does mileage REALLY get better? Poll?
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Chandler, AZ
On my '04.5, I just clocked 17.1 hand calculated, 16.6 Overhead on the open road (Reno through Las Vegas to Phoenix). This was averaging 62 mph over relatively mountainous route. Truck is stock except for 315/70/17 tires.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Oregon
PULL SOMETHING!!!
I have averaged 16.6-17.5 in all tanks since I bought it. I just got back from a 700 mile trip with my 5er, and so far I have driven a 1/2 tanks worth, and am getting 20.4. Same trip back and forth to work. No additives, same filling station. My overhead has always been within .2 mpg.
I have averaged 16.6-17.5 in all tanks since I bought it. I just got back from a 700 mile trip with my 5er, and so far I have driven a 1/2 tanks worth, and am getting 20.4. Same trip back and forth to work. No additives, same filling station. My overhead has always been within .2 mpg.
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Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Ila georgia
Yesterday I checked my fuel mileage.17.2 driving easy.In the first 10k was nowhere near that.More like low teens.Have two friends that also said PULL something HEAVY a ways and said there was a improvment afterwards.
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Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Houston, TX
My truck is too new to know if there will be improvement, but just for the record I just did the first refill, to the neck both times (takes forever. over 35 gallons) and got a calculation of 17.57 mpg. Overhead was reading 16.6. Overhead was reset at last fill-up and left alone. Driving was all in town. 15 miles each way of freeway commuting. with a fair amount of city driving as well. I would estimate the average freeway speed at 68mph. I did drive conservatively for the most part, but ran fast and hard on occasion. I haven't towed anything yet but I will soon!
I reset the OH and set the cruise on 65 for the drive home and it read 21 on arrival at the house. I'm liking the truck more and more, and if there is improvement in the MPG to come down the road I'll be even happier. Since new the old gasser (see below) got 12-13mpg doing the same type duty.
I reset the OH and set the cruise on 65 for the drive home and it read 21 on arrival at the house. I'm liking the truck more and more, and if there is improvement in the MPG to come down the road I'll be even happier. Since new the old gasser (see below) got 12-13mpg doing the same type duty.
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Joined: Jun 2003
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It seems to improve with miles. Inititially I was getting about 17 mpg on the highway and on the last trip I finally broke 20 mpg, on I5 from above the Bay Area in CA to central Oregon, which includes a fair amount of hills. Ended the trip with 22k miles on the truck. I use Stanadyne. Keeping the speed to 65 - 70 mph at night probably helped.
Top's Younger Twin
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Thanks Don M!
I averaged 15 hwy empty and 12 in town first few tanks.
just over 25,000 miles now and I am getting 15 city, a shade over 17 combined and 19.3 hwy.
However, after adding the shaker hood I am seeing a 2 mpg difference to the good. I am not going to claim that because I was seeing this with fuel in the USA not Canada and I ALWAYS get better calculated mileage with USA fuel. Dunno why but I do.
This is with an 04 555 6 spd dually 3500 4x4 four door.
just over 25,000 miles now and I am getting 15 city, a shade over 17 combined and 19.3 hwy.
However, after adding the shaker hood I am seeing a 2 mpg difference to the good. I am not going to claim that because I was seeing this with fuel in the USA not Canada and I ALWAYS get better calculated mileage with USA fuel. Dunno why but I do.
This is with an 04 555 6 spd dually 3500 4x4 four door.
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 15
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From: Centralia, WA
I've seen a steady overall increase. Average mpg in the first 15k was 18.8; from 15k-22.5k it was 19.5; overall since new is now 19.05. That's mostly running around empty on country roads, with a little hauling of a horse trailer, hay, & other stuff. Of course, I'm not above coasting now and then! Just put in my first crankcase of synthetic, and looking for a little further boost. By the way, the August 2004 Consumer Reports has "real world" mileage figures for a variety of cars, SUVs, & light trucks. The mileage champions for "full-sized crew-cab pickups" are: Ford F-150 XLT 5.4 L, Chevy Silverado 1500 Z71, 5.3L, and Toyota Tundra SR5, 4.7L, all at an astonishing 14 mpg!! So I'm mighty proud of my Ram 2500 diesel outdoing them by 27 percent.
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Niceville, FL
Here's the numbers I'm getting.
I'm getting similar City MPG with my gas Dodge 1500 5.9L 4x4 Auto and my diesel (13-14 mpg). My diesel's City MPG isn't consistent yet, but the gas is very consistent at 13.5-14.5 MPG City. The Diesel gets better MPG than the gas towing (gas = 6-7 MPG, diesel = 10-11 MPG). Hwy driving w/trailer was always using cruise control.
City driving is 8 miles each way, stop/go at 25-45 mph, stop light every two blocks. Hwy was towing 6000# enclosed trailer at 2000 rpm = 74 mph.
The diesel tows much better than the gas. Never shifted down or slowed down on some pretty steep hills going up I-65 from Florida to Ohio. Passed a lot of minivans and 18 wheelers that slowed down going up the grade.
Code:
__________________________________________________
Miles Gallons MPG MPG Total City/
Hand Truck Miles Hwy
Calc Computer
406.8 27.8 14.6 406.8 City Empty
265.2 17.9 14.8 672 City Empty
132.9 12.9 10.3 10.5 804.9 City Empty
305.3 30.1 10.1 10 1110.2 City Empty
332.9 31.3 10.6 10.6 1443.1 City Empty
127 9.4 13.5 1570.1 City Empty
279.5 28.7 9.7 10 1849.6 Hwy Trailer
292.4 29.4 9.9 10 2142 Hwy Trailer
346.4 29.1 11.9 12.6 2488.4 Hwy & City
________________________________________________
City driving is 8 miles each way, stop/go at 25-45 mph, stop light every two blocks. Hwy was towing 6000# enclosed trailer at 2000 rpm = 74 mph.
