TowRig.com - Diesel Discussion and Tow Tech

considering the current fuel prices (especially in so. cal.), i believe that this is a relevant question for those who are trying to decide which brand to buy...

everyone post what kind of mileage you are getting with your truck. in order to keep things consistent, estimate your mileage with an empty truck, going 65, on a flat road.

my dodge gets about 19-22 realistically.

I get 20.5mpg going 70mph mostly flat land

I get 19.5-20 at 73mph with my truck. My dad only gets about 17 at 70 with his 3500 dually manual.

ya my truck has the little milage computer thing mounted by the rearview mirror which says i get about 22 mpg in those conditions... however, when i actually figured it out i was actually getting about 20 so im not sure how exact those things are

19.7 average both ways, 1600 miles total from Modesto to Seaside, Oregon. About 1300 miles highway at 70-75, and the rest city. Not too shabbt considering you go through Trinity up to 5k feet or so each way.

Marc

I got 16mpg in my 6.5 driving from L.A. to the bay area up the 101 with the cruise set at 70mph (350miles one way) I got 14.5mpg :doah: driving the truck home from phoenix going 80. 4.10s suck for gas mileage. I have discovered that if I had 3.73s the 16mpg would be about 18 and with 3.42s it would be about 21.

My 05 D-max gets between 18-20mpg, to keep it up closer to 20 I drive like grandpa Jed goin to get another 12er waytogo nice and easy :pimp:

ya my truck has the little milage computer thing mounted by the rearview mirror which says i get about 22 mpg in those conditions... however, when i actually figured it out i was actually getting about 20 so im not sure how exact those things areActually, I've found my trip computer to be very accurate. The biggest difference "it's" come up with and me doing it on a calculater was .6 of a mile. Not bad IMHO.

I have discovered that if I had 3.73s the 16mpg would be about 18 and with 3.42s it would be about 21.
I'd think 3.42's would be a little high for a 6.5??.. The Dodges use 3.55's and I don't think I'd want much more gear then that, thats fairly tall when pulling a trailer. Plus, isn't the powerband of a 6.5 fairly high for a diesel?

Actually, I've found my trip computer to be very accurate. The biggest difference "it's" come up with and me doing it on a calculater was .6 of a mile. Not bad IMHO.

hmm interesting... maybe it's because of the chip? or maybe i just suck at math
:D

I'd think 3.42's would be a little high for a 6.5??.. The Dodges use 3.55's and I don't think I'd want much more gear then that, thats fairly tall when pulling a trailer. Plus, isn't the powerband of a 6.5 fairly high for a diesel?

yeah its way high. The 3.42s are for guys who spend alot of time on the freeway and little time towing. I think the owners manual says to only tow 5500lbs with the 3.42s :eek: I have the 4.10s and have towed about 10000lbs with my truck once and it was a peice of cake. So I guess its a trade off...milage or power....Power for me please!!! waytogo

maybe i just suck at math
:D

College huh??? rotfl

I get about 10-12 around town and 14 on the open highway with no trailer if I keep the RPM below 2500.

I get about 10-12 around town and 14 on the open highway with no trailer if I keep the RPM below 2500.Holy crap!

yeah its way high. The 3.42s are for guys who spend alot of time on the freeway and little time towing. I think the owners manual says to only tow 5500lbs with the 3.42s :eek: I have the 4.10s and have towed about 10000lbs with my truck once and it was a peice of cake. So I guess its a trade off...milage or power....Power for me please!!! waytogo Yeah, thats kind of what I was thinking. I like my 3.55's a lot, just low enough for towing, and it is nice if I can't pull in OD and helps keep the RPM's down, but still keeps the rpms low on the freeway empty.

Holy crap!


It gets worse when I tow and I can't even get out of my own way. (350 gasser)

I'm getting about 16mpg in the F150,needs a tune up and trans service,going about 75mph.

Yeah, thats kind of what I was thinking. I like my 3.55's a lot, just low enough for towing, and it is nice if I can't pull in OD and helps keep the RPM's down, but still keeps the rpms low on the freeway empty.

