Just Went on a 425 Mile trip. Truck ran for 8hrs straight, heavy rain High Winds for about 25-30 Miles, Slightly hilly terrain. Drove on average 69MPH,sometimes as high as 77MPH sometimes as low as 64MPH.
I hand calculated and got 17.2 MPG. Dog Carrier in back of truck and wife and daughter up front. Was hoping for a little higher average but 17MPG is pretty good I guess.

I also plan to get a TSB reflash. Is there a specific TSB I should request?
Also I have a Airaid air Intake, does the Airaid Filter Help or hurt the overall MPG?

 

Whoever said "drive 65 and have stock 2WD" was talking about me!

My '03 is bone stock. It has a bone stock auto tranny and 3.73 rear.

It has a RK Headache rack, a cross bed and two side boxes and a Tommy Lift.

It weighs right at 8K before I get in.

I've kept mileage records since I got it at 24,799 and it now has 119K on it.

My average which includes highway, city, towing (not terribly heavy) and all other use. It probably spends 70% of the time on the highway.

I rarely ever floor it, and don't usually go more than 1800rpm.

The average stands at 19.067 hand calculated.

Granted it's apples to plums as y'all are talking 2004.5

But a stock 2WD will get better mpg than a stock 4WD and MUCH better than a lifted big tired 4WD.

 

Dave, If your getting 19mpg w/2WD then I can't see how I could do much better w/4WD. I just can't see how some guys are saying they are getting up to 800 Miles per Tank. Mine is stock except for the Airaid.

22-24MPG seems out of reach?

 

Dangerous Dave sounds right on the money. I can see averaging 19 with a 2wd running mostly highway. My truck is 4wd and generally either used to take the kids to school or to pull my camper or jeep. Neither of which is very good on mileage. Alot of these posts seem to be guys with 5 or 6 speed tranny, not autos. The auto is where the mileage drops, and especially on the 2004.5's. Not sure if mine is so bad because of the model, tires, crappy stock tranny and torque converter, or just a compliation of all the above. Like I have said, with stock tires my truck still sucks down the fuel. I love the power and just realize that I am not getting much more benefit over a gas motor other than just power. If mileage were the reasoning behind my purchase, I wouldn't have bought a truck that is nearly 8000 lbs. It's a love and hate kinda thing.

 

Mine is an auto and I get 16-18 MPG in the highway/city driving depending on speed. It's better than my 04 1500 Quad cab Hemi. It only got 15 MPG at best. Never could get any better than that.

 

I get 17.2 mpg mixed with a huge laggy turbo.

 

Don't drive with tailgate down to save MPG University Mich. wind tunnel testing determined fuel savings to be completely insignificant. Their testing did reveal however, that the tailgating being up helps hold the rearend on the grond. Improves handling and safty. My son said mythbuster shot it down as well. Saw a guy take it in the tailgate just the other day. Other driver didn't see it - got too close. May as well take it on the bumper

 

At Last someone who keeps accurate long term fuel logs like me -

Mine is a '04.5 w/ a Quad XZT & 315/70-17. Muffler & Silencer ring is MIA. It is a 6 speed & a 3.73 rear.

Mine has a toolbox in back but no headache rack or Tommy lift.

It weighs 7500 lbs before I get in.

I've kept mileage records since I got it new and it now has 71K on it.

My driving conditions, speed, etc. almost exactly match yours!

My Average stands at 19.350, also hand calculated

Mine is a 2004.5

It is not lifted, but does have 'big tires' & is a 4WD. My motivation for the big tires was to drop the revs (almost 200 RPM @ 70 MPH). There was no net gain, but there was no loss either (gain of dropping revs offset by more drag).

Without question, a 4X4 will have more aero & gear drag than a 2WD. Likewise, an auto will not be as efficient as a 6 speed.

Our MPG & driving style is identical . You pay a penalty for the auto, me for the 4WD!

 

I have managed to get my average up a couple tenths.

Stands at 19.278

Total miles are 122,3xx or maybe 4xx. It stays on trip most of the time.

 

I have an 04 HO 2wd 3.72 I got 19 on hwy pulling empty 1.8-2.1K trailer@74mph. I put 5k on trailer and got 14-15 at about 68mph. All this while dealing with rough idle issue? Engine has now quite working and I get -MPG while trying to start it?

Filter is clean. Lift pump 11.5 during engine off key turn?

 

Is anyone driving a 2500 4speed automatic 2wd short quad cab with 3.4 rears stock. If so please forward your performance results. I would like to run at lower rpm but am afriad of blowing tran when I need to pull??

 

[QUOTE=kinghomes;1704389]Is anyone driving a 2500 4speed automatic 2wd short quad cab with 3.4 rears stock. QUOTE]

No such thing in a common rail, not stock anyways, the 3.73 and 4.10 are your only option.

 

What did you just say?

 

They are the infamous "Big Foot" guys, you know, teh one that you never see in person, but onlly hear about it over the intenet. Don't worry, if you drive faster than 40 MPH, you too will not get 22+ MPG either, no fear, you are normal and telling the truth

In town, highway unloaded my truck is from 15-18MPG depending on how much driving I do of one or the other.

 

I got around=
25-30mpg @70 highway
15-18mpg @55 on a main Road

I have noticed since I removed the Cat and muffler it is going up about 2 mpg so far,I also use cruise controll alot.

Auto,48re,3:73rear,Tonage cover,empty.

Pav