Picked up my truck Thursday from Lithia Dodge in Eugene, Oregon. Salesman was waiting for me at the train station. I'm impressed! Didn't even need to call him. Got to the dealer, and the truck was sitting there for me all spiffy and detailed. Spent less then an hour there, and started driving to San Francisco to meet my wife who was there on a business trip.
For those of you who don't remember I ordered a:
2004.5 CTD 600. 4x4, auto, QuadCab, SWB, 4.10 gears Laramie evertything truck.
Headed out of Eugene with just a 1/4 tank. They had not filled it up, but considering the deal (1000.00 under invoice and all the rebates including the 500.00 FB, 2000.00 and 0%) I was ok with that.
After driving slow for the first 50 miles I stopped and filled up at a truckstop.
275.5 miles later driving through the Cascade mountains at 60-65 mph the overhead was claiming 15.6 MPG. Figured not bad since even in the manual it says that fuel consumption will suffer untill breakin.
Hand calculated the 15.6 turned into 17.26 mpg!!!! That driving through the cascades was great! OK, continued to San Francisco at 65mph. Drove around SF in the stop and go hilly streets for 2 days. filled up again after 394.7 more miles. Second leg hand calculated was down to 16.51 mpg with an average trip mpg of 16.81 after a total of 670.20 miles and 39.86 gallons consumed. Remember this includes 2 days in San Francisco stop and go traffic as well as the mountains of Oregon and Northern California.

Brian

 

That is excellent. Back in February when I first got mine... I was showing 11.3 and 12.3 in the first 800 miles hand calculated. Now have almost 7000 miles and it is up to 13.8 mpg. Still unhappy with that...I wouldn't think a DRW LB would make that much difference especially since I have 373's. My driving style is very easy also.

 

Maybe the rumor is true that they figured out the problem. I know that so far I am very pleased. I will tow next Friday, although not a challenging pull, and just my 5K lb. trailer, but a pull non-the-less!

 

No vibration!!! I thought all SB 4x4s had the vibration at 70mph. If you don't have it, you must be living right, you lucky dog.

I think a lot of us are going to have a fight on our hands to get DC to fix this.

Neil

 

Congrats.

NJMurvin:
My SB 4x4 does not have 70mph vibration.

Oh, and i'm getting 18mpg highway now. I can get 15mpg city if i take the right streets. I have about 2900 miles on the clock.

-Sam

 

Just got back from a 1000 mile trip .
17.1 @ 75
18.3 @ 65 to 70 (heavy traffic and fog)
hand calculated......overhead read 16.4
3800 mile on her.
Love my 600

 

I too just got my 600 on Saturday Just outside of Oakland and drove back down to So Cal., 17 MPG hand calculated 16 mpg on computer. I did a short tour of San Francisco in traffic also. No vibration, no injection noise. 700 miles on it so far!

I look forward to the next 500K+ miles.

 

I don't have any vibration at any speed on my SB 4x4. I get about 16.5 on the highway. 14.11 overall mostly city. 2000 miles on it so far.

 

With my exhaust and air filter I am getting about 13 MPG on average. On the highway during the long haul I get about 15 MPG. The duals kill the milage and the 4.10's don't help much either. I still love my truck, it could be worse, I could have a......gulp.....HEMI!!

 

1st tank 13.4
2nd tank 16.1
3rd tank 16.5
4th tank who knows maybe 17

 

Over 1800 miles now with no vibration. Mileage aound 16 mixed driving.
Ed

 

My truck got around 20 on the highway when it was new, and improved slightly since then. This seems typical of the 555.

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but I don't see how you could say that maybe the rumors are true, and the milage problem has been fixed while getting 17 or less.

I realize I'm running 3.73's and SRW, but still...

Again, I'm not trying to cheeze anyone off. I just think DC needs to find a way to get the 600 up in the 20 to 21 mpg range.

 

Talked to my dealers desiel mechanic yesterday he called thier hot line number asked about the 600 mpg and they told him cummins was working on it but had not found a way to increase milage and maintain the torque.

 

Beginning in January 2004 was the first year of the phase in of much tighter diesel emission limits which culminate in 2007. There is every reason to believe that the fall off in fuel mileage for the Cummins 600 is a direct result of the need to meet these emission limits. Many of us have been caught off guard by the performance/fuel efficiency impacts of meeting the tighter emission limits. But aren't we also in for a few more surprises as the manufacturers strive to meet the increasingly stringent limits in 2005, 2006, and 2007?

Does anyone care to speculate on what will happen to diesel engine performance, maintenance requirements, fuel efficiency, and cost between now and 2007?

What about the cost and performance of ultra low sulfur diesel fuel that is also mandated by 2007?

I'm all for cleaner diesels, I just don't like the uncertainties and lack of information about what the future holds.

 

Well, if that's the case, then I'm willing to let Cummins detune mine back into a 305/555 @ 18+ MPG, then if I feel the need, I'll just bomb it a little with aftermarket parts to get the power back up, keeping (or even improving) the mileage!!

Running empty on the hwy getting only 14mpg absolutely sucks if you ask me... I was getting that with my 5.9L Gasser Scared to see what this thing will get while towing my boat.