I used to be a member of the Turbo Diesel Registry but quit cause of cost. Are there more members there and therefore more knowledgeable people? Seems like everytime I post on this site about fuel economy for my cummins people get offended and tell me to get a VW diesel PU. I guess I could just walk and get even better fuel economy. I really like my truck and know the economy is good but think there should be a way to do considerably better just don't know where to find out.

 

About all you can do is free up airflow on the intake and exhaust, run synthetics in the driveline, and run your tires at max pressure. Any extra weight you haul around hurts too, if you have a dually you could leave the spare at home since you have two bolted on already. A bolt-on overdrive like the Gear Vendors unit will help, too, but unless you drive a LOT, it won't pay for itself.

 

Tell us about your rig... You have no info in your DTR signature.
How bad is your MPG?
I used to get 16 MPG around town. Now I get 19. Same empty truck, same driver, same route. Changed just one thing, but it’s a secret. Made a pinkie promise.

 

Lemme guess... Ya put a 2x4 under the skinny pedal.

 

How would the number of members influence the knowledge that the members possess?

Great way to try to get help, BTW. Make sure you insult the intelligence of the people you are asking.

I think you are beating a dead horse. These are over 7000 pound vehicles that sit up in the air like a brick. About all you can do is the common sense things that have already been suggested. If you want 30 mpg, you are driving the wrong vehicle.

 

One thing to keep in mind, there are quite a few members here that are on there. Some even use the same names.
Tom

 

Most of the members here are members of TDR so you will get about the same advice. Exhaust and intakes will help with fuel economy it is like uncorking your truck so do performance boxes by advancing your timing and duration it will help your engine run more efficiently. How bad is your mileage it would have to be better than a gasser and remember most Diesel trucks weigh at least 7000 lbs so you will only achieve certain mpg.

 

Exactly what I was going to say....

johnr9q, do actually think guys on the TDR will have better answers than us? Just because you pay to be a member of a site - doesnt make you any more of an "expert". The fact is, you cannot overcome the laws of physics, no matter what site you belong to. There are certain things that you just cannot change - if you want/need a fullsize 4X4 truck you are going to pay....its just that simple. Try getting a gas rig and see what kind of milage you get. My last vehicle was a Jeep Cherokee - it cost me $60 to fill it and I would get less than 450kms. I can spend the $50 in my Cummins and go around 750kms on summer fuel.

 

Secrets dont make friends now. Share with the all of us ;P

 

NO WAY, HOSEA. He hurt my feelings. TDR! Bah Humbug.

 

Don't let the number of members fool you. When I was on TDR more than half the members never made even one post and the total number of members never subtracted when folk's dues ran out.
There is just as much knowledge here, but first you have to ask a question that has an answer.

 

I almost joined the TDR before i found this site. im glad i didn't. It makes no difference the number of people, we still have all the knowledable people here. i like the site better because it seems like more new things get brought up than the TDR. i still go over there and see the threads on the sites non members are allowed in and it seems to be the same thing over and over... maybe im wrong i dunno... im just glad i found this site its been awesome

 

I was a member of the TDR for almost ten years. Joined when it was still a skinny rag. The small number of knowledgeable people soon became outnumbered by folks I'd just as soon not be associated with. It's not the money. I'd pay the same for membership here even without the rag and even though after four DodgeCummins I'm now piloting a Dodge Hemi. It's a whole lot better atmosphere over here.
Better mileage can be had with hard tires, lighter weight, more aerodynamics, and most of all a light foot. But it still takes so much HP to move a 7k lb truck and push the air out the way in the process. Gear ratios mean little to a diesel. Sitting at lights in gear with the auto sucks up the gas. Fast starts are almost as bad but you can make up for them with long coasts to the next stop.
But feel good knowing I'm getting 14.5 city and 17hwy. And 8.7 towing our 10,040 lb 5th wheel compared to your 18city and 20+hwy.

 

I thought idling a Diesel didn't burn any fuel at all? Or are you tallking about the Hemi?

Fuel economy improves with brake in, manual tranny's, gearing, bigger tires and less weight. Put that Cummins in an AMC Gremlin with a 1-1 rear end and you'd have great fuel mileage.

Then again, I have a bone stock 1990 Dodge that only got 16 MPG on its last tank. Stilll trying to figure that one out...

 

Idling in gear with the auto takes about 25hp. The a/c can take up to 12hp with the fan engaged. This is with the Hemi or the diesel. The diesel uses about 30% less fuel but they both suffer mpg loss sitting at lights in gear.