03 3500 Fuel Mileage

[SGBARRACUDA]

I just bought a 2003 ,3500, 4x4 ,QC, auto , std cummins engine.

I was getting 19 mpg with my 95 12valve but with the 03 its getting 15-16 mpg. Is there anything I can do to improve it?

 

[Tony T.]

Originally posted by SGBARRACUDA

I just bought a 2003 ,3500, 4x4 ,QC, auto , std cummins engine.

I was getting 19 mpg with my 95 12valve but with the 03 its getting 15-16 mpg. Is there anything I can do to improve it?

I have the same truck an have been seeing 16 to16. 5 mpg the last two fill ups. My driving consist mainly short trips of a 20 mile round trip to work an back with stop signs an stop lights, also with running around town with lots of stops an starts. I believe with this type of driving thats what I'll be seeing from now on. Last time I took it out for one of those long Sunday drives I hand calculated 18. 8 mpg, that's when the truck had around 8000 miles on the clock. I now have 19,000+ miles to date an have not took it out for a long trip for a while. Keep your foot out of it, an keep all your filters changed out is all I can say.

 

[JWChessell]

I have an '03 HO 3500 QC 2X4 AT LWB SRW 3. 73 rear end. I usually run unloaded and without a tow. Hand calculated, I get between 17. 5 and 21. 5, depending on whether in town or on the road, head-wind or tail-wind, short driving distances or long driving distances -- in Jan. '04 I did 982 miles in 14 hours across the Great Plains in one day, nothing for a professional, but a lot for a tourist. In my experience, the longer and farther you drive without stopping, the more the mileage improves.

 

[catoiler]

My 03 3500 drw. a/t 3. 73 2x4 gets around 12. 5-13. 0 to and from work and that is mostly fwy 28 miles each way. on the hwy the best it has gotten is 16. 5 mostly at 15. 5. All hand calculated. My 02 got 16-17 around town and 19-21 on hwy. I want that one back!

 

[Bertram65]

I get between 15. 5 to 17. 5. I have 15K on it. I am happy with the mileage considering the size of the truck, 4X4, auto, and the 4. 10 gears.

 

[SGBARRACUDA]

I guess mine is right on target with the rest of the crowd. I hand calculated mine at 17. 3. Are the add ons worth doing as far as MPG? If so which ones are the best bang for the buck? Thanks

 

[Blufrog]

Mine got 16 when new and now around town I am seeing almost 18, hwy has imporved to 20+ depending on speed. Towing 7k trailer I get just above 14.



Not bad considering the 98. 5 never seen better than 13.

 

[klenger]

I find this thread interesting given that the numbers seem to be about the same as what is reported for the 600's. I am of the feeling that the MPG difference between the 555 and 600's is insignificant.

 

[CajunDieselMan]

I started noticing an upward trend in MPG with my truck around 9,000 miles (I'm one of those crazies who keeps a graph of my truck's fuel mileage). I started at 17MPG and now get 19. 5 - 20. 5 MPG unloaded mixed driving. Heck... I wouldn't be saving money on fuel if I drove my wife's Montero 3. 0 V-6 to work... I'd be losing money since gas is more expensive than diesel and the two vehicles get the same MPG.

 

[wsurf]

SGBARRACUDA, I have the same truck, it's an SO. You didn't mention the rear end, mine has the 4. 10. It will pull anything but only gets 14 to 15 mpg (overhead and hand calculated). I have seen higher empty on long trips but nothing over 17. It may only be a SO, but I have had NOTHING go wrong. It is a very nice truck. Have fun, it should be a good truck. By the way, 14 to 15 mpg isn't bad for driving a big heavy square box down the road.

 

[Ol'TrailDog]

Driving WY style (65 speed limit) I consistantly have been averaging (is that redundant?) 19mpg with 15K on the engine. Expecting to get 20 mpg when broke in.

 

[SGBARRACUDA]

wsuff, Mine has 3. 73 gears, and yes I will enjoy this one if it gives me the same sevice and reliability as my 95 2500 4x4 12 valve has.

 

[bpenrod]

Mine averages 18 hand calculated mixed driveing with a best of 23 on a short (100 mile) run with the cruise set just under 60. After I go over 2000 rpm the mileage falls off to 19 - 20 on the freeway.

 

[Diesel Nut]

Mine is a 305 motor with some mods(read sig) and @ 60 i get around 22-23, at 65, 20 - 21, and 75 17 - 19. Towingmy 13000 lb brick wall, anywhere from 11 - 15 mpg. Speed and howfast you get to that speed makes the difference. DRW get the worst mileage anyhow and 4x4 and my flatbed don't help. Hopefully I'll get some picks for yall soon.

 

[RMH]

mpg

Hand calculated i'm getting any where from 15. 5 t0 17. 3 depending on driving and fuel input consistency. Average is 16. 4. Not to bad for the size and weight of the beast.