Better mileage?

[TheDieselMan]

Any suggestions how I can have better mileage for Dodge 24v Cummins? It recently got 14mpg

 

[NIsaacs]

We need more info. All the truck specs and how you drive, also the terrain you drive in. The biggest fuel user is speed, truck weight, tire size/gear ratio/engine rpm.

Nick

 

[SnoKing]

Slow down! SNOKING

 

[photowrite]

We need more info. All the truck specs and how you drive, also the terrain you drive in. The biggest fuel user is speed, truck weight, tire size/gear ratio/engine rpm.

Nick

Well stated basics there...

 

[Tuesdak]

4x4? Auto? #1 winter diesel blend? Biodiesel blend? Year? Cab/bed configuration? Dual rear wheels? Rear axle ratio?

 

[TheDieselMan]

We need more info. All the truck specs and how you drive, also the terrain you drive in. The biggest fuel user is speed, truck weight, tire size/gear ratio/engine rpm.

Nick

I drive an average speed of 60kph. Mostly on highway but a mile on slightly rocky road. Tire size is around 20"-21", 4.10 and 2000rpm

 

[NIsaacs]

I drive an average speed of 60kph.

Did you mean 60 mph? Tire size 30-31"? Is you truck 4x4, 4x2, quad cab, reg cab, DRW, SRW, auto, manual? No matter what you drive 14 is a little low. In the winter I get 17, 19 in the summer with my '01. How many miles on the truck? Maybe injectors or injector pump are going south? Any mods to the truck or total stock?

Nick

 

[AnOldBiker]

He hasn't stated it yet, but he might be a very northern neighbor.
The 30"-21", are you talking tire wheel diameter nad not tire size ?
And with that, is it MPG or KPG ?

 

[SnoKing]

OK, having had a 2001 24V 4x4 47RE auto with 4:10 gears here are some mileage numbers.

Empty
Mixed local driving 15 MPG
Free Way driving at 60-65 19-20 MPG

Towing 12,400 pound 12"8" high 5th wheel.
Flat no wind. 13.5+ MPG
Normal good conditions 12.5 MPG
Hills or head winds 10.5

Truck was mildly bombed with around 325HP and 650-700 ft lbs torque.

The only place my new 2015 is going to beat those numbers in bobtail. SNOKING

 

[SSage]

The best I ever see from my almost stock 2003 4x4 dually with 4.10's is 18 mpg just cruising rural roads at Grandpa speeds, the overhead will read 19 to 23 mpg running slow and easy. I average 16 mpg mixed driving taking it easy around town on two lanes up to 60 mph. Overhead will show 17 or so. 14 mpg mixed towing a flat deck or hauling lumber in the bed around town or running fast on the interstate at 2200 rpm or better. I never really checked the mpg towing the 5th, probably 10 mpg or less pulling that tall heavy sucker. My tweaked 12 valve dually with 2wd and 3:54 rear only gets 16 to 17 mpg or so average. But, I do like to run it briskly. When it was mostly stock with just a plate I would see 20 mpg or better cruising unloaded, but 160 hp was so boring...

Always check your mpg by the old fashioned way, the overhead computer is usually in the ball park, but I've found mine to be a bit optimistic even running stock with no tuner. I check mine occasionally, lets you know when there is an issue, like a fuel leak..... just replaced fuel lines again on my 95...

 

[Crunch]

To the extent you can, set the idea of speed aside and think in terms of RPM's. I've found that if I keep the RPM's between 1800-1900 I can easily get more than 20MPG, and if I have a tailwind I can get between 22MPG and 24MPG. But I have a 2WD with the 3.73 turning the back wheels. I often wish I had a 5 speed automatic when I'm driving on level terrain at highway speeds, and not towing a load. I have a friend with the same year/same model truck, but he has the 4X4. On the highway he's getting about 17MPG-18MPG tops. If you have a 4X4 with the 4.10 rear end I think you are probably right in the middle of what you can expect, so keeping those RPM's between 1500 and 1800 (I think that's the power band for these trucks) is about the only variable you have to play with. One other thing...I also use Power Service, and have definitely noticed a difference in fuel economy when on trips and 95% of the driving is on the highway.