13-14 MPG....Does This Sound Right?

[Turbo Kidd]

I just got back from my first snowmobile trip of the year today (Finally got SNOW!), and I hand calculated my milage... and I only got 13. 4MPG. Here are the hard facts and number.



1. ) I stayed within the so-called sweet spot of 2000 RPM'S, while running cruise control.



2. ) I only pulled a two place trailer with two sleds... . 2500LBS +/-



3. ) I always fill up one extra gallon of fuel after the intitial shut-off.



4. ) I always hand calculate my milage too.



5. ) I have an 03 2500 HO, RE48, 4X4, short bed, 373 rear end, and I have 46,000 miles on it. (All Stock)



6. ) Truck runs great, but what gives with the milage?



I read about everyones getting such great fuel economy, and no matter what I do... Mine sucks! This is my first diesel, and a big reason I bought it is because, my V-10 was so bad on gas. normally i get about 13 MPG around town (Chicago) and 17 MPG on the road empty, but it seems to be getting worse.



Any help, or suggestions would be greatlt appreciated.



Thanks!

 

[F-15I Ra'am]

How often do you change your fuel filter and also air filter and transmision fluid & filter? Try running some fuel additive like Power Service or Howes etc. Don't "baby" the truck. Run it hard on the highway to blow the carbon out every so often.

 

[Concrete Solutions]

OK let me get this correct.

Its winter, Your fuel is probably a blend 70/or 50/50 #1#2 that will cost you 1-1. 5 mpg.

2. its cold out so your lubes are cold and a little stiff at 1st start this costs you some.



3. probably a some extra idling, kinda the norm in winter.



4. Your pulling a trailer, HEY YOUR PULLING A TRAILER!!! How well does it track, what kind of tires, what pressure are they at, what kind of bearings ... ... ... ... ...



5. What kind of condition are your fuel and air filters in.



6. What are you using for Oil, syn or dino. What viscosity, and brand.



7. How much gear and people were in the truck.



8. What are your tire pressures 60 or 80. or were they 49 t0???



9. What kind of fuel additives were you using? NONE?



10. what exactly were the weather conditions. What was the prevailing wind.



And MORE.



I'll bet dollars to donuts we can find a 1/4 to a 1/2 mpg here and there and add up another 2-3 mpg to your 13. 4 mpg and I'll bet you'd happy as a pig in poop IF

you had got 16. 4 Mpg!



I GET A +1,-1 JUST ON FUEL QUALITY ALONE. Thats a 2mpg swing right there.

Tire pressure, filters, type of oil and quality, time since change, idle time +1. 5 -1.

another 2. 5 mpg swing possible.



I'll bet you had a 8500 lb. truck with another 3000 pound trailer, 4X4 no less.

thats a 11500lb rig in the winter, and you got 13. 4 mpg. Bet you would have got 8

maybe with the V 10, am I right?



Thats not too shabby, but i'll bet we could get another 1,2 or 3 given the right set up.



It's the little things and quite a few of them to max out milage.



Have you checked your U Joints, a binding one will cost you 1 mpg alone.



How is your alignment ?



Its alot of little things.





Rich



"3. ) I always fill up one extra gallon of fuel after the intitial shut-off. "

This is NOT an accurate method, the nozzle shuts off when it

gets a little back pressure. The rate and pressure of the pump

varies greatly and the foam back up can then be sooner or later

depending on how fast it was filled. You can easily be of a gallon or

two or more right there. What would that do to your calculations?



For calculating mpg I always fill it 100% till the fuel is full right up to the edge of the filler and stays there. Visible green liquid right up to the edge.

Takes an extra ten + minutes to do. I've yet to do the vent kit

 

[DOWG]

Aha! Concrete Solutions! Are you the same that is bidding against GalvestonParker (me) on ebay for the black center caps?



Not concerned anbout the caps so much, but what wheels are you planning to use them on? I am getting a new set of Rickson's and trying to figure out if they will fit. My local dealer is able (had 2 in stock) to get them for me, obviously not an ebay price. Also, I found another source (private) for some new ones so I won't be bidding against you anymore... ... ... ..... Let me know.

 

[Diesel Power]

with a 3,000 pound load i will average about 19mpg on the high way and 21-23 empty. all the above is important to keep good mileage,terrain has alot to do with it as well.

 

[klenger]

If you were driving in OD at 2K and standard tires, you were doing about 73 MPH. Speed kills milage. Slow down to 60 MPH and I'll bet your milage would go up to 15 or better. Also, keep the power off when climbing hills and downshift if necessary to maintain RPM. I get over 12 MPG towing a 10K 5er, but not at 73 MPH.

 

[Cattletrkr]

I just pulled an empty 6k stock trailer back from OK. Got a little under 10mpg on a couple tanks on the way home. Why so bad???? 70mph that's why. If I would have slowed down to 60, past performance indicates I would have gotten maybe 12mpg. Speed kills, no matter what gearing/trans setup you've got. I just didn't have the extra day or so to spend on the road. Throw in another hotel stay and ...



Empty on the way down with cruise set at 65mph for an ENTIRE tankful I got about 16. 5mpg. About as good as one can expect for a big ol' behemoth running absurdly heavy rims/tires. Juice on 5-1 for the first time in it's life. Man did I have to baby the go pedal. I'm thinkin' level 3 would have done better, at least it lies to the overhead better.



So, yes 13-14 is OK. Nothing to write home aobut, but nothing to get upset about either.

 

[Nate]

Last time I pulled the Jeep, I got about 14. 5 mpg doing 70-80mph. ~7000lbs.

 

[Poulsen]

I sure hope mine gets better - I only have 950 miles on it, and am getting 11.

 

[ilovetrains]

I can see 5mpg shift in mileage from tank to tank. A lot of times I will stop and realize I was fighting a head wind, or any number of other factors. These engines seem to be real finicky about fuel, I think tank to tank you will always see differences unless you fill up in the same place all the time.