1st MPG report. New 3500, HO.

[brobeson]

My first tank of fuel went 388 miles and I was able to get 25. 5 galons back in for a total of 15. 2 MPG.

Not bad considering its a new HO, 4. 10s and hot roding to help brak-in.

From 400 to 1700 miles was towing our 5er at a CGVWR of 20400# and 9 MPG. Aveage speed 65 through Oregon and 75 through Idaho.

My next tank of fuel will be with out the 5er and we will see if the milage has started its climb up.

Truck still has less than 2k miles.

Bob

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2001 3500, SLT+, Green, Tan leather, Duel Power Seats, HO, 6 speed, 4X6, 4. 10, Towing Package, Trailer Tow Mirrors, Camper Package, Sliding rear Window, Jacob’s E-brakes (Dodge), Electric Steps (Dodge), Clarion overhead TC/VCR, In motion satalite, Mud Flaps on all 4s (Dodge) Line-X over the rail bed liner, 20K Reese 5th wheel Hitch with Gooseneck, 30” toolbox and tailgate box. Factory ordered, Picked up on 5-15-01. WOW!

Also have a 1998. 5, 2500, SLT, Red over Driftwood, 24V, 4X4, Auto, 4. 10, Light Group, Camper Special group, Convenience Group, Travel Group, Trailer Group, Keyless entry, 5 band EQ and 6 disk changer, 15K lil' rocker 5er hitch, tool box, rail guards, fog/driving lights, wood grain dash. (truck is 4-Sale)

 

[5thram]

All you've heard about the mileage getting better with age is true. I'm up to 5600 miles and I'm seeing improvements in power AND mileage. By my calculations, at 56 million miles I'll be getting 100 mpg!

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2001. 5 intenseblue 2500 ETH/DEE 4WD QC sportpkg, all the options but the cowhide, mostly stock. NRA, AMA member

 

[RobG]

You guys make me sick. I tell ya, I'm ready to de-mod this monumental POS and trade it. And I'll give you a hint: It won't be another DC product.

I got mine and for the first 3000-4000 miles I saw no better than 10-11 mpg UNLOADED. Now, at 9800 miles, I'm seeing in the 13-14 mpg range unloaded, and 10-12 loaded (though 10-11 is more the norm).

Of course, the dealer insists my figures are normal and anybody getting better than that is simply lucky. Well, I'd say that by the number of people I'm seeing that are getting good numbers, there are a LOT of lucky people here.

I have tried many things... driving like grandpa, driving like Mario. It makes no difference. I get the same mileage taking it easy as I do flooring it. And the last 3000 miles have been done almost entirely with my camper and trailer loaded (19k GCWR), so it's definitely getting broken in.

*sigh*

Rob


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2001. 5 RAM 3500 QC 4x4 ETH/DEE Silver/Agate, 4. 10, USGear OD, Rickson 19. 5 Wheels, DD EZ, DD3 Injectors, HX-40, Southbend Clutch, SPA Guages, Psychotty, Firestone Airbags, Hellwig Rear Swaybar, Torklift Superhitch & Camper Tiedowns, Mag-Hytec Diff Cover, DD 4" Exhaust, US Gear Exhaust Brake, etc.

 

[hammong]

Your mileage sounds just a LITTLE under for an ETH/DD3/EZ/HX40 3500. Put that kind of power in brand-F and your mileage isn't going to be -as- good as you're getting now, that's for sure.

Greg

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Y2K Dodge Cummins QC 2500 SLT Laramie 4x4 Long Bed, 4. 10/Auto, Forest Green/Driftwood, 265x75R16 Michelin LTX, 6 speaker CD, Camper/Tow/Plow Packages, Westin Black Nerfs, Mopar bedliner, Ultra bright diamondplate toolbox, K&N Filtercharger, Autometer Ultralite EGT and Boost gauges in 2-gauge pillar w/tweeter, DD Stage II injectors, boost module, and boost elbow. Yee haw!
http://www.rints.com/hammond for photos!

 

[Ron Bissett]

Originally posted by RobG:
You guys make me sick. I tell ya, I'm ready to de-mod this monumental POS and trade it. And I'll give you a hint: It won't be another DC product.

I got mine and for the first 3000-4000 miles I saw no better than 10-11 mpg UNLOADED. Now, at 9800 miles, I'm seeing in the 13-14 mpg range unloaded, and 10-12 loaded (though 10-11 is more the norm).

Of course, the dealer insists my figures are normal and anybody getting better than that is simply lucky. Well, I'd say that by the number of people I'm seeing that are getting good numbers, there are a LOT of lucky people here.

I have tried many things... driving like grandpa, driving like Mario. It makes no difference. I get the same mileage taking it easy as I do flooring it. And the last 3000 miles have been done almost entirely with my camper and trailer loaded (19k GCWR), so it's definitely getting broken in.

*sigh*

Rob

Rob did you take into account the 19. 5s on that POS as to MPG



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99DCTD3500 5spd pac,/ 95American Star 26ft 5th wheel one slide. (95),mod

 

[HC]

Now, at 9800 miles, I'm seeing in the 13-14 mpg range unloaded, and 10-12 loaded (though 10-11 is more the norm)...
I get the same mileage taking it easy as I do flooring it. And the last 3000 miles have been done almost entirely with my camper and trailer loaded (19k GCWR), so it's definitely getting broken in.

Rob,
To me, the 13-14 unloaded sounds a bit low, but the 10 to 11 at 19k GCWR sounds GREAT. When I put a 2k trailer behind my gas suburban, I couldn't make 10 mpg. I'm convinced that you pay 1 or 2 mpg for taller tires, unloaded, just due to wind resistance. By "unloaded", do you mean totally empty bed, or do you have a camper that extends above the cab, just with no additional weight? Wind resistance is a bigger mpg-killer than load, unless you are towing in the mountains. The only thing that makes me wonder if your truck has a problem is this: It makes a HUGE difference how I drive my truck. If I hold to about 60 mph, I can get 20+ mpg unloaded (secondary roads). If I get out on the freeway and cruise at 75 mph, then I'm looking at more like 17 mpg, unless I mix some secondary road driving on the same tank to get the average up. And relatively minor headwinds/tailwinds can add or subtract 1 to 2 mpg. I think you need to keep comparing notes just to be sure that your computer doesn't need a reflash or something, but, remember that most of the mpg posts come from people who care more about this feature, and sometimes we are guilty of posting "best tank" or "best long trip" figures, not our "since I owned the truck average". If I were to report my best figures, I could report my 26. 8 that I was getting just last night for ~100 miles. Yes, for a while, I really did get almost 27 miles per gallon. The rest of the story is that there was a 20 mph tailwind, and I was stuck behind a wide load going only 45 to 50 mph. #ad


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2001 ETH, QC, LWB, 4WD, 3. 54, SPA Pyro & Boost, K&N RE-880 w/foam pre-cleaner, ARE Z-series Cab-high shell, Rear ARB locker, and all kinds of synthetic fluids...

 

[RobG]

HC and ddskipper:



Yes, I've accounted for the tire size change. For one, the 225/75-19. 5's are only 1/2 inch taller than the stock 235/85-16's. I've approximated a 3% correction factor that I multiply in each time I divide the gallons used at fillup with miles travelled.



My trip computer isn't even close to accurate; I haven't used it in months. It thinks I'm getting 18+ mpg even when towing.



I would be content to be getting 17-ish unloaded, given that I do tend to drive the thing like a sports car. That's what I got in my '96 (and 12 mpg towing, 18,500k gcwr there).



Now, for unloaded... I mean UNLOADED. Bed is empty, no camper shells sticking up, nothing.



Rob