06=less mileage and more emissions???

[Cummins Cowboy]

So far I have 4500miles on my new 06, in this time I have tried to run it like I stole it, loaded up mountain grades with my foot to the floor etc. this new truck is a 48re the '02 was a 6 speed, with the exact same loads and doing the exact same thing I have noticed at least a 10% less fuel economy with my new '06, which wouldn't be a big deal if you are in the upper teens, but when you are below the teens 10% is a lot bigger chunk in the fuel economy picture. The '06 gets about 10. 5mpg and the '02 got at least 11. 5mpg using both trucks pulling identical loads.



I have also noticed black soot collecting on my bumper and the bottom of the rear quarter panel. So with that said, and the new truck getting less mileage, this tells me the fuel is being burned in a less effecient manner, could it be that the new trucks are actually polluting more, If not where is the extra 10% in fuel going?? up in the air?? It would not suprise me a bit if all the new epa regs are actually shooting themselves in the foot, Its sad I thought the idea was to conserve fuel

 

[Smokin Dodge]

There are alot of vairables that come in efect between the mileage of your 06 and 02 and the 02 probably produced just as much soot as the new does you just didnt see it on the bumper becuase the tailpipe on the 02 points down and away from the truck.

 

[DieselFiend]

Cowboy, I'm in the same ****** off boat you are with this. EPA, earth muffins and tree huggers are all on crack. Nothing makes sense with them. seems like the more emmisions crap they put on these trucks the less efficient they get. So we're burning more fuel and putting a big fat smile on Oly the Oil mans face while waiting on tree huggers to help him expand his profit margin. BS!

 

[byoslandry]

06 CTD Gas Mileage

Cummins Cowboy

I agree with you about the soot on the rear bumper area on the 06 models. I do, however, get better gas mileage on the highway and in the city versus my 04 CTD.

My 04 (34,500 mi) puts some soot on the rear bumper but not as much as my 06 (2,900 mi).

The 04 gets 15 mpg/city and 20. 5 mpg/highway in cruise at 70 mph whereas my 06 gets 16. 5 mpg/city and 22. 2 mpg/highway in cruise at 70 mph with no loads. Both trucks are stock with the mileage hand calculated.

On WOT, both trucks will black smoke, but not enough to make anyone cough unless their window is down.

My only complaint on the 04 is the passenger side ( > 30 degrees difference by thermometer) doesn't cool like the driver's side and will bring this problem to the dealer next week.

My only complaint on the 06 was the terrible stinky quad cab when I bought it and I have traced this down to the factory installation of the outside air vent having a bad gasket seal. This also will be fixed by the dealer next week.

I don't like the prices for diesel now. Wally World is selling at $2. 86/gallon locally in Harvey, LA.

 

[MStaggs]

An automatic will almost ALWAYS get worse mileage than a standard transmission due to slippage and losses though the auto trans and converter.

 

[AMink]

The three injection events contributes to lower mileage in the 06. My 97 also got way better mileage. Of course, it didn't have near the power. I've wondered too if by cleaning up the emissions but using more fuel to go the same distance really benefits anyone but the oil pumps. Seems like a wash to me. We'll really see what happens starting January 1st, 2007. :-{}

 

[Raschein]

I know several guys with new 06 trucks with no mileage on the ticker. . yet i know a few other guys that have 40,000 miles on the tickers and there fuel mileage is almost up 50% than when new. .



A cummins engine doesnt break in until 30,000 miles. . give it time and the fuel mileage will improve

 

[TowPro]

So far I have 4500miles on my new 06, this new truck is a 48re the '02 was a 6 speed, with the exact same loads and doing the exact same thing I have noticed at least a 10% less fuel economy with my new '06,

I went the other direction, my 02 was a dually Auto, my 06 is a SRW manual. the 3:73 in the manual is actually turning a little faster RPM per MPH then the 02 was with 4:10's.



I get +3 more MPG in the 06 everywhere/anyway I drive it over the 02. Must be the auto causing the drop?



In fact my 06 is pulling better MPG then my 98 24V with VA and 275 injectors was by at least 1mpg. Don't that rule out the EPA part?

 

[klenger]

Have there been any EPA changes between the 04. 5 and the 06's? I thought that they were basically all identical engines, with the exception of 10 additional ft-lbs of torque in 2005.

 

[6speed]

Mines an 04 6sp 3500 SRW and I didn't really notice a fuel mileage increase untill about 40k or so. When I first got it I was at the 10. 5 range towing. my 90 model did better than that. Even the man trans shifts easier now.





