Duelin

Most of the interest seems to be in performance / horsepower , torque enhancements.
However, Performance can also measure efficiency.

We all know some of the standard things to improve fuel mileage such as proper tire pressure , slowing down our cruising speeds, staying in as high a gear as possible for minimum engine revolutions per mile .

SO - THAT SAID, with all the knowledgeable people on this forum , what can we come up with? to add to this list ?

Some folks would like to cut fuel use per mile.

Come on, !! There has got to be additional methods, --other than just parking, and staying home !!!!!
YES---- I would give up Grandma for a seventh speed !!!

Cumminsdude

Yeah can someone explain why they dont make a tranny that lets the truck cruse at 60 mph at about 1600 rpm? Maybe Im just thrown off by my 2000 rpms at 60mph

BBWD

Cumminsdude:

They make this - see signature. It's a little on the pricey side though but I figure with the savings realized with less wear and tear on the engine and better fuel mileage it will pay for itself many times over.

John (DH)

signature600

Don't buy 4.10 gears, that's how. My 3.55's run 62 at 1750.
(Sorry, but I had to say it.)

Chris

Patrick Campbell

I spin 2000 at 75 MPH which I think is about 1600 at 60mph.

Can't pull much at 1600 RPM though.

Use some Howes or PowerService. I honestly believe they work. I haven't done any real calculations yet but will be doing some soon. (Really I just wanted the free Howes Zippo lighter!)

jughead

bomb the booger. i realize my 82 is 2k lighter than our other trucks but i have been checking mileage on my play toy. no trip more than 10 mi. round trip. 17.3 last tank never under 16. have just about worn out rear tires in 5k mi. look at signature. 8.70 best 1/8 mi. so far

Duelin

I know the gear vendors O/D helps,---but it takes a LOT of miles driven to pay one off from the fuel savings . With this truck "2003 - 6 speed HO - 3.73 gears " it seems to me , "seat of the pants feeling" that I don't have the torque down in the lower RPM's that I had with the 2001 . Especialy with the EZ hooked up on the 2001 !!! .
Would todays EZ. give me more torque down lower ?
Are there any electronics vendors (chip builders ) who are looking into fuel savings settings vs horsepower applications?
Enquiring minds and Flattening wallets ---Want to know !!!!

BigBlue

The Cummins engine gets it's best mileage between 1800-2200 rpm.

Cumminsdude

My mileage is up to 15 now not including the calculations for bigger tires

I know I wish I didn't have the 4:10's but it was a good deal so I'll live!

GIT-R-DONE

All of us 5/6 speed rowers....how many times have you looked for 7 th gear? I know I have and have often wondered why there wasnt more gears. Maybe I should try a 10 speed US gear box.

JR Parker

I have two diesels.....a 93 Dodge ram extended cab 8ft bed 5.9 160hp 2wd (actually one wheel drive in as it doesn't has 'limited slip rear-end.....and a 2000 Dodge Ram Quad-Cab w/6.5 bed 5.9 4wd at I believe something like 200 hp. Testing both on equal conditions and filling up each tank at the same place until fuel is at the top of the tank neck, I have made a 187 mile interstate highway trip with level road pretty much all the way and making trip after midnight (almost no traffic) and setting my cruise control in each test on 55MPH and never went over 55mph for either trip. Results: The 93 Ram upon refilling to top of tank neck showed 32.5 MPG and the 2000 RAM 4WD came in at 21.6....a difference of almost 11 MPG. Both truck's weight is within 200 lbs of each other...and gear ratios are about the same (3.54 vs 3.55 I believe). I would guess the main reason for the difference is the extra 40 or so horsepower. Had I not the need for a 4WD (for pulling a 8000lb boat rig up all types of boat ramps, I would be exclusively driving the 93 Ram. Likewise, the 93 Ram in suburban driving gives me around 20MPG regularly while the 2000 RAM presses me to get 15 MPG. The 93 has without a doubt been the best truck I've ever owned.

GIT-R-DONE

I agree, the first generation trucks have been good on fuel, at least the ones I hve owned. My 90 with 4:10 rear 4x4 would get 20 mpg on interstate and 15 towing the race car trailer, about 10,000 lb. My 02 gets 12 towing the camper and 19-20 on avg driving back and forth to work. The best the truck has ever gotten on fuel was 23.3 with the cruise on 65 on interstate here in PA., but thats not the daily avg. I never tried going just 55 mph to see but assume might be better ..........shoot it was hard enough to just let it set at 65 on cruise while everyone passed us but..we did.