Berak

I have a 3500 SRW 4x4 and 4.10 gears. I get around 15 in town and 17 - 18 or so on the highway. I average 16 - 17 overall. I don't think 21 - 22 is very realistic for a 4x4 and 4.10 gears. I've seen the readout over 19 but it didn't last for more than 50 miles or so.

pwabbott

[quote author=cigman1st link=board=20;threadid=23053;start=0#msg216144 date=1070240877]
Thank you to all that responded. I will be patient and hopefully watch the MPG rise.
[/quote]

cigman1st.

Hook that baby up to 10,000# trailer and tow it in some of our Sierra Mountain grades. That's what she needs to break her in. My towing mileage has gradually increased to 13.5 mpg. Solo running around local up and down these grades I'm getting 18.5 mpg. Freeway driving is now 21.

Also there is one station where I won't buy and #2 because mileage is always 1.5 mpg less. Just because it says #2 Diesel doesn't mean it is the same as the #2 at another station.

c5racer

Running solo, if I keep it at 65mph, Ram will get 20 mpg. Towing I get 11 mpg. Only have 4800 miles on it now, but it has been getting the same mileage since new. About 4000 miles is towing the 5ver.

SBENNETTLAWN

I TOW A 20' BOX TRAILER AROUND TOWN AND I ONLY SEE ABOUT 11.5 MPG. I'M GOING TO TRY A BOX,AIR INDUCTTIONAND and EXHAUST TO GET BETTER PERFORMANCE AND MPG.I have 2000 miles on it.

CTDinMT

I usually get hand-calculated 21.3 on the highway, but I drove at 45 mph for 3 hrs once in a snowstorm and got 24 off the overhead comp! Around town I get 18-19 mpg.-Steve
Oh, and I have 6k on the rig.

bulabula

[quote author=gdh11 link=board=20;threadid=23053;start=15#msg216359 date=1070282725]
I just put the AFE open intake and a 4" SS Jeg's exhaust on it and saw a big improvement in mileage. [/quote]How big of an improvement did you realize with those changes?

TexasTodd

Just got back from an 1800 mile trip with 8.5K #'s of extras (5th wheel). Mileage was so far varied from driving, it was unbelievable. I-25 from Denver to Raton, I got better mileage than the flats through Texas with a 15 mile beam to front wind. Computer was accurate if reset between tanks.

The truck ran much better in the altitudes over 4K feet.

Mine went from great off the lot to worse, but not getting any better.

In fact, was getting about 9 on the last tank through Texas when the wind was kicking up and holding the truck at 70. Again, I am only towing a 7K dry 26' 5er.

Lightman

Well it's clear that 2wd and stickshifts will get a lot better mileage. 3.73 preferable to 4.10 mileage wise also of course. I think speed has a lot to do with it though. When you guys report 18-21 on the highway, what speeds are you going? The limits here in FL are 70, so the average highway driver goes 75-80 all the time. I'm thinking this is where most of my fuel is going... I bet one reason you guys get such good mileage is that you're doing 65...

At 5k, I'm still getting 15-16mpg pretty much regardless of city or highway.Arghh, I really need to get a load behind mine to break her in.

Geets

I have 13k miles and I'm only getting 16.5 - 17. I do 140 miles a day no trailer at speeds of 70 - 80 mph. Am I still not broken in? I was hoping for 20 mpg, I can be happy with that. Hopefully I will see that once I do a few mods. Can anyone comment on which mods helped them gain mpg?

MikeyB

I have 6.5k miles now it's holding steady at 21-22mpg highway. I try to keep the RPMs to around 2.1k which is about 72mph. The 6spd and 3.73 really helps.

MikeyB

Rob_OBX

I now have 47k and have not pulled over 7k yet. but pulling 6k I normally get 15.5 to 17.5 on the highway and empty get 23-25mpg running 65-73 mph. I did get 26.1 on a 350 mile trip from Charlotte to the OBX.


truck is a HO,4x4,6spd,QC,LWB,3.73, EZ on level 6

Geets

So now I'm really confused. How can there be such a difference in mpg? I can understand 2 or 3 mpg here and there but for someone to be getting 17 mpg towing while I get 17 mpg not towing does not sit well with me. What is going on? There has to be something explanation.....

100 Proof

I've got 9 grand on the clock and get about 18.5 in town, 20+ on the highway at 65, and 11 pulling my 10k# trailer. I drove about 4k miles before pulling and noticed an immediate and significant increase in empty milage after I pulled the trailer a few hundred miles through Idaho mountains. The Cummins will break in faster if you work it.

It likes it!!! :->

100 Proof