The simplest way to good fuel economy , trade it on a VW Golf diesel. 55+mpg. You'll probably get some money back in trade as well. I don't think you will pull or haul much though...Realistically , with some choice mods and careful driving , 18-20 mpg is attainable(unloaded). Which for most would be reasonable. 4"+ lift kits, 35"+ rubber , accessory laden trucks need not apply, though for obvious reasons. The old venerable 12 valve attained great MPG numbers , but horsepower was nothing like todays stock truck, and the driveability wasn't close either. If we keep pushing , someone will find the secret to decent mileage with a functioning emmissions system. just requires a bit more time. Until then Illegal (In the US) ECS mods are one way to get there. Come on Smarty 6.7!!!

 

I've seen guys post about big mileage gains with the TS MP8 box. I have no plans to put any fueling box on this truck. I do plan on an intake though eventually. Hopefully in the next year or two there will be an easy way to boost mileage. I have seen some posts elsewhere about huge gains doing the stuff we can't talk about here. I won't be doing any of those things either. I will just deal with the mileage issue as it is....

 

I have 34.5k miles on the clock. I just did a real world check on mine and I came in at 13.6 mpg. My overhead display hovers right around 15.5mpg. This test was done with no towing and about a 60/40 highway/city mix. My 06 5.9 has around 80k miles on the clock and the overhead display reads around 21mpg. Same mix of city/highway but pulling a 14k lb load around 25% of the time!

 

Sorry but I have to disagree, My 12 valve will run all over my 6.7 and still get 16-20 mpg. I think I am going to have quit reading these forums because the more that I read the more I feel worse about my 6.7!

 

My method for determining actual mpg's after a tire swap. I have a MIO gps unit and I set the odo on it to 0, and one of the truck's trip odo's to 0. Drive 100 miles on the truck odo and divide the gps odo reading by the truck's odo reading. Then you have a ratio to multiply your odo by anytime you fill up. That's how I have done it in the past.

 

When I put my new tires on I took it to the dealer to have the pinion factor changed in the computer and had the high idle enabled at the same time. They did it for free. The speedo is accurate +/- 1mph (checked with GPS). My overhead is off about 1mpg.

 

Thanks guys, both valuable suggestions. much appreciated. I think I have an old garmin handheld around here I can dig up...and txpig, dealers aren't known for being inexpensive, so how much did they charge for the re-set? I'm guessing less than a $700.00 bullydog to do it.. why the desire for high idle?, and why is the overhead calibration off.. is it not integrated with the computer that recognizes a pinion factor change? Or is it just simply not as accurate as a gps?

 

Looking at all your posts you must have had one good 2004 truck! You say that it got 5 MPG better so that means you were getting 21 MPG empty and 15MPG towing in a 3500 with 4:10s going 75MPH? My 2006 3500 3:73s auto IF i keep it at 65 (no faster) and all highway driving I can get 20 MPG and towing 14,000 at the same speed I get 11-12 (75 get's me 10). Now after your 5.9 filter post of a boost in towing MPG you got 1.5 better so you are getting 9.5-11.5 and empty you got 1 MPG better so you are getting 16.5-17
with a 3500 with 4:10s going 75MPH (and if you slowed down a bit I bet you would get an extra 1-1.5 empty ) so I would shut up and be happy (IMO).

 

My dealer told me that Dodge is working on a new computer flash that is aimed at increasing mpg...they said it should be out some time in June.

Anybody else heard about it?

 

[My dealer told me that Dodge is working on a new computer flash that is aimed at increasing mpg...they said it should be out some time in June]

If that is true I'll be looking for that.
I thought an improved air intake would help but I saw no differance. I get 14-15 around town and 10-11 towing 11m lbs. My overhead is off .7-.8mpg.
My old 12v. got much better.

 

I get 14-15 around town as well...considering that's all my 5.4l F150 got and considering how much more truck I have now, I'm not too upset with that. This is my first diesel, so I don't have anything to compair it to. Of course, I don't drive a lot...I had 30,500 miles on my F150 in 4 1/2 years...so I don't feel as much crunch as a lot of ya'll do.

 

I'm only a few hundred miles shy of 2,000 miles on mine. So far, every tank hand calculated has be 15 mpg. I see numbers on the overhead sometimes as high as 19 mpg, but around town never lower than 15 mpg.

This truck definately likes the freeway way more than stop and go. I can't wait for my first long trip on with some real lengthy time at steady speed. I think I could see 18 mpg average easily.

So far I'm very happy with the mileage firgures I'm getting. My 2002 Nissan Xterra with a V6 never gets better than 19 mpg. Too bad diesel cost more because I sure like driving the CTD more.

ben

 

I wouldnt be happy. satisfaction in in what the end user expects and what they recieved previously.

FYI my 03 gets exactly the same numbers as his. Towing and empty but then again mines a hand shaker. best ive done is 22.5+/-, hand calculated on several empty trips, replicated on multiple fill ups during those trips. since adding the 62/12 im down to 21-21.5 bests

1000k extra gallons of fuel is a loss compared to previous vehicle so his arguement is well founded since his new truck cost him $3500-4000 in extra fuel

 

Thanks, ddestruel. I was going to respond but you summed it up best. I paid extra for the new year truck, extra for the air-pollution equipment and extra so I can be 2010 EPA compliant and burn MORE fuel. Dodge Man, yes, I could slow down to 65 m.p.h. but on my trips it would cost me 3 more hours in the seat and 3 less hours of sleep and for what, a 1 m.p.g. gain that would net me 2 gallons of fuel?? Not worth it to me. I just think that it's just so ridiculous that the greenies have us by the short ones without any hard evidence or experience as to how all their quack remedies are going to solve anything. 1,000 gals. more fuel burned, even at 15 ppm sulpher, is still more diesel fumes in the air & 1,000 gals. less of our precious oil reserves as compared to the older trucks. Now I believe in protecting our environment and moving to a more healthy way of doing things, but these quick fix temporary solutions, that are costing us more CASH, are not going to fix the problem. Especially when the groups that are force feeding these solutions have no clue as to the overall effect or even that they maybe counterproductive.

 

I did not mean to pick a fight but I have seen and used a lot of Dodge's in my time and the only time I have seen 22-23MPG is with a 2500 3:73s 4x2. Any of the trucks I have used with 4:10s and 4x4 get 18-18.5 (that's also at 65mph) at best so I have a hard time believing anyone that says otherwise. So like I said IMO, if GMscott is getting about 17MPG at 75mph I bet I could get 18MPG at 65mph just like all the rest I've tried. That and Dodge said the trucks would get the same MPG as the 2007 5.9 so in my book they were right. Even on the TDR and here most are saying they get 18-19 on the highway and 13-14 in the city basically the same I get in my 2006. BTW I don't like all the junk to keep the air "cleaner" either but no one will tell the government to shut up (a looong topic not for here).