Well, here is my theory....
These trucks get the best mileage while coasting downhill. I don't think anybody will argue that. With the exhaust brake on, it slows the truck down so that you will have to use the accelerator sooner at the bottom of every hill or dip in the road. Do this a couple hundred times during a tankfull of fuel and you WILL have used more fuel.
I love the EB and it is probably the coolest feature on the new trucks, but come on! Some of you guys act like it's a hard job changing brake pads!!! I have stopped using my EB 100% of the time just in the interest of saving fuel....

 

A little thinking is involved with most technology

 

the coin holder is like $60 from dodge. ridiculous. if you can, find one in a junk yard or con your dealer into giving you one off a truck at the lot that might have one.

the trash bag hook was removed when the dash was updated in 2006. 03-05s have them, 06-08s do not. i used to hook it over my shifter but like it better hooked around the 12v power outlet cap on the dash.

 

I don't know about the EB using more fuel. I used it the whole way to Kentucky and on those winding Kentucky roads. It's pretty sweet when you're hauling tail on those roads and when you let off the accelerator coming into a turn. There were times when I never even used my brakes.

Fuel wise I got great GM on the way there...even with the EB on. I even had a load of cinder blocks and firewood in the back. On the way back I was empty (no Turkey ) and seemed to get worse GM. I'll admit I was going faster on the way home, though.

These trucks really seem to like some weight on that back end.

I love this truck.

 

Accountants, attorneys, and environmentalists design vehicles with a little input from marketers, and from the occasional engineer with marketing skills. The smart designers also own oil company stock.

 

I hook the garbage bag on the cup holder since the 08 doesn't have that feature...

I like that the cruise goes up 1mph instead of 2.... I know it is stupid but I hate having to enter a code to go up 1 or 3 mph.

I don't like the DTE telling me "Fuel Low" after the (Ding) and fuel light comes on... The old one counted down to 0 >>> New one gets to about 30ish and then says fuel low....

I like that the cup holder is a little closer than the old one >>> BUT<<< I already had the shifter handle knock the drink out of my hand when lifting it up... ( yeah >> There is a learning curve when drinking and driving )

I like that the truck came already hooked up with Sirius Satalite radio... I wouldn't have ordered it that way and I probably will not re up it when the time comes to pay... but it is nice having it now.

I like the new design for the weather striping on the front of the door area that keeps the wind noise down.

Oilguy

 

This may be totally off-base, but this is the way I've understood it.

What I heard (don't remember where) was that on the 2nd gens, if you were coasting and you engine speed was above idle, no fuel was being pushed to the injectors. Basically the engine was being driven by the wheels and wasn't doing anything but pumping air. Once your engine speed dropped back to idle, fueling restarted to keep the engine running.

So as long as the engine could be turned faster than idle speed by the rolling tires, you were using no fuel. And it made sense since there didn't seem to be a need to inject fuel for the power stroke since the piston was being moved by the force from the driveshaft.

If that is true, I would imagine the 3rd gens would be similar, unless they inject fuel for emissions reasons (like the 3rd event). But even then, it should be minor amounts since the fuel isn't powering the engine to turn the higher RPM.

 

This is true, provided you do not have your foot on the clutch. You referenced "coasting", which I consider putting trans in nuetral on a manual. with manual trans, you'll get better fuel economy by leaving it in gear when you are "coasting" towards a stop (motoring), rather than putting it in neutral (idle). Not much of a concern with an auto, but something I noticed with my manual.

I don't think you are off base at all. This information can save people money.

 

You're forgetting that most on the highway are using cruise and still have the EB on... so when you are "coasting" down that small hill, the EB is keeping you at your cruise controls set max speed. with the EB off, you are truly coasting downhill. That's where "using fuel" comes from and the mileage is suffering with the EB on. When OTR I turn mine off and have noticed a difference. Just keep an eye out for that bear sitting in the weeds since he'll notice you going faster downhill too.

Not sure if its a "surprise" feature or not, but I didn't notice it on my 2005... tap the turn signal for a second in either direction and you get a 3-4 flash "lane change" turn signal without having to hold it there or fully engage the turn signal.

 

When coasting my Edge Juice with Att tells me I use 0% fuel as long as the TC is locked up. As soon as the speed falls to 40 and the TC unlocks, the fuel usage goes up to about 4-5%. So on an auto, you get better mpg's coasting with the TC locked up than you would shifting into neutral.