this is getting ridiculous..and I cant seem to find a suitable answer despite reading as many posts as I can over the last 4 yrs.

my stock 04.5 with 3.73 auto will only get 10 TO 11 CITY to 14mpg(COMBINED HIGHWAY) tops.

I have a buddy who just bought an 07 and still has a little less than 3/4 of a tank left and went over 300 miles. I burn an entire tank in 385-425 tops ..mostly city driving.

Question is : does anyone have a specific cause for this? my truck has gotten noisier with age (40,000miles now) I change fuel filter every 9000.

the dealerships around me want to charge for diagnostic time at $85/hour and if they dont find anything ..the bill is on me.


PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

does your torque converter LOCK ? I put a lock switch on mine and I lock it above 35 mph ...rpms drop by 400

and with 373 s anything over 63 mph goes right out the tail pipe

 

Same as my '03

For me it's usually 28 gallon refill at 425 miles (15.1 mpg)

I'm not sure how you are calculating to 11 mpg

 

Not sure what you mean..I do know that the tow/haul lock switch does work..I can feel it lock/(+rpm change) when activated.

I do mostly short trips unloaded ( and I know that its not great for it) but there is a long decent grade hill I haul a boat up and down to get the motor up to temp. I do get decent black smoke out of it if I step on it unloaded (at night rearview mirror and the I see the cars behind me avoid the cloud) ..thanks.bc3

 

Have you gotten the flash for fuel mileage? Here it is. It says 1mpg increase, but most that had it done picked up 2-3mpg. My brother did with his 04.5.


NUMBER: 18-037-04

GROUP: Vehicle Performance

DATE: September 27, 2004

THE DRBIII(R) FLASH FILES FOR THIS BULLETIN ARE AVAILABLE ON DealerCONNECT.

FOR MARKETS OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, THE FLASH FILES AND REPROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE ON ITIL/ISIS DVD NOVEMBER, 2004.
SUBJECT:
Flash: Fuel Economy Improvement, White Smoke On Start Up, Accuracy Of Fuel Mileage
In Overhead Console Display

OVERVIEW:
This bulletin involves erasing and reprogramming the Cummins ECM with new software.

MODELS:

2004 - 2005 (DR) Ram Truck

NOTE : This bulletin applies to DR vehicles equipped with a 5.9L Cummins Turbo
Diesel engine (sales code ETH), with an engine serial number 57130285 through and including 57246361; and the engine date of manufacture 12/10/2003 through and including 8/17/2004.

SYMPTOM/CONDITION:

The following enhancements are included with this software:
^ Improved Fuel Economy - A new ECM calibration has been developed which should provide customers an average fuel economy improvement of approximately 1 M.P.G.

^ Reduces white exhaust smoke on cold start at temperatures below 50 deg. F (10 deg. C).

^ Improves accuracy of the fuel economy calculation in the overhead console display.



SPECIAL TOOLS/EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:

DIAGNOSIS:

Using a Scan Tool (DRBIII(R)) with the appropriate Diagnostic Procedures Manual, verify all engine systems are functioning as designed. If DTC's are present, record them on the repair order and repair as necessary before proceeding further with this bulletin.

If the vehicle operator describes or the technician experiences the Symptom/Condition, perform the Repair Procedure.
POLICY:
Reimbursable within the provisions of the warranty.



TIME ALLOWANCE:



FAILURE CODE:
Disclaimer :This bulletin is supplied as technical information only and is not an authorization for repair.

 

385 and 33 to 34 gallons hand calculated fill to rim (with vent kit). we are on winter blend now..but this isnt somthing new ( I never see any drastic gains once the fuel changes back over)


I did have the reflash done, and even lately the dealership said that they updated the ecm ( but I did lose the high idle function..so did I lose the 034 flash??)

 

If you get this MPG flash will you also get the Honk! Honk! Reverse! Honk! Honk! I still don't have that nice feature and would like to keep it that way.