I am sure I will see my share of naysayers, but I will swear on a stack of bibles.... Had to make a run over to my childhood home, 255 miles, mostly 2 lane Hwy, small towns, etc, with about 50ish of it on I 65. I also put 100 miles during my stay screwing around, city and country driving, I drove it normally, not really trying to save fuel, but not laying a haze either ( Except for that moron biker on SR 26....), 60-62 Hwy, 72-75 on the Interstate. I filled up both times at the same exact pump, and filled to within 3" of the top of the neck, clear fuel so no error from foaming fuel.

622.8 miles, 28.63 Gals, or 21.753 MPG! WooHoo! This is pretty much level cruising, and whatever I gained going one way was negated going the other, but I am pretty doggone proud of a 4WD 3/4 ton behemoth that could average that mileage!

 

Very nice! How long did it take you to fill it up to the neck like that?

 

From what I understand that is just below normal for a 97.

 

^That's very good mileage. I wouldn't say below normal.

 

Then people have been pulling my Dorsal Fin...I thought the 2nd gens were getting 22-24mpg? I got 21 to Santa Cruz and back about 180 miles or so (Hand Calc) all highway, one 1800ft pass. I just keep her below 2000rpms. Now surface streets with highway mixed in, if I'm lucky I'll break 17 over a tank.

 

22-24?? Naw, that's all internet hype and people feeling proud. It happens on occasion, but not a norm. I get 18 on the freeway doing 65 mph, unloaded...

 

18-21 is the norm for most, us privelaged drivers are an exception. then again some cant get above 15.

 

Not long at all, the place I prefer to fill up at has the bigger semi type nozzles, so you can fill at a good rate without too much foam, then spend a Min. or so getting it full.

 

I think it is far more common for the 2WD guys, they set a little lower and don't have the front axle drag ( though I don't know how much that really affects the diesel ) I know I was shocked and I kept it under 2K for the whole trip, mostly in the 1600-1750 range. I am running relatively narrow 235-85-16 AT style tread tires and made sure they were at 80 PSI, so that might well have helped some, but I don't think that is the whole answer.

What I do know is I doubt I screw around with it as much as I thought I was, probably just do a 4" exhaust and a good tranny for now.......

 

best i got was 21, i average 19 just driving without thinking of saving fuel.

 

I normally average between 20-23 mpg on the freeway with a heavy foot. But then again my truck weighs 5685 lbs with me in it.

 

I got 18-20mpg with my 03 6 speed 4x4 HO 3.73, but have only gotten 17-17.5 with my 94 4x4 auto 3.54.

 

I got over 21mpg on the way down to Florida.

 

From Fort ST John BC to Fort to Mc Murray AB I get 23.4 or about ??? 9.8 L /100 km's but not much power althought this is with the 235/85/16 tires. I did have power today although. From Prince George to home here. I passed a 4500 motorhome pulling two river boats on a trailer. WOW that was nice.It seems to like the hot weather 35,37*C/ 99*F for I don't think it has done that before!

 

How many gallons do our tanks hold?