325/600 fuel economy?

[tschwab]

Curious to see what you guys are getting for mileage with the 325/600 towing and solo. Particulary intrested in hearing from those with 2WD and the 48RE.



Thanks - Terry

 

[HParfitt]

Did my first heavy tow this weekend. I have a 600 4X4 6spd with 3. 73's. Towed from Eastern PA out to Indianapolis IN. Was towing an 18' enclosed trailer about 7000#. I had 1,400 miles on the truck at the start. I don't have my cap yet so aerodynamics were terrible. I got about 11. 5 with an average speed of 65 to 75. I also towed a 14' 4000# last weekend for about a 200 mi trip through the mountains of the Poconos. It was all 2 lane back roads and a lot of hills. I kept the rpm's to around 2000 and got 14. 5. Seems like when your over 2,200 the mpg's really drop. Empty around town, via the overhead, I'm getting 17 when I don't put my foot into it.

 

[Barry]

I have bought a new truck every year for the last 5 model years. When the 600 came on the horizon, it was a "gotta have it". I have never been so unhappy with a truck. Poor fuel mileage, low power and on and on... ... ... ... With less than 5,000 miles on the odo, I sold it and was GLAD to take only a $5K hicky on the truck.



An '03 or early '04 (clean engine) with just an EZ will run circles around a 600 and get far better fuel mileage doing it. I have recommended to all my customers to buy the 305 HO, install the EZ and have the last of the "clean" engines as we have known them.



Mi dos centavos... ... ... ... ... ..... Barry

PS: I am afoot and having Cummins withdrawals. My east coast buyers has located an '03/2500 QC HO/Auto that is coming in trade on a motorhome. It will give me something to drive for the moment but is not what I am looking for. Pray for me... .

 

[WNowlan]

I have a 3500 4x4 QC, SRW, 4:10, 600. Truck now has 9500+ miles. When towing I get 10. 5 12500. Around town 15. 5 Highway 17. 8.



I bought it for the power, and to tow a gooseneck horse trailer. I traded a 03 Suburban 2500 6. 0 that got 11. So I really dont' care.



We pay more for bottled water than for fuel anyway!



I also have a 1984 Chevy 3/4T 4x4 5. 7L modified a bit, that would not like being hooked up to my HT.

 

[GFritsch]

Low of 13 with camper in hills pushing hard to a little under 20 driving like a little old lady empty. Hand Calc.



Try a search and you can read about this topic for days. I seem to remember a poll.

 

[Gonzo 1066]

With under 6000 miles on the truck. 04. 5 6 apeed, 3. 73's 3500 Larame DRW 4X4

Big Alpinlite camper, and cargo trailer behind. GCVW @ 20,000#+ Towing through the mountian passes in the west.

1000 miles on odo 1st tank. @ 70mph into headwind. freeway Hand Calc. 8. 5. mpg

2nd tank 68mph tail wind through Montana and into Wyoming. Hand calc. 14. 8

3rd tank. 68 mph Wyoming into Colorado. calm 10. 5

The rest of the milage has been in the 10 to 11 mpg hand calc. and I am satisfied with that.

Seems as though the milage will be very simmilar to my 2001 and 2002 6 speed 3500 Dodges. I assume it should pick up a bit of milage as it breaks in. Other than the cat loss and Afe air intake the truck is bone stock as of now.

 

[RJBussey]

My 4x4 with a 6" lift and 35's gets 17 mpg on the hwy if I stay at 65 mph. If I get on it alot it drops to around 14 to 15 mpg.

 

[Po' Riggity]

with my 600, empty, with my foot in it, I get about 16 city and about 20 hwy. Not sure on towing yet. . havent had the chance to tow. 4x4, 6 spd 3. 73's.

Scott

 

[Apence]

I agree with Barry I am very unhappy with the my 04. 5 600, although its not the truck im unhappy with its the 600 my third cummins and by far supposed to be the most powerful, but Im disapointed in the power and even more the poor mileage, and the incredible amount of smoke and rough idle on start up. Around town driving very nice 13 on highway cruise at 65 15mpg 75mph 13. 5 and 80mph 12. And by the way its been in the shop seven times for all this, so just send all my paper work to lemon lawyer.

 

[KevinO]

I have had mine reprogrammed and have 10k on the odometer and drive mostly 65-70 mph and can almost get 16mpg if drive semi aggressive it drops. those getting 20 must be drafting cause these 600's being 4x4 will never do it.