Yeah with my 4.10s and 265s i am turnin 2400rpms at 70mph in OD :doah:

Mbryson has it good. My old 95 1 ton, 454, CC, LB, Chevy got 8 - 10 in town, 12 on highway, 6.5 towing 6500 lbs. My 04 Dmax does a lot better. 13.5 in town, 18 highway 12 towing the same 6500 lbs. I hear people wishing they got better mileage out of the diesel. Man, I am tickled pink with this mileage.

Yeah with my 4.10s and 265s i am turnin 2400rpms at 70mph in OD :doah:Wow, I turn roughly 1900rpm's at 70mph. I with I had a two speed rear end like the old bobtail trucks years and years ago. It would be nice to have both a 3.30ish and a 4.56 ratios in the same rear end.

hmm interesting... maybe it's because of the chip? or maybe i just suck at math
:D Not your math. I got almost the exact same truck as you, with no mods and my trip comp reads about 2 mpg optimistic. Got mine the end of April, but found out it was built before August of last year! Haven't had the mpg reflash done yet. 12K miles with an overall average of 15.2 mpg. Highest all highway 70 mph empty was 18.65 (comp said 20+) lowest was 12.13 while towing the burb. Around town 15 to 16 is typical. Gonna give the reflash a try, but its parked for a while until the price of diesel comes back down some!

just made a trip to north georgia from central florida---18.5 mpg at 70 with empty truck, 16 mpg on the way back doing 75-95 mph and driving a little more aggressively.

Gonna give the reflash a try, but its parked for a while until the price of diesel comes back down some!
ya no kidding... its pretty expensive just to drive your truck :mad:. what is the "reflash" thing you were talking about? does it like re-calibrate the thing or something?

18.5 at 68mph. 70 and up it goes down quick. 75mph is right at 16mpg.

Best hwy is at 64mph 19.5-20. Better slower.

Towing at 55 Combined 21000lbs 13.5. 65mph 11 more than 65 downhill quick like 70 is 9-10mpg.

Dave

at 60mph i get 20mpg-I cant stand to drive that slow:D , At 70mpg I get 17-18mpg:eek:

ya no kidding... its pretty expensive just to drive your truck :mad:. what is the "reflash" thing you were talking about? does it like re-calibrate the thing or something?
Sorry didn't see your reply until today. The reflash is where they erase the engine ECM and put in a revised program back in. It is service bulletin 18-037-04 and is for fuel economy improvement, white smoke on start up and accuracy of fuel mileage in overhead console display. It is only for engines with serial numbers 57130285 through 57246361. The service bulletin lists approximately a 1 mpg improvement. Some guys who have had it done have claimed up to 2 mpg while others claim no improvement and some wish they never got the reflash done. Apparently once you get it done you cannot go back to the old program. Still haven’t got mine done, but prol will soon.

On vacation last summer went form McAlaster Mt. to Cody Wy. Got 21 going and 20 on return trip. 2000 f250 3.73 gears 4X4 auto. long box suppercab. Went thorugh Yellowstone Park.

On vacation last summer went form McAlaster Mt. to Cody Wy. Got 21 going and 20 on return trip. 2000 f250 3.73 gears 4X4 auto. long box suppercab. Went thorugh Yellowstone Park.

You've got to be below 1800 RPM or so to get that kinda mileage. I've got the same truck with the short bed and I'm not even close to that running around 2000-2100 RPM. What tire are you running? Chip? etc.

Ok, don't cringe...:eek:

13MPG on the suburban, unloaded, with a 5.3L & 4.10 ratio.
Towing a trailer...anywhere from 4-9MPG @ 2500-4500RPM

17MPG on the Tahoe, unloaded, with 5.3L and 3.73 ratio.
Towing a trailer...hmmm about 1 tank per hundred miles @ 3000-5000RPM.rotfl

But all this is hauling a 8000lb load.

Stock tires ais air filter stock exhaust BD edge programer. Speed limit in Mt. is 75mph that is what I did in Yellowstone it's 45mph and 60mph in Wy.

21.0 mpg on a 400 mile round trip last weekend at about 67-70 mph most of the way.

I get about 17 mpg in the city, and about 14 mpg when towing my open air trailer with the Vette on it at about 75 mph.

21.0 mpg on a 400 mile round trip last weekend at about 67-70 mph most of the way.

I get about 17 mpg in the city, and about 14 mpg when towing my open air trailer with the Vette on it at about 75 mph.


