03-04 305 hp vs 04.5-05 325 HO fuel mileage

[hobigusn]

I know they changed a lot for emissions on the HO engine. I've heard the HO getting 2-3 mpg worst. What are you experiencing? What year and what kind of truck do you have and what mileage do you get? What year do you think is best?

 

[JKreiss]

04. 5 with mods listed in sig. Best ever was 23. 4 cruising through west Texas with a topper and Power Service additive (fwiw). Worst ever was 16. 3. These are just counting EMPTY (no towing). So much depends on your right foot that it's not even fair. If i tried, i know i could get my truck to 25mpg with the most perfect of situations. My average though, seems to be right at around 18.

 

[VanOverbeke]

04 with mods in sig running Toyo 285's and bed cover netted me 23. 9 MPG as my highest. I have seen that several times running a full tank on highway. My normal average mixed driving is between 17-18 MPG. I drive pretty conservatively and numbers are all hand calculated. The overhead will say I am getting 34 MPG!

 

[CPittman]

'04 305/555 - overall average at 206,000 miles approximately 16 mpg combined city / highway, unloaded, no trailer.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Scott Dalgleish covered fuel economy on his 2005 Turbo Diesel in his column "Back in the Saddle" in many issues. The camshaft of the 2004. 5-up is less advantageous for economy than the earlier one; he changed it in Issue 54, p. 120 and reported 2 mpg better. You might start with Issue 51 and follow his "exploits. "

 

[HBarlow]

I know they changed a lot for emissions on the HO engine. I've heard the HO getting 2-3 mpg worst. What are you experiencing? What year and what kind of truck do you have and what mileage do you get? What year do you think is best?

I don't believe the difference would be 2-3 mpg.

The "which is best" question has no correct opinion. All of them are great trucks. Almost every year the rated power is greater and minor improvements or added features make the next year just a bit better but the trade-off might be slightly reduced fuel economy. That's the way product marketing works. Improve every model just enough to persuade owners to trade.

Only you can decide which is best for you within your purchase budget.

 

[CPittman]

OBTW, I think the '03 was the only year that there was a option for an SO engine and an HO engine. I think all the MY04 trucks were "HO" at 305 h. p. with no cat and mechanical waste gate, piston skirt oilers, etc. MY04. 5 saw the introduction of the 325/600 with the cat and the electronically controlled waste gate.

 

[NavyDood]

The 305/555 engine is a HO engine.

I average 19. 5-20 commuting 52 miles with speeds varying between 55-70, in stop and go traffic, and 12 stop lights.

If i could set the cruise at 55 mph for a whole tank I could easily get 23 mpg.

 

[AH64ID]

My life mileage is 16. 2, with a low of 9. 8 and a high of 19. 7. For the most part I get 16-18 city and 12-14 towing.

Cummins (Dodge Ram 3500) | Fuelly

Part of the reason the 04. 5+ gets worse mileage is the emissions, part is the hp. . takes fuel to make hp.

 

[Turbo_Bob]

I don't think you can get a higher MPG of the 03. 5 HO vs later models. After this model H/P & T/Q goes up as well as the leaner, tighter emissions equipment used, all to the determent of MPG.

The best way to achieve a good MPG, use stock Michelin LTX A/S tires, use cruse control, drive below 65 mph, 2 wheel drive, stick-shift, 3/4 ton combo.
I removed my muffler and added a TAG which both helped mpg by 1. 5 per gallon.

I get a constant hand calc. of 24 MPG solo and 11. 9 towing a heavy toyhauler.

 

[rscurtis]

Very close to what I get with my '03 4X4 with Dynatrac, Rokktech, and a Super B and manifold. 65 MPH is part of the secret. I doubt the new Ford and Chevy/GMC will be able to match those numbers, no matter what they claim.

 

[hobigusn]

Anyone out there have a 04. 5-05 HO 4wd QC SB with 3. 73. What kind of mileage are you getting out of that?

 

[AH64ID]

I don't think you can get a higher MPG of the 03. 5 HO vs later models.

Whats the difference in 03 vs 03. 5 vs 04?

 

[RVTRKN]

Anyone out there have a 04. 5-05 HO 4wd QC SB with 3. 73. What kind of mileage are you getting out of that?

Ave. 19, towing GCVW at 16K, 14 MPG. If I drove it at 55 MPH 23 MPG, but I can count how many times I did that on one hand. :-laf

 

[JGoss]

Mine also avg. about 19 mpg.

 

[NavyDood]

Whats the difference in 03 vs 03. 5 vs 04?

Just the year designator AH64... . :-laf

 

[AH64ID]

Just the year designator AH64... . :-laf

Thats what I thought, just had never seen a 03 called an 03. 5 before. . was making sure I wasn't missing something :-laf

 

[Barry]

We all make mistakes. One of my many, many mistakes was selling my '03 305. Sweet, sweet engine. No catholic converter. My 305 with just an EZ would run circles around my '04. 5 325 and get better mileage doing it.



But I fell for the come on... ... ... ... ..... HO 325! Had to have it.



Word to the wise... ... ... ..... if you ever run across a nice HO 305, they are a find! Last of the "clean" Cummins.

 

[bcbender]

Lovin my 04 305/555,

I get 12-13 towing my 5er at 70, and 16-17 at 70 empty with my topper, could get better if I slowed down, or had 3:73s

 

[CoastyAV8R]

I generally get 22-24 on the highway but I am not a fast driver, you can ask my wife. I usually hover around 65 mph. Mixed driving is around 18 mpg but I have probably the best combo for mileage, 2 wd, stock size tires, stock engine, 6 speed and 3. 73 rear end. I had an 04. 5 4x4 6 speed before this one and I usually saw around 19-21 on the highway and 16'ish in mixed driving. Both are great trucks, I think the key is finding one that has been taken care of and not beat on. I looked for quite a while before I found my 03 but they are out there. Good luck...