Hey guys, I need a little help understanding something.

My truck has the stock engine, absolutely no extras. I run a fuel additive of 8 ounces of Silver Power Kleen and 8 ounces of MMO in every tank. I do have the wheels and tires listed in my sig. and have had the computer reset to compensate for the increase in tire and wheel size.

To make a long story short, I am getting killed on mileage. From home to work and back, I'm getting 14 if I'm lucky and 13.5 as a normal hand calculated total. I towed my 7,000-7500 pound camper to Hatteras Island this weekend and got 10.72 headed down and 9.37 coming home. This is all hand calculated, the mileage gauge has never been accurate, even with the stock stuff on there. I drive between 60-70 most of the way, with the exception of the small towns on 460 where the MPH is 35 and 45. I'm not ******* it from red lights or trying to race the other drivers.

I'm feeling like an idiot, I bought the truck to pull the camper and get better mileage doing it than a gasser. However, I have spoken to many a 2500 gasser owner that gets 8-9 MPG towing, but better commuting mileage.

I'm not gonna sell or trade at this time, just can't afford too, but is there any recommendations that you have. Right now I"m sitting at 40, 897 miles on the odometer and figure to own this for many more miles.

Thanks

Jason

 

get a quadzilla xzt and post the results, im sure youll be alot happier. those tires are a little heavier too

brett

 

Buddy is in the same boat. His new stock 06 with a 5.9 only got about 8 MPG's towing a 4 horse trailer w/ 2 horses lat week. He said he drove about 65 MPH. He is ready to get an older tow vehicle.

 

Brett,

Your right the tires are heavier, along with the wheels of course.

I"m considering going back to stock size or at least smaller, when these wear out. I'd have to re-invest in the stock rims or rim of that size, since I sold mine when I bought the ones that are on there now.

This stinks!! I am so disappointed in the towing performance. I can afford the fuel, but that's not the point, I really thought it would handle it so much better than the reality of how it is actually doing.

Jaosn

 

Just a idea, but have you changed your fuel filter and air filter lately? Mine always gets better after those are fresh. My truck got a lot better with my Edge boxes hooked up. I usually try to keep a steady 1750-1950 rpm's when towing. So turn your overdrive off if your below that. You could also check your wheel bearings and brakes on your trailer to be sure nothing is wrong there. I usually get around 10-11 towing a 32' travel trailer, and 16-17 or so around town. 19-21 highway empty at around 68-74 mph.

 

What are you complaining about? You're getting at least twice what a gasser would do with the same lift and tires.

 

....at 30,000 miles per factory service requirements.

I thought about this today as well. I may give the fuel filter a shot just to see, I can also do a visual on the air filter just to check it out also.

Thanks for the idea!

Rick..... I don't have any lift, outside of the 2" leveling kit. Yes the wheels and tires are bigger, but I don't know if they are big enough to make a gasser cut my MPG in half??

Thanks for the feedback though!

Jason

 

9-11 mpg towing a camper is not horrible, but there is certainly room for improvement. Personally, I don't think the tire height is killing you as much as the width and tread pattern. If you went down to a 285/70R17 in a true AT tire, you would get some help. You may also want to think about the big 3 mods. You can do an intake and exhaust with little or no backlash from the dealer. You can also do a box/programmer, but that is a completely different story when it comes to warranty. You may want to do a search on the Rokktech sensor or tone ring mod. Either of those mods are said to help improve mileage, but do add a little more valve noise, especially when running cold.

I think with what you are towing, you will be doing well to get 12-13mpg. You didn't mention if your commute to work is city driving or highway. If it is city, 13-14 is pretty normal, but those numbers are low for highway unless your flying.

My DRW running 72/73mph will get about 16mpg highway(about 700lbs of stuff under the cap) right now, but it has been getting a little better as the miles rack up. I can get 18+ mpg if I set the cruise at 62, but I only do that in school zones (kidding).

Good luck. Do some searching here as well. There are 100's of threads on mileage and things to do to improve it.

 

I just got back from the mountain lakes towing my 25 foot trailer form 1400 feet to 4300 feet and got 12.5 mpg. When I got home my smarty was waiting for me. I put it on and went for a drive, idiot gage said 23.3 wich is up from 20.1 on same stretch of road. cant wait to hand figure the next tank!!!

 

This may be a silly question, but is your speedo calibrated for the taller tires? If not, that's your answer right there. If it is, well, I've got nothing.

Brian

 

I'm getting about 20 empty running 30/70% city/highway with O/D off with the truck similar truck with 33's with out my Quadzilla Std (its in the shop, GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE). It looking like you're on the low side. I would definately change the filters (fuel & air). This is what I would do if I was in your shoes:

I would recommend doing something like a "cool tube". Its a 4" flex tube connecting from the bottom of the air cleaner box that goes to the fog lamp area. Then I would get a thru muffler but keep the Cat & get a Rotteck timing sensor or tone ring mod. Make sure that you do set your valves & adjust your front transmition bands. I also use Powerservice in the gray, about 8 - 10 oz per fill-up (about 1/3 oz per gallon of diesel). I don't remember which TSB it was but it was for white smoke upon start up & overhead inaccuracy. It helped about 1/2-1mpg more & it was free from the dealship. If you haven't yet change your engine oil over to synthetic.

I've gotten repeatively 23mpg on freeway only driving with the Quad on level 3 & going 70mph (~1800rpms)

 

I'd double check that speedo calibration? You have a GPS?
Make sure a mile is a mile. Get on the hwy and use the mile markers if you have to. Something ain't right.

PS: I only get about 10 mpg towing, but I'm pulling over 11k at 70 mph. Get 17 empty city/hwy combo.

 

I like Riddler's idea. I think first, I'm going to make sure a mile is a mile. I did have it recalibrated by the dealer, but maybe it is still inaccurate. That may be the primal cause of the problem.

I will research some of you other recommendations as well. The fuel and air fiter options are easy enough to do, so I'll probably start there.

By the way, where do you put the diesel fuel that you drain when changing the fuel filter?

Tesla, can you give me more detail about these? How much louder would this make the truck, etc?

"I would recommend doing something like a "cool tube". Its a 4" flex tube connecting from the bottom of the air cleaner box that goes to the fog lamp area. Then I would get a thru muffler but keep the Cat & get a Rotteck timing sensor or tone ring mod. "

Thanks again, for all your feedback!

 

Based on my past experiences with leveling kits and taller tires, I'd say you are lucky to be getting as good as you are. I had the KORE leveling kit and 35's on for a short time and it just killed my mileage.

Once I went to 33's, removed my cat (legal here), and added a high flow air filter my mileage went up. I get about 17 mpg avg. I'm sure I could get 19 or so on the hwy at 60-65mph, but I'm happy with 17 all things considered I guess.

 

Sorry! but removing your federally mandated emission equipment is against the law in every state.