Man, I'm nowhere NEAR that towing or in the city. I get about 17 on a 400 mile round trip and the last one I stuck to 71 mph the whole way just to see what kinda mileage I get. 13.5 around town seems to be my average.

I don't tow a 'sleek' vette, but I do tow a 4500 Wrangler on an open deck trailer. I get about 11 mpg with that. I live at 4400 ft. With the 'artificial' turbo environment, I figured I'd get similar to sea level guys, but maybe not?

All mileages are verified with GPS/odometer and filling up the tank.

Once we put the chip on, the overhead display was way off. The chip did seem to add a mpg or so, depending on how I drive. :D Was at about 19 at 75 mph, now with the ATS it's gone up a little more in town. I wonder if big turbos add any fuel mileage. :stir:

Once we put the chip on, the overhead display was way off. The chip did seem to add a mpg or so, depending on how I drive. :D Was at about 19 at 75 mph, now with the ATS it's gone up a little more in town. I wonder if big turbos add any fuel mileage. :stir:


Yours is missing a couple cylinders, though. :D

Man, I'm nowhere NEAR that towing or in the city. I get about 17 on a 400 mile round trip and the last one I stuck to 71 mph the whole way just to see what kinda mileage I get. 13.5 around town seems to be my average.

I don't tow a 'sleek' vette, but I do tow a 4500 Wrangler on an open deck trailer. I get about 11 mpg with that. I live at 4400 ft. With the 'artificial' turbo environment, I figured I'd get similar to sea level guys, but maybe not?

All mileages are verified with GPS/odometer and filling up the tank.

I bet the altitude is hurting despite the turbo. When I towed across country last month I noted a drop of about 1-2 mpg while coming over the continental divide on I40.

I also believe wind resistance does play a large part in mileage. I've noticed that I get about 1 mpg better when I don't have tires on my tire rack.

But, I did confirm my 14 mpg towing with my vette, full load in the bed and cab, and a full load on the tire rack on a 760 mile round trip from Norfolk to Camden SC and back this weekend for a race, most of it on the freeway with the cruise on 75 mph.

I bet the altitude is hurting despite the turbo. When I towed across country last month I noted a drop of about 1-2 mpg while coming over the continental divide on I40.

I also believe wind resistance does play a large part in mileage. I've noticed that I get about 1 mpg better when I don't have tires on my tire rack.

But, I did confirm my 14 mpg towing with my vette, full load in the bed and cab, and a full load on the tire rack on a 760 mile round trip from Norfolk to Camden SC and back this weekend for a race, most of it on the freeway with the cruise on 75 mph.


That's kinda interesting. If I hit an 8000 ft. pass, it seems like I've got at least similar if not the same power as I do at 4400 ft. If you're in a naturally aspirated gasser, you KNOW what altitude you're at. I haven't had a chance to tow my junk over the mountain with my PSD yet, but I'm anxious to do so.

Another sidenote: My dad has pretty much the same truck, (mines a '99 and his is a 2000) shortbed, crew, 285 tires, etc. and around town he gets 2 mpg better. I've never towed anything with his, but just driving around, they seem like they have equal power, but slightly disimilar powerbands. (same 3.73 gears) My truck's power is later on the tach than his........(not by much, but a little)

Yours is missing a couple cylinders, though. :D

Seems to run just fine on 6, don't see the need for 8. :D

Seems to run just fine on 6, don't see the need for 8. :D



:cool:.......I was looking for the 'right' Dodge and ran across my F*rd. It's a good truck, but I wanted the manual, 555 Dodge ('03-04.5).

:cool:.......I was looking for the 'right' Dodge and ran across my F*rd. It's a good truck, but I wanted the manual, 555 Dodge ('03-04.5).

Cool man, I would love to own one of those later, or maybe an old 12 valve. :pimp:

I get about 20ish mpg at 70mph on my truck on the highway. Depends on winter or summer gas though. Summer gas I got 21 winter gas I got 19. My truck is an all stock 1998.5 24v Cummins 4x4 5spd.

Harley

I managed 16.30mpg on a 282.7mile round trip. 90% was freeway at 65mph. One direction I had my tandem 17ft flatbed that weighs 2K empty and the return trip I had a Kubota L2950 tractor on it and a torch that probably weighed 7K total trailered weight.