The diesel tows much better than the gas. Never shifted down or slowed down on some pretty steep hills going up I-65 from Florida to Ohio. Passed a lot of minivans and 18 wheelers that slowed down going up the grade.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: SE NC USA
Might as well ask another ques. When my tank empty warning light goes on I figure I'll go about another 50 miles and fill up. The most I have ever put in is 29 gals. With a 34 gal tank I am wondering how far I should go after the light goes on. I don't want to run dry but if I can drive another day or two that would be really convenient???
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Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Ocala Fl
Re: 10.4 mpg city/14.4 mixed.
Originally posted by Planetcat
After 1900 miles, I got 10.4 hand calculated miles per gallon mostly flat, unloaded city driving. Best ever was 14.4 city/highway mixed driving. Trying hard to be easy on the gas pedal, but still not improving. Going into the dealer next week to be checked out. I seem to be at the bottom end of the mpg curve, but still love the truck!
After 1900 miles, I got 10.4 hand calculated miles per gallon mostly flat, unloaded city driving. Best ever was 14.4 city/highway mixed driving. Trying hard to be easy on the gas pedal, but still not improving. Going into the dealer next week to be checked out. I seem to be at the bottom end of the mpg curve, but still love the truck!
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 485
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From: Grayslake, IL
Might as well ask another ques. When my tank empty warning light goes on I figure I'll go about another 50 miles and fill up. The most I have ever put in is 29 gals. With a 34 gal tank I am wondering how far I should go after the light goes on. I don't want to run dry but if I can drive another day or two that would be really convenient???
I hate to say RTFM on this one, but I forget what it said exactly. Something to the effect of the fuel light coming on with 18% remaining (6+ gal) and the overhead saying "0 to empty" and the gauge reading on E with 13% remaining (4+gal).
It explained this behavior as a "feature" intended to help those towing heavy loads get a low fuel indication early enough to do something about it.
I see a bit of a trend with the 03-04 getting about 2-3 mpg better than the 04 1/2.
I'd agree, and think that's a fair statement.
Oh, I'd also consider tracking hours on the motor in addition to miles traveled. It gives you a rough idea of your average speed for that tank of fuel.
I hate to say RTFM on this one, but I forget what it said exactly. Something to the effect of the fuel light coming on with 18% remaining (6+ gal) and the overhead saying "0 to empty" and the gauge reading on E with 13% remaining (4+gal).
It explained this behavior as a "feature" intended to help those towing heavy loads get a low fuel indication early enough to do something about it.
I see a bit of a trend with the 03-04 getting about 2-3 mpg better than the 04 1/2.
I'd agree, and think that's a fair statement.
Oh, I'd also consider tracking hours on the motor in addition to miles traveled. It gives you a rough idea of your average speed for that tank of fuel.
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 114
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From: Longview, TX
When I got my truck in April I was getting low to mid 14s mixed driving and mid 15s on the highway. I never calculated just city driving but the overhead would show low 12s. I pulled my trailer to south Texas in June and averaged 9.9 pulling approximately 10K lbs. The last tank I checked was 16.7 and that was close to 50/50 city/highway so my mileage seems to have improved. I have about 9000 miles on the truck. The overhead will now show around 18 at 65 MPH. I haven't checked just highway driving lately but will this weekend.
I did 3 things before my mileage improved. I raised the tire pressure to the max rating, I started running Diesel Clean occasionally, and I finally pulled a load. The load may have loosened things up a little, but I think the one thing that really made a difference was raising the pressure in the tires. Hopefully the mileage will improve some more but even with the lower mileage I still love this truck.
I did 3 things before my mileage improved. I raised the tire pressure to the max rating, I started running Diesel Clean occasionally, and I finally pulled a load. The load may have loosened things up a little, but I think the one thing that really made a difference was raising the pressure in the tires. Hopefully the mileage will improve some more but even with the lower mileage I still love this truck.
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 114
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From: Northwest North Carolina
Not much change for me.
I left for a 2000 mile round trip to Wisconsin and back with 500 miles on mine, got around 21 mpg. Just got back from Key West, about 1800 miles, with 27000 miles and got 21 mpg. These trips were 500 to 600 miles a day, few starts and stops, running 70 and 75 mph, with two people, luggage and a few other items, very light load. I was getting better for a while, I wonder if the 4" exhaust would decrease mpg?
I left for a 2000 mile round trip to Wisconsin and back with 500 miles on mine, got around 21 mpg. Just got back from Key West, about 1800 miles, with 27000 miles and got 21 mpg. These trips were 500 to 600 miles a day, few starts and stops, running 70 and 75 mph, with two people, luggage and a few other items, very light load. I was getting better for a while, I wonder if the 4" exhaust would decrease mpg?
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: On The Road / Now in Emporia KS.
I have 11,200 miles on mine I'm getting 15.7 on Hwy & city havent pulled my trailer yet but cant wait to do it.
04 3500 Quad Cab 1 Ton SLT Laramie Flame Red 4x2 Four-Speed Auto trans.
04 3500 Quad Cab 1 Ton SLT Laramie Flame Red 4x2 Four-Speed Auto trans.