So, this is my girlfriends account, she likes to read up on the cool dodge stuff, but doesn't really understand the guts of the truck (i'm trying to explain it)

But now she actually has a problem, and I'm hoping this will help.

Here goes. . .

She has a 04.5 Dodge 2500, ccsb, 4x4, on 33's, with a 5" (i think) exhaust. It was there when she bought it, and i have no idea what brand or anything.

The past few weeks she has been getting horrible (i mean BAAAADDDDD) fuel economy, like down in the 12 - 13 mpg range. We only use her truck for her to drive to work, and haul an occasional (every few months or so) horse trailer. She isn't lead footed at all.

I took it to the dealership for her, thinking an injector may be bad, and they said there was no trouble code, and the truck had spent ±42% of it's engine hours in "idle mode" and that she needed to drive it harder. Then we talked to another tech at the same dealership and he said that the 33" tires would make it get that bad of an economy. Those just didn't sit right with me.

So, is there anything I can do to help? performance parts, etc.... to get the mileage up?

P.S. i replaced the fuel filter and checked for water in the fuel before I took it in, changed the oil cause it needed it, and nada.

Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance!!!!

 

Where are you? Winter fuel makes a noticible difference.

 

I don't know where you live, but the winter blend fuel has knocked my mileage down a few notches since it has been put into the tanks. Luckily my smarty has helped it a little bit. But the bigger tires will affect mileage, although if it was getting good mileage with the bigger tires before, that won't be an issue. You might also clean the air filter, then just run the dog out of it. If it's spent 42% of it's life idleing....that's alot of time. You might get some injector cleaner and run it through the paces a few tanks.

 

I live in Prescott, AZ, and i'm not sure exactly what they do to the fuel up there, but i'm gonna start with the injector cleaner, and see what happens. Thanks!

 

Get the high idle enabled, a cool dealer will do it for free. 42% of engine life in idle is high. Do a search on "high idle" in thread titles.

 

Fuel filter is important as well, and of course the air filter....

 

So the newest update, I listened to everyone's advice, did the air and fuel filter again (even though it's been less than 2500 miles since they were done) told her to stay under 2,000 rpm's, and got the high idle turned on. So she was driving today, and the truck just plain died. I think its a fuel delivery problem, so it's at the dealer again. I'll give everyone the news when it comes back, but i think that a bad fuel pump / injector pump may have been the culprit all along.... I guess i'll know for sure next week!!!

 

Bad lift pump or extreme carbon buildup. You could try some seafoam in the fuel canister. It contains alcohol which will help get that carbon off, but don't use it often.