I doubled my weight and only dropped about 4 mpg....gotta love having a turbo diesel.:popcorn:

I'm pulling about 17mpg in the SD and belive it or not 30mpg in my wifes Yota

everyone post what kind of mileage you are getting with your truck. in order to keep things consistent, estimate your mileage with an empty truck, going 65, on a flat road.
First I will have to find a flat road here in Colorado then resist the erge to run only 65, not sure I can simulate the test bed. :doah:

My best millage was 19.6 hwy @70 mph and 20.8 hwy @65. This was on a trip from Baton Rouge to Kerville, Texas. 99% of the trip is I-10 all the way, little or no wind. BTW this is hand calculated and before I got my SC Flashpaq, so with only 7.5K miles and that in mind I will be hoping for better things in the future.

-Troy

loaded up with the rv and running highway speeds of 75, we can get 11 :D solid with cruise set
hitting mountains and using right foot we drop to 10


empty at 65-70 i can pull in 16

75-80 which is real world driving we can manage a comfortable 15 ish

So far my best is 19.3 and worst is 15.7. Only 5900 mile on it so its still not fully broke in. Stays around 18 in my daily driving. All my travels have been emty or lightly loaded with a bike in back and only 1 trip of any distance and that netted 18.8 when I had less than 3000 miles on it.the week I got 15.7 we had cold temps 0-20f and I did a lot of 10+minutes idling before driving.
I haven`t done any warm up idling since that tank and the mileage recoverd back to 18 the next.Just drive it easy till it gets temp in it. I also aquired the GM winter front grill cover and this gets it warmer much quickerwaytogoand may contribute to better fuel mileage in the cold.

well mine only gets 14.7 highway. 12 town. and 10 towing....crappy...im very unhappy with it. 05 cummins 4x4 6spd..

well mine only gets 14.7 highway. 12 town. and 10 towing....crappy...im very unhappy with it. 05 cummins 4x4 6spd..
I'd start chasing a few things then. Start with changing the fuel filter if you haven't done that lately.

I'd start chasing a few things then. Start with changing the fuel filter if you haven't done that lately.

just did that bout 2000 miles ago...i have an air intake and that brought it up bout 1 mpg. and the chip brought it another mpg. sad still.

Hmm, maybe a reflash if available from the dealer. I'd be trying nearly anything. 14/12/10 numbers aren't Ram Cummins numbers, or even close. That is so far bad either a math error is taking place (do you have stock tires?) or there is something wrong in the computer, something...

well its been reflashed two times, and the computer up top says the fule mileage is now 15.4 but its still 12 and i go about 350 miles on a tank...ive had the truck in the shop 4 times for this problem and they cant figure it out....yeh ive got 35's on it, but they only droped it bout mile and a half, the chip and intake brought it back up.

yeah that is wierd mileage to be getting in that truck.. especially w/ the stick. keep trying to figure it out cuz something is not right.

I guess it just could be an odd duck truck. Dodge can't make them all perfect...rotfl :stir:

i alway joke around and tell people it must be a friday or a monday truck!

Yeah seriously, that is got to be an odd ball truck. If I wasn't too attached to the truck, I think I'd sell it and look for a different one.

well mine only gets 14.7 highway. 12 town. and 10 towing....crappy...im very unhappy with it. 05 cummins 4x4 6spd..



That's about what I'm getting (winter fuel) with my '99 PSD, auto, F250, crew shortbed. I'd expect your Cummins to better that by a couple mpg.

I agree you should get way better mileage than that!!! Our 03 has the auto with 4:10 gears, and still gets 18 mpg!! My buddy has an 05 6 speed with the juice attitude and gets about 20 to 21 on the freeway.

Yeah seriously, that is got to be an odd ball truck. If I wasn't too attached to the truck, I think I'd sell it and look for a different one.


well id love to get rid of it, but im to deep in it to get rid of it. i still owe probly 32 on it. and we all know its not worth near that.

