16.2mpg for me from SF to LA and back cruise set at 85mph on I5, 3 adults, 3 kids and luggage for 4 nights 5 days. I did get it to stick at 86mph on cruise control somehow, but I had to slow for traffic and I couldn't get it back? I thought it was weird because every other time 85mph had been the max, it was on flat land.

I wanted to try to get my max MPG, but we got off to a late start and I had to make up time so I just decided forget it and went as fast as I could with out getting pulled over. CHP pulls over above 85mph on I5 from what I understand.

 

i dont think i have ever got less then 30mpg in mine...thats right THIRTY






















































on my bike

 

My truck is an '03 2500 2WD Quad Cab LWB. It has a headache rack, crossbed and sidebed toolboxes, a flip hitch GN and a Tommy Lift.

It weighs right at 8K sitting there empty.

I drive at LEAST 60% for mileage. I rarely exceed 1800RPM which is about 64MPH.

I coast whenever possible. I rarely ever whack the loud pedal unless I HAVE to.

EDIT: OH YEAH! I treat my autotragic transmission with kid gloves ESPECIALLY when it shifts into OD. So far SO GOOD!

I got the truck with 24,799 on the odo. It now is at 118K and change.

I tow 5,400LB dual axle tank trailer maybe once a week to various distances up to 270 miles one way, and it weighs 2,000 empty.

I have kept written records since I drove a 1990 Furd F350 7.3 NON turbo (avg. mpg 15.21).

My average up to 8-09-07 stands at 18.878. Lots of 20.xxx and 19.xxx make up the average. Best ever was 25.244 and worst was 14.449.

I try to fill up to the tip top each time, but can't always take the time.

What I KNOW is that my boss drives a Furd F250 Crew SWB 2WD with a 5.4 gasser. I had to drive it for a couple weeks when my truck was at the dealer and that thing is GUTLESS! It also gets less than 14 mpg!

ANOTHER EDIT: Dad has an '01 1500 with 318/Auto it averages low 16's and hunts on the semi hills around here. Same as the Furd gasser on the hunting gears thing. Cummins NEVER shifts down if my speed is at least 60.

I LOVE my Ram and have just started a 2 stroke/ Power Service regimen to keep it running as long as possible!

 

What is a 2 stroke/Power Service regime and how does it help MPG/Longevity ?

 

TCW-3 2 stroke oil (Super Tech from Walmart) has been found to be a lubricity help for Ultra Low Sulphur Diesel. In a study done at http://dieselplace.com/forum/showthread.php?t=177728
it was found to be a pretty cost effective cure for "dry" fuel.

Power Service is a Cleaning/Cetane Enhancing/Lubricity product that by itself on the above study isn't all that great.

But I plan to combine 200:1 TCW-3 with 8 ounces of Power Service to get the most benefit from each.

If it doesn't do a single thing for mileage, I still figure longevity can only be improved by it.

 

I added a quart of 2-cycle oil in my last tank. It didn't give me any increase in mileage in the city. Don't know about the highway.

 

so doe adding walmart two stroke oil help on mileage?

if so how much two stroke oil per gal?

 

Usually 1/2 quart to 1 quart per full tank. So about half an ounce to one ounce per gallon.

 

I'm not considering doing this 2-stroke oil deal, but I have a question. Is 2-stroke oil combustable? Considering it's intended use, I am of the opinion that maybe it is somewhat combustable. In a 2-stroke engine, the fuel/oil/air would enter the crankcase first (and do it's job there) and then into the combustion chamber.

So maybe it has some combustability ... but not nearly that of gas, or diesel. Therefore 2 strokes make smoke. That oil is not being completely burned.

So, this would be my answer/opinion to the guys above asking if it will increase your fuel mileage: No. In fact, it would reduce your mileage ... but maybe a negligible amount. So the loss in mileage would not even be measurable. The previous sentences are not based on fact. I'm just "thinking out loud" here. If some substance was added to diesel fuel that had more energy per unit than diesel fuel, and was combustable, then your fuel mileage would go up.

2-stroke oil would have some lubricity advantages. But according to Clessie when I called him (Clessie as in Cummins customer service), they said no additional lubricity was required with ULSD because the lubricity loss with removing sulfur was put back with other additives by the fuel refiners. And is part of the reason the cost of diesel fuel increased with ULSD. YMMV.

- JyRO

 

I made something of an error when I said my average MPG stands at 18.878

The true numbers after this am fillup was 19.067

When I filled up, I added 22 ounces of TCW-3 and 8 of Power Service. I then proceeded to tow the 5,400lb tank trailer approx 60 miles in some stop and go (lights and signs).

The overhead started at 21.3, and ended at 21.0 when I got the tank backed in at the shop. This seems pretty good as the overhead will sink like a stone if mileage is suffering.

Additionally I must lean out of the window and use an intercom at the customer and I could barely hear the engine, and didn't have to yell or repeat myself. So I truly believe it is quieter.

It may in fact be true that we don't need to add anything. But TCW-3 is pretty cheap insurance in case we are wrong!

 

But 2-stroke oil contains more Joules of energy than diesel. Your argument makes sense. I just don't know if the added energy content negates the lowered combustibility of the oil.

 

wcbcruzer - More Joules huh. That is interesting. If that is true, then wouldn't the 2-stroke oil have a better chance of burning in a diesel cycle versus spark ignition cycle? I'm thinking the additional heat & pressure of a diesel engine (at least when diesel fuel ignites) would aid in the combustion of this stuff. If that were true, and this 2 cycle oil would "light off," I would imagine that it could actually improve fuel mileage a tad.

And a bump (even a small one) plus the added lubricity would not be a bad thing ... me thinks.

- JyRO

 

I have a 2000 Quad Cab 4x4 with a Gear Vendors splitter, K+N filter, Power Puck and 4" exhaust and at 60-63 miles per hour my low fuel light regularly comes on between 650- 670 miles. I feel the important thing is to keep your speed around 60 mph unloaded, I notice that when you get much around 70 the gas mileage starts dropping fairly quickly.
Lastly, it's very important to fill your tank FULL to the top otherwise you willnot get real accurate readings.
Good luck,
Jerry

 

Yea and diesel engines can burn veggie oil and motor oil perfectly fine.

 

In my case 2 cycle oil has hurt my fuel mileage and or I wind up with sticking injectors in a few as 175 miles when I use any 2-cycle oil. I've heard from many who have 2004 and older engines and they can get 1-2 mpg better fuel mileage from putting in 1 oz of 2 cycle per gallon of fuel. All I can say is to try 2-cycle oil mixed in your fuel and if it works for you then that’s great and if not try some thing else.

Jyro,

As for the lube that is added to diesel fuel before it get delivered to the station, in some cases the lube does not get added in the correct amount that is should or at all while the truck is being loaded at the tank farm. You would be surprised to hear of the many screw-ups at the tank farm if you know someone who delivers fuel for a living, that is why many people use fuel additives to make sure the fuel system has the lube it needs.