Back when I bought my '99 2500 reg cab 4x4 CTD, I would religously get 19-20mpg on the highway running 70mph and about 17-18 around town empty and about 16-17 towing my work trailer. These are all warm weather numbers by the way. Once the cold weather was here, drop each by about 1.5-2mpg. Then in about '02-'03, if I remember right, the best I could do on the highway was about 18 and around town empty 16. The truck was running as good as ever too. With all the posts about poor milage on the newer trucks, I wonder if the refineries aren't doctoring the fuel a bit. My '04 gets 17 on the highway hand calculated. The overhead counsel says 15.5 or so. I think these trucks should get better than that. My '99 proves that. Does anyone else recall back then a drop in milage that you could not account for?? It's been like that since. I gave my '99 to my Dad ( he loves the diesel by the way ) and he gets 17-18 on the highway. Truck is just now getting broke in with about 150k on it. What do you all think??? Am I nuts??? By the way, I'm getting the reflash done on Thursday on my 04.5 and will let you know my impressions and/or results. By the way, my '99 had K&N air filter, a straight pipe all the way and a Banks Git Kit. All these were on before the milage drop. That truck still screams!!!!! Just had to ask this question!!! Thanks!!

 

Well, as far the winter mileage is considered, you can chalk that up to winter blend fuel.

 

And extra idling and it takes longer for the engine to heat up and start completely burning the fuel.


phox

 

Yes , I remember the "unexplained" drop in economy about that era. But I was RV'ing the USA too, and noticed 1.5 - 2 mpg's change from one state to the next. I had my 95 Ford PSD at that time. Yes the refineries have been changing the fuels because the good ol EPA requires it. Claims it makes less and better emmissions. I'm not sure how they get that conclusion when your economy drops by 10% to 20% and they charge you more at the pumps because of the "new blend of fuel". I have a lot I want to say about this problem but I would end up writing a book. I think you understand my point. The oil companies can create their own shortage by making the fuel give 10%-20% less economy, causing the cars to use more fuel and create a shortage claiming the demand went up and raise prices again. We are at the mercy of big brother watching out for our best interests and telling us what is best for us.

 

Thank you very much Hemi Cat!!!! You confirmed my suspitions. There is no reason for a truck that is running in darn near top condition to all at once drop almost 2 mpg. Like I said in my original post, the problem of good milage in the newer trucks could be from the oil companies themselves. Just think about it everyone???!!!!

 

There was a mafia scam a few years back that was busted adding water to gasoline in NYC
Maybe they moved the operation to Illinois and switched to diesel?

 

The "New Mafia" has their headquarters and general meetings at the oil co's conference rooms. I wonder if the revised abreviation is now OPEC.

 

Diesel quality has been all over the map for several years. Quality control depending on refinery, or distributor has been mostly lacking. Need some consumer testing and how about "Investigative Reports" that need to be published. That would help fix some of the problems.