That's about what I'm getting (winter fuel) with my '99 PSD, auto, F250, crew shortbed. I'd expect your Cummins to better that by a couple mpg.


well my 99 powerstroke 350 cc long bed 4x4. got 19 highway, 14 in town. all the powerstrokes ive ever had have got atleast 18 highway, then i get this cummins and 14. wow. im shocked. but what ya gonna do. i have yet to talk to someone at the pumps who gets as bad as me.:mad:

I agree you should get way better mileage than that!!! Our 03 has the auto with 4:10 gears, and still gets 18 mpg!! My buddy has an 05 6 speed with the juice attitude and gets about 20 to 21 on the freeway.


well mine has the 4 10's also, i figured that was the reason it was so bad. wow that doesnt make me feel good...

im averagin 20 mpg with mine i have 3.73's and stock tires though, have ya checked into swaping gears? i couldnt imagine 4.10's i wish i had 3.55's soemtimes

oh ya thats with the power pup on extreme mode 130 hp

oh ya thats with the power pup on extreme mode 130 hp

i tried my bully dog on crazy larry for 2 weeks and the fuel mileage went up almost 1 mpg. so yeh i really would like to look into changing gears just dont know if i have the time...

I drive a 2202 Ram 3500 dually, 4X4, automatic, 4.10 diff. I run 2000 RPM at 65 mph and get 16.5 mpg.

keep rubbin it in...lol!

I drive a 2202 Ram 3500 dually,


Holy cow man, tell us what the trucks are like. Does Dodge still have Cummins?rotfl

i did a lil calculating ( i know scary huh) instead of just lookin at the display in the truck...im getting closer to 18 or so mpg with the 130hp boost not 20 mpg...still not too bad for a 450 hp engine...... id like to see a gasser get that

Ave Mpg@ 18.9- 21.4

Hmm I am wondering what the 6.4's are getting??????

the owner of the dealership here has a 6.4 4x4 dually, has almost 10,000 miles on it. hes averaging 17.

My chevy gets 18mpg per tank
My dodge gets 14mpg per tank

both numbers hand calculated, mixed driving in empty trucks...city traffic, highway & farm roads.

In my 07 Dodge, I see about 9 towing, 17 empty, on an average trip, I am doing 400 miles each way, one way loaded, one way empty. last trip loaded average speed was 49 mph, unloaded speed was 51 mph. Ithink the biggest reason for the big drop towing is that the front of my trailer is just under 12ft, and not just flat, but has a fwd overhang at the top.

In my 00 ford, I see 21-24 empty highway, and about 15-19 towing a 30ft 5th wheel. but I also see much less power than the dodge.
Darin

I went to Chicago from Iowa 3 weeks ago. Going east, got 18.5. That tank included some driving in the city - we went to the Museum of Science and Industry. Coming home, we got 18.0. Going west, we never get as good as going east. Head winds maybe. I have not yet towed my RV with this truck, so I cannot say. Previous owner claimed 14-15 pulling a 35', 15000# 5th wheel. I hope that is true. Truck is early 1999 F350 PSD CC LB 2WD with ZF6, 6637 and FPR shim.

my '01 5.9 get's 17 MPG around the city (after adjusting for larger tires).
Towing I get 11 MPG.

I guess I got lucky I have almost the same truck as Bourdon 410's and all
I still adv. around 20 to 21

gettin 18- 19 round town an 21 -22 on long trips/ interstate.

I guess I got lucky I have almost the same truck as Bourdon 410's and all
I still adv. around 20 to 21

dear god man! what the hells wrong with mine??!

yea, even if I drive slower than a granny I aint getting 15 mpg....19k miles now :mad:

dang, my best so far is around 13.5 city and HWY mileage (no trailer).

i get 16-17 around town and towing the same 2000 rpms at 70 mph

07 Silverado Classic C1500, lead foot.

Average 15-17 MPG per tank, city and highway combined. I don't shift into OD unless I'm on the Highway. Highway only, at any speed up to 85, I see just shy of 20MPG. Towing 6-7K at or above the legal limit (I don't tow in OD) 10-11 MPG, all hand calculated. I picked up 1 MPG by switching to Mobil 1 synthetic.

I refuse to figure out what my '80 gets, but it's thirsty.

