Gunship Guy

My truck has 2500 miles on it. 21-23 mpg running 55 mph empty. 15-16 mpg running 55 mph with 10,000 lbs trailer. 3.73 gears and automatic trans.

TON4FUN

Thats funny I had the same setup you had before I switched to the 48RE and 4.10 gears and got nowhere near that mileage. I got 10 MPG loaded with 8K and around town I was lucky to get 15-16 MPG unloaded with the 3.73 gears. I had 12K on my truck before I traded it in for another with more gonads.

My new one gets about 14 MPG unloaded and about 11 loaded with 8K on the back. I think you are the only one with a dually, 4X4, and auto running that kind of mileage.

bh74731

Just for the record, my 03 empty is averaging about 18 at 60mph and 16.8 at 70 mph. My Hi-Lo trailer only weighs about 4,500 lbs and is low profile. I get about 14.5 towing it at 65mph.

commonrail

I just calculated my mileage over the 3600 miles I've got on my 2500 HO 6 speed 4X4 & it came to an average of 17.9 mpg. Best actual (miles/gal for a single tank, not indicated by computer) was 20.4 on a tank that was about 1/2 freeway/mountains & 1/2 short commute to work. All except a few miles with a 10K load were empty other than bed cargo which doesn't seem to make much of a difference. Almost all except the one tank noted above were short trips around town. I also calculated the average computer indicated mileage by using wieghted averages of each tank over the 3600 miles and it shows 17.6 mpg. I'm pretty convinced that with the variability of fill level, the computer indicated mileage is closer to actual than what I calculate over any single tank.

bh74731

Commonrail:

I agree about the computer accuracy. I checked mine against hand calculations and it seems to be right on .

turbov6joe

2003 3500 SRW 4x4 crew cab HO 6 speed 3.73's and 14k miles I get ~17.5 mpg (hand calculated) with 80%-90% of my driving on the highway @ 70 mph. Towing my 3500 pound race car with a 1500 pound flatbed under it I typically see ~13-15 mpg over the long haul running 65-75 mph. With the new Edge EZ on #4 I'm seeing about the same MPG so far.

t6_man

I've only got about 4300 miles on my '03 so far. I took it on a 3,434 mile trip in July pulling my 30' high profile 5er. My speeds varied from 50 to 75, with most of the trip done at 65-70. Of this 3,434 miles, all but about 150 miles was pulling the trailer. At the end of the trip, the computer said 11.0 mpg; hand calculation came out to 10.8 mpg. Pretty close...

turbov6joe

My overhead used to be almost right on the number....maybe within a tenth or so. Then all of the sudden it wasn't even close and has stayed that way. Since the Edge it's WAY off, so hand calculations are it for here on out!

cumminsho2500

UHHH OK MY COMPUTER SAY 12.6 MPG.....WHY IS MY GAS SOOOO BAD COMPARED TO YOURS I DO HAVE 4.10 AND DRIVE LIKE 50 - 65 BUT IM ALWAYS EMPTY MY TRUCK IS A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE FOR ME NO TOWING. AND I DONT BEAT ON IT AT ALL I USUALLY DRIVE AROUND 2000 RPM. WHAT IS WRONG???? ???

cumminsho2500

P.S. ITS A AUTOMATIC TRANS, AND I DO ALOT OF CITY DRIVING.

spots

ooohhh my ears are bleeding again. I only use ear plugs at work.

commonrail

[quote author=cumminsho2500 link=board=17;threadid=18536;start=15#msg177773 date=1062090711]
UHHH OK MY COMPUTER SAY 12.6 MPG.....WHY IS MY GAS SOOOO BAD COMPARED TO YOURS I DO HAVE 4.10 AND DRIVE LIKE 50 - 65 BUT IM ALWAYS EMPTY MY TRUCK IS A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE FOR ME NO TOWING. AND I DONT BEAT ON IT AT ALL I USUALLY DRIVE AROUND 2000 RPM. WHAT IS WRONG???? ???
[/quote]

I'm guessing the 4.10 & AT are important factors. I'm also pretty easy on mine since most of the time it doesn't even get up to temp on my short trips. I'm also at 5000 ft. which might help keep it de-fueled when it's not under much boost.
From times when I've filled up such that my comp has been recently re-set and I can run at 55 mph constant without stops, I'm pretty sure I can get 22 - 24 mpg even with the 4X4 QC. I'd guess a tonneau would also help quite a bit with >75 mph freeway speeds.

If you don't monitor all of your tank mileage by the comp, try re-setting when you can run a constant 55 over 10 mi. or so & see what it averages. I don't ever re-set inbetween fills since I'm collecting hand calculated vs. comp readings.
Kris

diesel_lv

With hand calculation I get 16.5mpg in town but I drive it like I stole it....Took a trip to Oregon pulling a double axle car trailer with a small suzuki samari on it cruised 80 in Nevada and then backed down to 70 in CA and OR....EGT's never above 800 except when nailing it to pass...Averaged 14.8 hand calculated 2100 miles approx round trip....empty at 80 - 85 Vegas to LA over the baker grade I average 19.5 to 20.5..cant complain with those numbers

Kodiak

I have a 2003 dodge diesel 5.9 engine, 3.74 ratio, automatic 2500 2X4. Up until 10000 miles I got 22 to 23 mpg on the highway. Change oil and filter and went for road trip and could only get 18 to 19 mpg. Pulling mileage has remained at 11 to 12 mpg. Took it to dealer and checked it out and said could do nothing for it. Anyone have a solution????

CTDinMT

19.9mpg according to the trip comp. I have 5 speed w/3.73 gears and 1400 miles on the CTD. I love this truck!!! ;D