A while back I posted a question on my fuel light coming on after guzzling 26 gallons of fuel. To this day the **** thing is like clock work. I have 10 gallons that sit in the tank not being used and I am filling up after 370 miles off one tank. I was reading somewhere that if these trucks run out of fuel they have updated the system to where the fuel filter will self prime itself incase of a out of fuel scenerio comes up.

I'm wanting to run my truck for another 6 gallons more just to pull those extra miles. I understand the safty margin but if I can run almost close to empty then I'm getting more driving time and less fueling time in. I think the dual are killing me on my gas mileage. I'm not happy with the results (15 MPG on average unloaded) I'm getting and have actually considered getting rid of it and going with a 2500 HO auto or adding a computer when they come out to up the MPG.

I bought the duals for one purpose pulling a trailer through Kansas and hitting those **** side winds. I've seen so many guys pulling campers sliding all over the place due to high side winds, which is common sometimes out there. After having the duals and pulling with them it makes me always want to have them.

What do you guys suggest in both situations????

 

I don't think the duals are going to hit your mileage in a big way. <br><br>The engine needs to break in.<br>My 2001 was a hog on fuel until about 18,000 miles and thats with hooking up a big load and working it from the start. I was at 14 mpg calculated and my computer said 16 and a bit.<br>In the warm months empty rolling down the hwy at 70-75 mph in a 4x4 quad 6 spd I net 21 MPG on average and on a good day 24. Combined is 17 but when I am hard on the pedal...down near 12.<br><br>Fuel blends this time of year in different areas of Canada and the USA can hurt the mileage by about 2-3 mpg and the colder it gets the worse it gets.<br><br>I have Push Rods truck here and its down at 14.2 on the computer.<br><br>As for the fuel light...My fuel light would come on and I would go another 60 miles or more and I could've still gone further so I went with the 5th wheel while my conputer was reading...distance to empty -68 miles. LOL<br>I filled up and it took 1/2 gallon shy of what the tank holds.<br>Sometimes knowing you have a ten gallon reserve like what you have means a lot when you're out in the boonies cuz sometimes theres a lot of road between stops.<br><br>Just my thoughts on it. Keep that dually. ;D

 

Lets try not to blame the truck. Lets look at the the driving style. :'( ;DJMO.Try running it at 2000 rpm max.<br>Stay out of it and see what happens.<br>Note: I`m not bashing you. Just tring to help.<br>I`m getting 18.7 ave. in total cityt driving. ;D

 

I appreciate the input. I do stay off the pedal and go about 65-70 on average on the highways. Whats weird is some tanks are better than others, what I mean is some times I will get 450 miles out of a tank sometimes I get 350 I guess it all boils down to my city and highway driving. Thanks again guys. <br>

 

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My dually is giving me a solid 18 in town. Been about 800 miles since I was on the road solid with it, but got better than 19 then with only 300 miles on it. I am now sitting at 1400 miles. I don't think the duallies are hurting you. I assume you have checked the air?<br><br>Bob

 

What axle ratio do you have? I'm guessing 4.10's, am I correct?

 

My sticker does'nt say, I assume its 3.73's. Is that whats killing me?

 

If the window sticker doesn't list 4:10 as an option, then you in fact do have the 3:73 gearing. You will get better mileage with the 3:73s. I just picked up my 03 3500 Quadcab 4X4 HO six speed SRW Saturday. It averaged 19.2 on the return trip of 166 miles. My 01.5 2500 4X4 Quadcab HO six speed 3:55 averaged 16.5 MPG on the trip out. I am impressed with my MPG for a brand new truck. Your mileage does suffer with the winter blend but you should be getting better, who knows?

 

It is not your duals and it is not the 4.10 axle. I just got 19.4 on the last tankful. And it is COLD here. I ran 65 and some around town.<br><br>Casey

 

I'm seriously questioning this. I do have an auto and expect to lose about 1 MPG over the manual. I don't know how having a SO would affect the difference you HO guys are seeing. What do you think I should do? <br>

 

Check your glove box sticker...should say if you've got 4.10's or not. I only get around 15-16 too, but I'm at nearly 6000 FT. elevation. My last tank was 16.2. Also, my mileage suffers at highway speed. If I keep it at 50, and be light on the foot, I get around 20, but that never happens. Towing my trailer I only get 9-11, depending on the hills etc.<br> Do you spend alot of time over 2000 RPM's?

 

No 4.10 gears in the back just 3.73's. I do tend to get on it every now and then, but for the most part I stay around 1900 RPM's. I've never had a full tank average out to 16 when doing both city and highway or just city. I did have a few tanks lag out to 17-18 when taking a long highway trip with no load. Sometimes I feel like I should have kept my dodge 1500 or gotten a manual tranny based on what I'm getting per tank. I'm not impressed with the numbers I'm getting and what everyone else is getting.Hmmmmmm.

 

For what it's worth, I've been averaging between 16.5-17.7 mpg in my '03. The most fuel I've put into the tank has been 27 gallons and some change, and that was running close to what I thought was going to be empty based on what the fuel needle was showing. Most of my highway speeds are between 75 and 80, so I'm pretty pleased with the mileage that I get. I certainly can't complain since I have a heavy foot on the interstate.<br><br>I, too, am confused by the amount of fuel I've put in my truck. The first few times I filled it up, I didn't put more than 25 gallons in it. I'm halfway tempted to run the thing until it dies just to see how many miles that will come out to, and how much fuel I can get in the tank.

 

LinearX,<br>Don't give in to the temptation and run your truck dry. That is a no no on a diesel. You risk possible damage to the pumps and could have one heck of a time getting it refired after it loses it's prime.