The Boss Hog

My trailering guide list max trailer weight as 8,000 lbs. With the auto, the only prohibition listed was to downshift on downgrades. If it could not handle O/D, it would down shift by itself. It could not and it did. Your trailing guide may be different.

Most people who are truely interested in getting a problem resolved do not title their first post with "Never Again a Dodge!" followed by a string of explatives that the moderator had to remove.

The Boss Hog
(Have a nice day . . . . .)

Slider

I did say in a previous post Hog that I was sorry for coming on a strong, what else do you want? I did not cuss or write out any bad words just used the “Shift key” and some numbers. Moderator wants to take that as swearing ok fine, I won’t do it again.

And I agree most people are truly interested in getting a problem solved and I truly appreciate all that have responded, they have helped a lot, even your comments are appreciated Boss Hog even if they are digs about my truthfulness, if you mean it, say it! Last thing I would think you should be worried about is what I call the thread, who knows maybe it will be just that for me “Never again a Dodge!” I hope not, but time will tell. I’m not a posser with a Chevy or Ford just out to bash a Dodge truck! I took the big leap from being a life long Chevy person to Dodge, it was a Big change for me and I was shocked at the mileage I got after following all the rules and waiting until 1800 miles to tow with it. Again thanks for everyone’s input & comments; I will try to share what I learn from this with the forum.

Buzzer

Definitly let us know how things progress. I believe were all interested in seeing how you make out.

coolslice

I'm in the same boat. I am very disappointed with my mileage. I have tried everything that is supposed to boost mpg almost to the point of overkill. The best I have and gotten is 13.8.

Before I bought this truck, I spoke with my uncle who is a farmer. He has been using trucks like this to pull for years. When I said I wanted a diesel, he said "why?" I said for the power and gas mileage. He said that I had been mislead. He told me of other farmers who had them and said they didn't get any better milage and were not any stronger pullers for stuff around the farm than his Chevy HD is.

I thought he was crazy, but at times I feel like an idiot for not listening to someone w/ some experience. I don't believe these guys on here saying they are getting 18- 20+mpg out of a 4x4 600. The ONLY way mine would get 20 is if I drove 13 and had it towed the other 7 miles. Don't get me wrong, I love the truck, but it is not my everyday driver.

FrankB

Slider
Can you confirm " 65mph @ 3100rpm"

It seems the RPM is very high for the speed. My math says a 4.10 rear end at 2200 RPM should get you 73.6 MPH in OD (0.69) and 50.8 in 3rd (1.0). no OD.

The above calculations are based on using LT235/80R18E tires and a 48RE Trans.

It is my understanding that the "sweet spot" on the 04 is ~ 1900-2100 RPM

Cheers frank

NJMurvin

This is most likely an issue with the 600 engine. Nothing else changed between the 04 and 04.5 that would affect mileage variations as much as is reported here. I experienced close to 20mpg with my Ford PSD (7.3) on the hwy and close to 17 around town. I haven't been on the highway yet with the CTD, but so far I am VERY disappointed with the mileage (in the 12s). Between this and the vibration, I'm feeling some serious buyer's remorse coming on. I'm going to let it break in before getting too upset, but I can't see it coming up more than 1 mpg or so. I hope I'm wrong.

At least my cab smell is going away and I don't have the rear end whine (but I have only 800 miles on it and read today that I won't notice that until around 3000 miles when the gears break in - ).

As for the rest of the truck, I love it.

Neil

Slider

FrankB - those numbers "65mph @ 3100rpm" I was talking about my my half ton 99 Chevy. it has a 6" fabtech lift kit 315 tires 4.56 gears.

Your numbers for the 4.10rear end @2200 is almost exactly what the GPS said, I was doing 71~73 and getting 7.4mpg

Thanks FrankB, I will try this, this weekend. I will take the trailer out see what MPG i get towing @ 1900rpm

Eddy Reyes

It gets better!
04.5/3500/Quad/4x4/6 speed manual/3.73/285-70-17 tires (32.8")

New
50 to 55 miles x hour 17 miles x gal
60 to 65 miles x hour 15.5 miles x gal
70 to 75 miles x hour 14 miles x gal

Now
50 to 55 miles x hour 20 miles x gal
60 to 65 miles x hour 18 miles x gal
70 to 75 miles x hour 16 miles x gal

And getting better!

coolslice

I hope you're right, but I see some that say their mpg go down as more miles are put on, and some that say it goes up. Considering my own personal experience, I'd say it will stay the same because it can't get much worse. If I could get over 15 on the hwy, that would be great.

Hounddog

Above 2000rpm with THAT trailer.Sounds normal to me.Keep it under 2000 even 1950 and see what happens.Run 90 to nothing pulling a parachute and your mileage showed it.

Truckjerk

You wanted mpg, should have bought a truck that didnt weigh 7500lbs. Go down to the local used carlot, and get yourself a "65 special "volkwagen diesel pickup. 65mpg, 65hp, 65 lbft of torque. Id hate to hear the crying if he had bought the hemi, or a v10. Wont buy another dodge because of the fuel mileage, try getting a better paying job. Just wait until winter, the price of fuel will flip flop with that of gasoline.

Slider

OK..truck came back from the Dealer today, the service manger said the ECM is up to date, and he gave me a print out of a bunch of statistics from the ECM: below is the info

ECM# 203252253AG

Total Fuel – 243 gallons
Total Time - 94 hrs
Total Idle Fuel – 22galons
Total Idle time – 35hrs
Total Distance - 2838 miles
Total Ave Fuel – 12mpg

% of time at Load:
0-10% Load - 18.1%
11-20% - 26.9%
21-30% - 18.8%
31-40% - 12.6%
41-50% - 7.1%
51-60% - 3.0%
61-70% - 2.1%
71-80% - 1.2%
81-90% - 0.4%
91-100% - 0.3%

The service manger said my idle time is killing me and the D600 uses a lot more fuel at idle than previous engines. I don’t really ever it just sit and idle unless I’m in rush hour traffic. Anyway this is what the manger said, what do you guys think, Believable?

Patrick Campbell

I got 10 MPG towing this going 75 MPH
http://p90.cdevco.net:808/bigboat.jpg

Darn that high drag cargo.

Maybe all these people with their 600's just need to break the motor in a little...

Thirsty600

5,000 miles later I am still gettin a whoping 12.6MPG empty and 9.0MPG loaded with 8,000lb boat.

DodgeRamCO42

Tim:

Surely it will get better.

I'm from western Colorado, and haul my 18-foot boat to Blue Mesa from time to time. Pretty steep passes, as you may know. Get between 15 and 17. So, your problems aren't the general rule, and once the engine gets better broken in, your lousy fuel mileage should go away.