Just bought my first diesel truck, a 2004 QC, 4x4, and have a few questions. I've read on this forum that the turbo should be cooled. What exactly does this entail? Are extended 80mph runs damaging? Also, is there somewhere in owner's manual or on the truck that tells me my gear ratio? Currently getting 17.3 mpg with 18" rims, over-sized tires, and have ordered Super Chip and K&N breather. Truck has 75,000 miles on it, and also has 2.5 inch leveling kit. Any suggestions for getting the most mileage out of this truck? I travel a lot of long distances for my business, and bought the truck for it's efficient motor.

Should I go back to stock tires and rims, and lose the leveling kit? Or will it only save me 1mpg? Any suggestions will be much appreciated since I'm in new territory. Have owned Fords and Toyota Tundra, and really like this truck, but want to treat it right. Thanks!

 

Welcome to DTR

Cooling the turbo is only needed if you have been pushing her hard for awhile. All you have to do is let it idle for 30 - 60 seconds to allow the EGT's to cool the turbo so you don't "coke" (cook) the oil in it.

80 MPH runs are only damaging to the pocket book in low MPG's. The truck can handle it fine. Slow down to -70 get better MPG's. Leave the level kit alone and see what you can do by slowing down a tad.

Cancel the order for the super chip and get a Smarty. You'll be glad you did.

Take a minute and fill out your signature so we know what truck you have, mods, tires, boot size, ect.




DO NOT..... (I REPEAT)...... DO NOT START A THREAD ABOUT WHICH IS THE BEST OIL or FILTERS! Please!

Also, do not take serious any reference to a certain way to add weight to your truck via a concrete bedliner.

If Lary (TOP) talks to you say; "Yes sir & No sir."

If a certain Beagle1 asks you for a donation to help build his CTD Gremlin send the money to me.

BigBlue is an Aggie so take what he says with the grain of salt.

Shovelhead Ed is an FBI agent.

P.J. is a welching deadbeat ( kidding) and owes me money for a bet I won.

 

From my experience you can get great mileage on the big tires if you know when to say when. On my dually I run 35 inch Mud-Terrains (I havent seen mileage drops as log as you stay within a 33-38 inch tire,but dont go any smaller than 33 either,I can explain later if you want me to) and pull off 18-23 mpg depending on my speed and the terrain I am driving in, I stay around a good 70-85 mph on the highway. And thats very normal for me, I never take it easy on my truck. I constantly drive the crap out of it. Depending on where you are in South TX you should be in pretty flat terrain and be able to get great mileage even with a load. If you want some more ideas let me know, I travel all over central and south TX pulling some pretty heavy loads sometimes. If you want send me an e-mail with your name and number and I will give you a call instead of posting a bunch of stuff here. Let me know what you think.

 

Nice primer on DTR... But the only thing to watch out for from Beagle is his desire to own a AMC vehicle

Also there are much better options than a K&N filter, just do a search. I had my K&N let dust through, I am not just repeating what I have heard.

 

Regarding your other question, look in the glove box for a sticker listing the rear axle. It will either be 4.10 or 3.73. With my truck milage seems to vary with road speed, and not so much with engine RPM.

As far as cool down goes, it isn't really needed when driving empty around town, but I idle a minute or two before shutting down if I just pulled off the freeway, and a few minutes if towing the 5th wheel or if I just climbed a grade at freeway speed.

An exhaust pyrometer is a good idea if you plan to tow heavy, or add performance stuff, and it also takes the guesswork out of how long to cool down...

 

I didn't want to scare the new guy. He'll figure it out soon enough that Beagle1's medication levels are still a work in progress.

 

Jeff,
Aren't 3.54's an option also?

 

I could be wrong, but I think it was just 3.73 and 4.10 for 03 and after, when they switched to AAM. I think 3.54 was around on earlier Dana's.

 

Thanks for all the info. Sounds like I already screwed up by going with the Super Chip. My buddies are all Edge guys, but that sounds like all horsepower and no mileage to me. Super Chip is what the dealer suggested, and a friend with a Mega Cab got a 3mpg bump with it.

I travel a lot of miles and long distances across country for my business, usually with no load, but occasionally pulling a small 2-wheel Wells Cargo,(no tandem axles, bumper pull) weighing 2000-2500 lbs. I pulled it with a Tundra, which got 17-18 until pulling trailer, then it dropped to 9!

My longest pull is South Texas to the Rodeo Finals in Vegas. Am going to try fuel additives (PS grey and MMO) to get the most mpg I can. And it looks like I'm going to have to slow down, which will be hard for me.

Any other suggestions will be much appreciated---I want to learn all I can about this truck, since I plan on having it a long time.