Ok, I just went from a 2000 Ford Excursion Diesel (Had Ford 250 Powerstroke before that) to a New 05 Cummins Laramie, 2500, 4x4, QC, SB.

I have 800 miles on it so far and the best mpg I have gotten is 12.5 hand calc. What is up with this? From what I've read, it improves but most 05's seem to have a much better start than this. I was getting 20mpg with the excursion empty and about 17 pulling 10k Peque trailer. I've also noticed I don't have the power in the pull I did with the powerstroke. From talking to friends, they love their cummins and I've heard good things.

I pulled my boat (5500lbs) up the mt the other day, a steady incline for about 2 miles. If I floored it with the powerstroke, I could always get a steady increase in spead, easily upto 65. I could not get past 50mph with my new dodge and I tried with and without the tow/haul button.

With diesel prices going up, I don't want to wait to get 10-20,000 miles for my fuel economy to improve.

Where should I start to get my mpg back up and power? Any and ALL suggestions appreciated.

Dave

 

BTW BFG 265 with 3.73's

 

When my 05 was new i was getting 12 in town and 15 on the high way. Now that i have 8000 miles on it, i am getting 15 in town and 17 on the highway. It should improve a little from here on out. We will see. Its pretty hard for these 3rd gens(610) to break the 20 mpg barrier. I wouldnt get your hopes up. As far as the power of your truck, it will feel snappier as it breaks in at least mine did. If you still need more, i would add some more fuel to it. There are alot of ways to accomplish this. Good luck.

 

The mileage on the 03 and newer Dodge Cummins really sucks. There are a couple things to do, first go to this site and order the adjustable timing sensor and get it installed: http://www.rokktech.com/_mgxroot/page_10437.html

Then, add 2.5 ounces of acetone to each ten gallons of diesel to break the surface tension, and increase your mileage. http://www.pureenergysystems.com/new...00069_Acetone/

In place of acetone, you can also use a propane saturation injection system. Both accomplish the same thing.

If you do both of these things, you mileage will bounce up into the very high teens or low 20's.

There are a couple other things you can also do, one is to install one of Wagner's Catcher modified ECM's, and then get a TST Powermax CR and FASS pump kit. With the two of those, and the powermax set on 2, you will pick up another 4-5 mpg.

Good luck.

 

My '05 does better than that with 4:10s. Started out around 15 mpg, and is now at almost 17 on the highway, if i keep it at 70 mph or less. I just turned 10K miles.

 

I know that my 2005 2500 Regular Cab 4X4 gets 19.5 or so on the highway doing 55 to 57. When I go up to 65, I see 17.8-18.3. But around town, 14.5-15 is about the best I have seen. I have 4.10:1 rear with 48RE automatic. I have around 4500 miles on it. These figures were a little lower when new, but as I approach 5000, this seems to be what I am averaging now. It is a little less then my 2003 and a good bit less than my 2001, but hell, it puts out more hp and more torque....so overall, I am happy. I have a 35 foot camper that I pull quite regularly, but I don't know what the weight is....The 2005 pulls it without effort, but mileage seems to go down to 12 or so. But compared to my 1987 Chevy Suburban 4X2 C20 with a 454 that got 8mpg highway and 4 towing, I'll as happy as a pig in s--t.

 

Welcome to the DTR. It's a great place and great bunch of guys and gals.
From the posts I've read here on DTR about fuel mileage, it seems to be a big discussion. The thing I've noticed that seems to be the big difference, are peoples driving habits. I can consistenlty get 20+ mpg with my truck, with BOMBs and before. Another thing is this cummins is a medium duty engine, not a light duty like the powerstrokes and duramaxs. These engines need some mileage on them before they loosen up. Hope this helps.

P.S. Fill in your sig so we know whatcha got.

 

The lowest mpgs I've seen is 14.9. I don't do much city driving though. Assuming you're driving the Dodge the same way you're driving the Excursion, I think you have a problem.

 

Without being in the truck with a scan tool, and experincing the situation first hand it's too hard of a call to make. Trailer weight, what gear does the truck have, what rpm are you running, how steep of grade, etc.......

 

Thanks for all of the responses. I hope it doesn't take too long to break it in. I have several trailers and I'm usually pulling something, boat, equipment trailer, or a sawmill so that will hopefully work out some of the bugs.

I know of few have already made some suggestions, what about additional, low cost mods for increased fuel effeciency and power.

I added my sig, hopefully it posts.

Thanks
D!

 

My '05 had 10k miles on it now. I got a lift and bigger tires 2k miles ago.

When it was new, I was getting great milage, almost better then the '04 Dmax I was driving before this. Now, the milage is still pretty good considering I got 37s. I was getting about 17mpg. If I kept it at 65mph, it was good. Start doing 80 with it, and gets way worse.

I think the biggest problem with the none dodge owners buying a dodge and feeling "gutless" is the auto tranny. I feel the same way. I feel the dmax would outdo this thing in anything power/speed related. But I think with a converter/minor tranny mods, this would seriously change.

I plan on edge juice w/attitude in addition to my mods in sig. I also have the Rokk sensor, and, i think I will HAVE to get a better converter and some valvebody mods to "fix" my stock tranny. I think then I will finally be happy.

Funny though....was happy driving a stock Dmax. I want to try an '06 one with the 6 speed allison.

 

The mod that is the cheapest and typically helps the most is the Rokktech Sensor. to gain between 1 and 3 mpg for 69 bucks and the low end torque you can't beat it

 

Sorry.. I forgot the link. Here it is http://www.rokktech.com/_mgxroot/page_10437.html

 

Wow, those number are scarry. My old 3 speed gets 20mpg in town with a light foot and 17 in town with a heavy foot. On the highway at @65mph I get 23-24mpg.

I'm starting to think I should keep my old truck a little longer. I like the milage with over 600rwtq.

 

Ahhh, screw it, I still want a new 600. There sooo nice.

Just dont tell anyone, since I'm such a big chevy fan.