My truck has always given me anywhere between 18.5 to 21.5mpg, this is driving to and from work 464 miles aweek. I have never pulled the IAT sensor in 77,000 miles, the best way to drive these trucks is to use a boost gauge. I found by driving this way to net the most in mpg. If you can hold 70mph with only 4psi of boost compared to 8psi and like the old saying goes it takes fuel to spool.

 

-First off..ignore any reports from 12v's, 5 spd's, 6 spd's, and 2x4's. It's just not comparing apples to apples...and you will get mileage envy!

-From all the mileage threads I have read, 3/4 ton & 1 ton trucks (4x4, autos) seem to get about the same mileage empty.

-IMO, the number of 4x4 autos getting over 17 mpg around town and over 19 mpg on trips is very small....and could easily be from reporting just one trip.... downwind or downhill.

-If your under 50,000 total miles...there is hope. Your engine is still loosening up and wearing in.

Your numbers sound low, but you mentioned mirrors and 15 kts headwinds and over 70 mph so.....keep checking. You also list dog/toolbox in back. If it's above rail ...it's catching wind too.

Best mileage trick I've found recently is giving in to a harder ride and running my tires at Max Pressure. Picked up .3 mpg on last 1,000 mile milege test.

RJ

RJ

 

I just finished a 550 mile trip, 1 tank average speed was 85 mph. I think i got around the equivalent of 14 USmpg. I got 18 IMPmpg.

 

At 70mph i usually get 17 USMPG, and 22 IMP MPG.

 

I get 16.5 mpg consistantly while driving above or below 2k rpm, doesn't seem to matter. even towing my bassboat doesn't make a difference. Sure beats my 79 chevy 350 pickup at 10 mpg, but it was consistant also bucking a headwind or being pushed by a tailwind, towing or empty it got 10. Towed my dad's dakota up to roanoke,virginia on a trailer w/ mobile home axles and got 14 mpg, I thought that was pretty good

 

i noticed my sweet spot is about 1800-1900rpm in 4th gear...i think i go about 110km/hour...not the fastest by any means but thats where i really save...as soon as i go over 2000rpm i start to guzzle ...as for mpg i never really did the math but i got 1100kms on a full tank highway ONLY last summer...that sounds good to me......in the city i gotta baby it....for what its worth ive never driven any truck thats gotten better fuel economy ...closest was the chev 4.3 if u had a light foot...im sure the mini pickups get better though

 

Get 11-12 pulling 13k fver at 60mph. 17 or so solo, 60-65. Have pulled utility trailer with 7k tractor(11k total), got about 12 or 14. With the trailer empty(3500 lbs). It maybe did 14. By & large, I can live with those numbers.
The 4:10's bring it down some, but it makes it easier to pull the big 5er.

 

No one has mentioned tires. Old tires are better mileage, new tires kill it till the break in. Just experienced that again. Ran half the trip with old tires and half with new tires. Lost over 1 mpg. After 600 or 700 miles the mileage creeps back up. Now at 1100 miles on the tires the mileage is back to almost normal. I bet tread has a lot to do with it also. Highway tires of not too wide would give the best.

 

What is the IAT sensor? How do I check it on my truck. So far, I am getting about 19 mpg empty and 12 pulling my 5th wheel, but am always looking to do better...especially at $3.00+ per gallon here in the screwed up nation of California.

 

I also have the fuel gobbling 4:10's, got some good info on the site about keeping the mph down, so I ran my last rode trip @ 62 mph or 2,000 rpm's.
I usually average 16 mpg and jumped up to 19+ by staying out of the peddle abit. I'm running 265/75R/16's. This was done by hand not the OHC. Added bonus was not having Momma trying to use the brakes on her side of the trunk for a change

 

I usually get around 17mpg almost all city, avg about 200 miles a day with 8-8.5hrs of engine run time so that seems pretty good.
Was getting about 16 before my injectors, just straight piped it a couple days ago. Will wait a few tanks to late the fun factor wear off then I'll test it again.

 

Please let me know what the straight pipes do for your milege. I want to put them on anyway, but it is easier to justify the money if it also increases the milege. Thanks.

 

Not much to justify. Shop only charged $60 for it. I just had then cut off the resonator and muffler and weld in a new 3" pipe. Didn't replace the whole system with 4" tubing or anything like that.

Alot quiter then I thought it would have been. Idle, start up, and just crusing sound the same.... but mash the go peddle and it'll turn some heads

 

I seen about a 1 MPG average increase without the MUFFLER/RESINATOR in place. I sure did see a power improvement...

I cut mine out for about $30 bucks. I went to NAPA and got 64 inches of 3 inch pipe and took it over to a muffler shop and flared the ends. Then used a torch and heat the old muffler/resinator to get it to slide out. Then installed the straight pipe with the old clamps from the old muffler... Simple and to the point!

And yes it will turn head quick! If you jump on the go pedal...

 

I just got back from New Mexico driving 1300 miles round trip. I drove with cruise on at 65mph. I had very little wind both ways. I was pulling a 30ft. cougar <a target="_blank" href="http://searchmiracle.com/text/search.php?qq=Travel">travel</a> trailer that weighs around 8000 lb.s. I averaged 11.4 mpg driving from Texas to Ruidoso and 11.6 driving back to Texas .I have 23000 miles on my truck with everthing completely stock. Made the same trip 2 years ago when truck was new and got only 10mpg . I am happy to see a little increase as it breaks in.


2003 3/4 H.O. C.T.D.
4WD 3.73 Rear End
48RE Auto Trans.
Ranch Hand Grill Gaurd