Don't feel bad, I get 12 to 13 keeping it at 60MPH. If I go faster it drops to 11ish. Towing a 10,000lb trailer it is in about 9 to 10MPG.
F450, 6.4L, 4.88 gears, 4WD

My 07 F250 PSD got about 13 mpg in everyday drivinng and about 17-18 mpg on the highway. Then I bought the triple dog tuner and it bumped me up about 2-3 mpg on my everyday driving, haven't had it out on a long trip with the programmer yet. My truck only has about 7300 miles on it, so I guess it's not broke in yet. Also, it depends on which station in town I fill up at on what my mileage is. I also keep my tires fully inflated at the load carrying psi even when running empty. It makes for a rougher ride but hopefully it helps on the mileage. Pulling my trailer with 4 quads (about 5K) on it I get about 10mpg in tow haul mode. What is the cut off weight for using tow haul mode? It is pretty flat around here and I only use it when I'm going up and down hills and stuff.

07 Silverado Classic C1500, lead foot.

Average 15-17 MPG per tank, city and highway combined. I don't shift into OD unless I'm on the Highway. Highway only, at any speed up to 85, I see just shy of 20MPG. Towing 6-7K at or above the legal limit (I don't tow in OD) 10-11 MPG, all hand calculated. I picked up 1 MPG by switching to Mobil 1 synthetic.

I refuse to figure out what my '80 gets, but it's thirsty.
That are mileage figures a hemi can only dream of ;)

Some other mileage #'s, for reference:

04 Toyota Tundra limited 4x4, 4.7/ 4-speed auto:

15-16 ish all city with the pedal always buried (work truck). Surprisingly good, IMO. Usually hauling a few hundred pounds or more of stuff.

05 Chevy K2500 CC LB WT, 6.0/ 4L80e/ 4.10's:

Just ran to Chicago and back in one, with about 3K worth of gangbox and tools in the back (sitting 1" or so from the bumpstops), running about 70 MPH there and back, mostly interstate but some Chicago rush hour traffic, just shy of 14 MPG. My coworkers were really surprised, they say the thing averages 10-12 MPG, heavily used work truck w/ 48K.

As I write this my truck computer is at 24.6. Hand figured it is more like 22.5. This is running here around town and some light highway driving. If I run around 65 mph then I get 21.5. As soon as I kick it up to 70 or 75 mph then the mileage drops down to 16 or 17 mpg.

I get 18.5-19.5 empty running 72. Pulling a trailer I am 10-11.5 depending on the unit. With the G56 and 3.73's the rpm's are a bit high and I may switch them out for 3.42's to see if I can get it up a bit more.

Since my last post in this thread almost a year ago my mileage is much better.
I now have 18000 on the truck, switched to amsoil 5w30 series 3000 added Amsoil remote bypass oil filters and a nictane fuel filter. Using Howes diesel treat or Stanadyne performance formula additives for fuel since the switch ulsd fuel. My best tank was last spring @21.5mpg and I now get 20-20.5 commuting to work. even if I get a bit frisky I still get over 18.5 Motor is still stockwaytogo

d-max's first tank, a mix of hwy, town, and pullin. 19.6 mpg

My f-250 superchipped is getting 25mpg at 70 with out a load.I haven't towed anything yet.My 79 silverado get 8-10 mpg empty,loaded ,or just at an idle.The 79 was a diesel but it blew some time back.Summit & I built this 400hp gas guzzler.Before the gas went up I might add. 2004.Thats why I bought the f-250.I do enjoy the chevy and I puled it over 400k miles with a 1982 wilderness travel trailer.At one time I was using as much oil as gas.So I reverted to the 60's,,,,dude and built a muscle car.It sounds great but it stayes in town.rotfl:popcorn:

f-250 gettin 25mpg? im callin BS on this one! your comp up top may say that, but thats not true.

No need to call BS on the f-250 mileage. I have a 00 F-250 7.3 with the 6 speed. No computer for mileage, I have hand calculated a best overall MPG of 28.something empty that was the average for a 1100 mile trip cruising between 65 and 80 MPH the whole way. of course the truck is a 2wd shortbed with the higher gears. That mileage was with the superchips tuner installed, and about 2mpg better than it was stock. Most tanks I check mileage are combined city/hwy and I regularly find 25 or better. I just wish that I could get that kinda mileage with the power of my 07 5.9 cummins
Darin

my 06 ram ctd got 17mpg yesterday driving 70-75 for 246 miles. i'm running mud tires and every thing else is stock.

my 06 ram ctd got 17mpg yesterday driving 70-75 for 246 miles. i'm running mud tires and every thing else is stock.