06 CTD fuel milage?

[9 Lives]

I know im beating this subject to death but I have to get some feedback here... its driving me nuts!



Im used to powerstrokes as 99% of my fleet is made up of them so if I reference or compare (so help me god I know its not apples to apples) please forgive me.



I have 3K miles on my truck since I bought it new 3. 5 weeds ago bought it with only 30 miles on it. Its a 06 LT 2500... . 4X4 4-door short bed.



I mostly tow with it 5K pounds 5 days a week. I have been getting 12. 6 mpg towing and on my last highway trip over 1255 miles round trip I averaged 17. 4 mpg at 70-75mph. My truck does not have cruise control so its a real pain in the *** to keep it at one speed but I try my best.



I realize the truck isnt broken in as my PSD's didn't get their best fuel milage until they hit around 15-20K miles on them. They now after 100K+ miles get 12. 5 towing & 17Highway.



So far this truck has lived up to 1 of the 2 reasons of why I bought it. First it is IMO the best towing truck and it is that. It does a GREAT job at towing its load everyday of the week. Now on the down side so far... I have been told that cummins gets much better fuel milage empty & loaded. Friends galore all brag similar #'s They all clain 17mpg towing and 21+ mpg highway. I would be happy just getting close to those #'s... . you guys think it will happen in time as it breaks in? I do run the A/C but not on high. I don't use the 4X4 at all (yet) and rarely have I or will I ever go over 80mph. I usually on the highway run 65-70mph. Just firgured I would have a bit better #'s off the bat.

 

[9 Lives]

Another question I have came up with after doing some searching this subject on this site is : Why do so many people have so different fuel milage on their vehicles? Alot of people in another forum had listed their mods and their year make and model and in comparison to equal vehicles and speeds etc. . they varied so differently? one guy running 65 mph got 15. 8 mpg on a trip the next with the same truck same mods at 65mph got 23 mpg? what gives? Is it a hit or miss with the motors?

 

[KBennett]

Maybe I'm lucky but mine has always gotten decent mileage. 21MPG on the highway is not that hard if I keep it under 70. My mileage is steadily improving and with 46K it is better than ever.



Here is a document on the subject from Cummins:

Secrets of better fuel economy

 

[the whale dog]

I have a 2006 long bed 4 door 4x4 automatic I reset the computer and went on a 450 mile round trip filled up at each end was at 17. 4 empty and came home at 11. 5 at about 6 tons the computer now shows 15. 6 as my average with 2800 miles showing. If your truck is an automatic there is a flash for the computer that changes the transmission shift pattern in the tow haul mode so it locks 3 rd and 4 th which gives you better mileage I run the tow haul mode all the time I like the way it shifts better. You can also change your air filter in my opinion all of the high flow filters will serve your purpose unless your going to add more than 40 hp. Welcome to the Dodge club and I hope this helps Kevin

 

[robertyoke]

Friends galore all brag similar #'s They all clain 17mpg towing and 21+ mpg highway. I would be happy just getting close to those #'s... . you guys think it will happen in time as it breaks in?



when it comes to fuel economy most people lie,lie then lie somemore. sounds about right for a truck that has such few miles.

if you tell your friends that you get 21 then they will then tell you they get 22

you must also consider that some post on this board have 2wd and live where the speed limit is still 55! If I drive at 55 out in colorado say on I25 I am well a speed bump!! :-laf

-robert

 

[wcjp]

What year are the Powerstrokes? Could be an emissions difference. My 96' with the same rear wheel power averaged 20mpg empty over the same route my 06' averages 17. 5mpg. My 06' mileage didn't start to improve until I hit 8k. I'm currently at 16k.



The 06' tow's alot nicer than my 96' despite the lower mileage.

 

[CPG]

Personal driveing habits is the factor in most mileage reports. I would love to say I get 17 mpg towing with my 04 & 26' 5r but this is not to be. Towing averages 13-14 on this end, but I do get a most consistent average of 21 empty. Keeping it under 2000 rpm's seems to be the big difference here. This truck seems to have a sweet spot around 58 mph but in this traffic here, I cannot manage this without being passed by everyone. Trying to use cruise control helps a lot. This truck is entirely stock.

 

[JStrasser]

9 Lives,



1255 mile trip w/o cruise control? OUCH. My right leg hurts just thinking about it.

BTW, sounds like you bought an "ST" like I did. Cruise control is not that hard to add on. The dealer did it for me in a couple of hours. Looks and works just like stock, even with the 6 speed. Does it help with fuel mileage? I wouldn't know- haven't done a trip without using cruise.



As far as mpg's. I don't keep detailed records, but doing quick math on some fill-ups (I don't have the mpg readout computer) tells me that non-towing combined highway/local is about 19mpg and towing our TT is about 12 or so. This is about DOUBLE what I was getting with my GMC big block, so I am very happy. I am at about 8,000 miles- so mileage should improve slightly.



Good luck,

John

 

[AMink]

I drive fairly conservatively. I haven't had a chance to go very far empty, but towing a tt that weighs in around 9000, I get around 10mpg. I'm not really thrilled with that, but I don't get the chance to pull on flat ground very often. Everywhere around here is uphill somewhere. The thing is, I can pull those hills much more easily with the new truck than the 97. I only have just over 5000 at this point, so I am waiting for my "now it's broken in, time for great mileage" time!

 

[Chief USA]

9Lives, try driving NO faster than 45 to 50 mph and be very gentle and gradual on the go pedal. Remember, as you speed doubles, the drag or resistance on the truck is squared. Our trucks are not very aerodynamically efficient and hence the low optimum operating speeds to obtain good fuel economy. I live out in the country and am able to "poop" along at 45 to 50 mph without being run over by rush hour traffic. This may not be possible to do in more crowded areas without being the recipient of numerous hand and finger gestures. ;O)