I have a 2004.5 Dodge 3500 SRW CTD that is the new tow vehicle. I only have about 3,500 miles on it but the fuel mileage is TERRIBLE. Per the display I am only getting about 11.5 miles per gallon empty. I get 20 on my 1999 Dodge 2500 SWR CTD. I know the mileage will increase with break in but I was wondering if I should have the TSB 18-037-04 flash done on it.

Is there any negatives as to why I would not have this done? Or is it only a enhancement.

Does warrenty cover this or how much could I expect to pay?

Have any of you had this done and did it help?

Thanks

 

I have the same truck with 4x4, and I had the tsb done. I cant see where it made that much difference in mileage imo. I have been using 100% pure acetone on the last two tanks and have seen an increase in fuel mileage1-2 mpg. I am not suggesting that you use it, that is somthing you should decide for yourself here is the link www.smartgas.net. As far as the tsb you might see different results, some people have.

 

I picked up 2 mpg after getting TSB 18-037-04. My milage also picked up at 15K miles. Now I'm getting a little over 20 mpg right at 70 MPH. I have a 2004.5 quad cab, six speed, with 315 tires.

 

ill pull 20-21 MPG on the highway if i keep it under 65.

the flash was done not 2 months ago, and it did make the computer say i was getting more mpg.

mines towed 6-7,000 pounds over 12,000 miles so far, shes sitting at 22,000 miles on the odometer.

the MPG wasnt very good when i first got it though, like 17-18 cruising on the highway, guess it really was true the truck gets better mpg as it loosens up

 

well Mine Is broken in it has 43K and it is only getting 10 MPG on the highway
I had the reflash done and the overhead that was close before is now off 2 MPG to the high side. other then that the flash did nothing for me.

 

dont do anything until you get at least 15k miles under the truck. Even in the tech manual it says your going to get bad milage. It gets better, I get about 22-24MPG @ 65MPH with 22k miles. the key is to keep the RPM's below 2k

 

my o4.5 has 36k on it and gets about 15 mixed and 19-20 on the interstate under 2 grand!

 

I had the flash done on mine, the overhead does read slightly higher than actual now...however it also changed the power slightly, the truck definitly had better power after the flash. It was smoother and slightly more torque at lower rpm. I also gained roughly 2mpg hand calulated after the flash. I for one recommend it...especially since you are getting horrible mileage. It seems the ones who were unhappy with the flash were already getting good numbers.

My suggestion is to get it done as I doubt you will regret it.

 

Not Me I must have something else wrong cause I was getting 10 and im now getting 10.

 

I had the TSB flash done at about 8,000 miles I think. At the time I was averageing 12.5-13mpg city and 15.5-16mpg highway. It did nothing for actual mileage, it did change the overhead calculation from being on the low side to being well on the high side. I am at 40,000 miles now and have too many mods to say what improved my mileage. Even with the 315s I average about 18mpg at 75-80mph on the highway and around 14.5mpg all stop and go city driving. If I keep it around 65mph on the highway it goes up to 19+mpg.

 

... 10 MPG... you have a problem. My 04.5 couldn't possibly get mileage that low towing in a 100 mph headwind @ WOT. FYI - I was getting 16 MPG before the flash, now Im getting ~ 18 on the highway.

For all those getting under 12 MPG its likely you have a problem, my 04.5 never got under 14 new and picked up a consistent 1 MPG AFTER each time I worked the enigne hard (towed a bobcat several times). It's got 40K on it now, my mileage fluctuates between 16 and 18 MPG in virtually all types of driving conditions (mountains, flat, snow, warm or cold weather, stop and go, highway - you name it). I keep hearing 10's, 11's and 12's pop up and I must say these are way too low. Previous polls on 04.5 MPG revealed most were in the 15-16 MPG range, maybe we should do one again.

 

I agree. you should be able to get 10mpg driving around at WOT all the time.

 

BB 2 stroke,
Can you post a poll? I either can't find the option or I don't have the rights to do it. Now that most 04.5's are broke in I think it would be a good maintenance data point to have this info. Categories would be: under 10, 10-12, 12-14, 14-16, 16-18, 18-20, 20+

Criteria: unloaded average mileage driving conditions

 

Warranty will cover it if you report some driveability issue that the flash covers. The flash is for inaccurate MPG calculator, white smoke on cold start ups, and low fuel economy. The dealership here in town wanted $40 to do it for me. I came back after paying attention to my exhaust when I started it up on a cold morning (it did indeed make some white smoke) and told them about the smoke. The service manager was then happy to get it in their garage for me and do the reflash. I noticed a marginal increase in MPG after this (.5-1). The overhead fuel economy calculator went from being .5-1 mpg low to being 1-1.5 high. Oh yeah, and the truck doesn't let out a big puff of white smoke anymore when I start it up on a cold morning.

My usual hand-calculated fuel economy is 18.5-19 empty. Our 7000lb travel trailer would pull it down to around 13.5-14mpg. The lowest I've seen was when I pulled my friend's toy hauler out to the desert, which was a little over 8000lbs and much taller than our trailer, I got 11mpg.

 

Dave, did your transmission shifting improve? That was the major benefit of the flash for me.