04 3500 Q/C Graphite Metallic Sport Model, Teflon coated American Racing wheels that match the color of the truck, Autometer: Boost, EGT. Water-Oil-Trans-Diff temp fuel and oil pressure, 5 in Exh, silencer ring MIA, Fass Coolers, Mag Tech Diff cover, Fogzilla light kit, TST and Garmons boxes stacked and yes shes a SMOKER. Gotta love it when that hapeens

 

[mgoncalves]

I made the same trade. 02 six speed for 06 auto. Both same cab configurations otherwise. I think I got lucky with my 06, because it is getting 19 down the highway after doing the tone ring mod. I get around 16 in my small town.



One factor to remember, is stock for stock your new truck has 80 more horsepower. That's roughly 32% more horsepower over the 02 for only 10% reduction in mileage.

 

[Walker]

How did the tone ring mod change the mileage? Thought it was just a "noise" thing. I'd do it if it helped the mpg though.

 

[Cummins Cowboy]

remember 10% is alot when I am below the teens in MPG towing, These new trucks are supposed to be cleaner but they are using more fuel to do it. ummm the extra fuel or whatever that is being used to do the same thing must be going somewhere, I maintain its prolly just going back into the air, and we are acutally polluting more, I very much preferred the way the old mechanical motors ran, the old ve in the first gen and the p pumps on the early second gens, just bump the starter and they always fired up, before the motor even made one full turn. Those motors just seemed to run better. too bad that was the glory days

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Some things I noticed comparing my '01 6-speed 4x2 to my '03 6-speed 4x2, when they were new and bone stock:



--The inside of the tailpipe sooted up on the '03 quite a bit faster if I would clean it out when washing the truck.

--The '03 smoked more when stomping on it.

--The '03 would smell of rawish cool diesel combustion more when started in the morning. Also it would even smell strong at idle or light loads when at operating temp in cool or cold weather, whereas the exhaust on the '01 smelled like a clean burn once it got some heat into it, even with DD2 injectors.



The '03 felt a bit stronger when new, and I dynoed both trucks bone stock. . . the '01 did 245 and the '03 did 270. MPG was very close, the '01 was about 2% better.



Vaughn

 

[bmoeller]

I've more than doubled my power, and the mileage is pretty much the same. Would be better than stock with the dually box back on, but oh well.

 

[JDecanter]

Just sold my 98 24 valve and picked up 06 Quad on Friday. First fill up, hand figured 20. 25 miles per gallon, computer showed 19. 4. If it does indeed pick up mileage when broken in, I will be getting much better than my 98. 06 is an auto with 373 gears: I drove very conservatively trying to get the most mileage possible. The overdrive gear is much taller than my 98 five speed.

 

[TowPro]

JDacanter, your mileage will go down, once you start to enjoy those 325hp 610ft lbs :-laf

 

[StephenJohnson]

I Have an 03 srw 4x4 ho 3500 quad long bed/auto/3. 73 gets 16. 6 around town 21-21 at 55/19-20@65 has 40k n it but got all the milage at 12k

My new mega 2500 has 15k same set up(auto/3. 73etc) only gets 14 around town & 17. 2 @55-65 kind of depressing... thinking of losing the Cat Conv. . will this help?Also just added a gearvendors which gives me 1400 rpms @70 and 17mpg.

 

[StephenJohnson]

I Have an 03 srw 4x4 ho 3500 quad long bed/auto/3. 73 gets 16. 6 around town 21-21 at 55/19-20@65 has 40k n it but got all the milage at 12k

My new mega 2500 has 15k same set up(auto/3. 73etc) only gets 14 around town & 17. 2 @55-65 kind of depressing... thinking of losing the Cat Conv. . will this help?Also just added a gearvendors which gives me 1400 rpms @70 and 17mpg.

ps also the 3500 rides much better9less chatter & bump steer)if I change rear springs to a one ton pack will this help?

 

[JHyneman]

I sure am glad that other people are experiencing the same things that I have. I average around 16 to 17 mpg. I have a six speed. My First Diesel was a 89 Cummins and I averaged 23 mpg, Then I got a 97 That got 22 mpg. I haven't really been impressed with the 06 yet. I really hate the 3. 73 rear. I was use to haveing the 3. 54 in the last two trucks. my rpm's really wine. At 70 mph my RPM's range around 2400. I even decided to put a tuner module on mine and I am gonna return it for a diffent one because I didn't notace a increase. I can tell you this much that my 06 smokes more than my 97 when I get on it.