are moving to, then the motorhome will provide good mileage.

If the wind is in the opposite direction, then due to air friction, your class C motorhome will consume more fuel.

4. Ethanol

Ethanol-mixed gas influences mileage. You will see that your mileage will reduce the indirect extent to the level of ethanol in the fuel.

For instance, assuming that you utilize 94 octane fuel containing no ethanol or standard 87 octane fuel, which contains 10% ethanol, your gas mileage will reduce by around 10%.

Yet, since 94 octane fuel is around 15-20% more costly, you most likely won’t set aside any cash; however, you will improve gas mileage.

Class C RV Gas and Diesel Engines Comparision for Better Mileage

There is a difference in mileage and power when it comes to both of the engine types.

First, diesel engines powered Class C Motorhome have better tow capacity so they can pull a heavier tow car behind them.

And second, diesel engines can last a lot longer than gas engines.

However, gas engine RVs have a big advantage over diesel engine RVs because the purchase price of a gas engine RV is much lower than its diesel counterpart.

Ways to Improve Gas Mileage for Class C Motorhome

Following are some useful ways that can help you to improve the RV gas mileage for long rides and trips.

1. Regular Maintenance

Maintenance is crucial as a perfect running engine will provide better power with longer efficiency for fuel consumption.

Performing standard upkeep can assist with expanding your gas mileage from a much wider perspective.

For instance, a regular check-up of your RV can build your gas mileage by 20%.

The air filter should be cleaned regularly or should be changed after using it for a long time.

2. Tire Pressure

Tire pressure is a very sensitive thing that you must be careful about.

For your RV to provide a regular average for fuel consumption, you must keep your tire pressure at the required levels.

When tire pressure drops and the PSI is significantly low, your RV won’t give you the mileage that you need.

Use inflated tires with proper pressure that can provide better running to your RV motorhome.

3. Air Conditioning

The extra use of AC can greatly affect the mileage.

To get better mileage on the fuel consumption of a class C RV, turn off the AC. You will get maximum mileage if you are using AC only in conditions where the weather is tolerable.

Air Conditioning use can reduce an RV’s efficiency by over 25%. That is a tremendous number.

In this way, turn off the AC and open the windows if possible.

4. Change Your Driving Style

If you are worried that your vehicle is using fuel too much and you can’t find an easy solution, then it’s time that you have to change your driving style.

Sometimes a person may have a habit of pressing down the foot too much or shifting gears at high revs, due to which the RV doesn’t provide very good fuel efficiency.

If you are interested to learn more about Motorhome Mileage, check this guide on Motorhome Gas Mileage Chart.

Conclusion

This was a guide on class C RV gas mileage for useful information and details. We shared information on diesel and gas engines along with the mileage that they provide to the users.

For more, check our FAQ.

FAQ