 

[BRayls]

I am sure I read it in one of the tdr issues. remember our trucks(my 305 included) have to use more fuel than the previous models to make the higher hp. so economy will suffer. do you think they can make 130 more rwhp and get the same mileage,anyone?my 97 got 24-25 but it had 135 rwhp. the 03 gets 15-19 but had 275rwhp. the old "if you wanna play you gotta pay" comes to mind. I get 9-13 towing,but I know it takes more fuel to make more hp,thats just a fact.

 

[opjohnny]

I have 13,000 miles on an early build 325/600. My last two tanks pulling a 2k trailer, 4 people, 4 bikes and all the camping gear was 17. 4 mpg hand calculated, driving 70mph when allowed. 4x4 quad 6spd 3. 73 and tow mirrors. I am happy with that. At first I was getting 13 then 15 now 17. The exhaust emissions are cleaner for the 325/600 at the expense of less fuel mileage. I think we are going to have to get used to that if we want clean air. It might get 20 on flat ground empty at 60mph on a calm day, but I can't drive it that slow.

 

[JPalese]

I have 13,000 miles on an early build 325/600. My last two tanks pulling a 2k trailer, 4 people, 4 bikes and all the camping gear was 17. 4 mpg hand calculated, driving 70mph when allowed. 4x4 quad 6spd 3. 73 and tow mirrors. I am happy with that. At first I was getting 13 then 15 now 17. The exhaust emissions are cleaner for the 325/600 at the expense of less fuel mileage. I think we are going to have to get used to that if we want clean air. It might get 20 on flat ground empty at 60mph on a calm day, but I can't drive it that slow.

Regarding the cleaner air issue, someone more adept at math than I will have to comment, but on the surface it would seem the 325/600 engine will have to be a LOT cleaner if it burns 30% more fuel than its predecessor to produce less overall pollution than the engine it replaces.

 

[BRayls]

Regarding the cleaner air issue, someone more adept at math than I will have to comment, but on the surface it would seem the 325/600 engine will have to be a LOT cleaner if it burns 30% more fuel than its predecessor to produce less overall pollution than the engine it replaces.

look at the exhaust system on the 600 and you will see one reason for better emissions,that big bulge before the muffler.

 

[RTuvell]

An '03 or early '04 (clean engine) with just an EZ will run circles around a 600 and get far better fuel mileage doing it. I have recommended to all my customers to buy the 305 HO, install the EZ and have the last of the "clean" engines as we have known them.



Mi dos centavos... ... ... ... ... ..... Barry

IMHO you are absolutely correct!



In addition the 03/04 may be the last of the highly regarded Cummins for some time to come, IMHO. Only time will tell.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

"We pay more for bottled water than for fuel anyway!





I can't speak for the rest, but *I* would sure like to see THAT old irrelevent turnip put out of it's misery!



We're NOT talking about bottled water, MY truck sure doesn't RUN on bottled water - or Coors or Old Grandad - so what purpose is there in such non-sensical , meaningless comparisons?



NOW, since I've undoubtedly disgruntled a few here, I won't rub yet MORE salt into an open wound by posting my MPG while towing our 5th wheel with the mods and dynoed power listed below... Oo.



The LAST of the REAL Cummins-powered trucks = bottled water or otherwise!

 

[Po' Riggity]

I have had mine reprogrammed and have 10k on the odometer and drive mostly 65-70 mph and can almost get 16mpg if drive semi aggressive it drops. those getting 20 must be drafting cause these 600's being 4x4 will never do it.

I must have some mystical 600 then... just because you got one that gets crappy mileage, no need to hate on those that get decent mileage.

Scott

 

[KBertetto]

I couldn't be happier with my 600. Towing the 5er last weekend I got 14. 1 mpg. Stayed right at 60 mph the entire 4 hour trip. When running empty at 65 I can consistently pull between 21 & 23mpg. Also, I can out-accelerate my neighbors 04 305/555. We could hash this subject for days, (it's already been beaten to death), or we could just agree that these engines are fairly inconsistent. Every series of Cummins diesels in the Ram have gone through the same crap, some do extremely well on fuel and some don't. Guess I'm a lucky one. :-laf



Bert

 

[LHolland]

Mileage getting better...

everytime I check. First started with 16. 5 now have moved to 18mpg. Mine only has 2300 miles on it. Heck if it gets better as it breaks in I'll really be happy. Have'nt towed with it yet.





'04. 5 SLT QC 4X4 SWB. 6SPD, 3. 73's LSD.

 

[KBertetto]

I guess I could mention this also. When I first bought my truck, I "only" got 16 mpg for the first 3 tanks (60mph running empty). Then pulled 5er up Alaska Highway and it jumped to 19mpg when unloaded after that. Just turned over 10,000 miles (lots of towing) and have had a high of 23. 1 mpg empty. So, it is possible for great gains in mpg during break in, mine did it. Love my 600



Bert