3500 mpg's whatcha getting

[mxaaron]

Hopefully you are re-calculating your mileage figures based on the new-found lower tire revolutions per mile. If not, you're cutting yourself short on the "miles" portion of the calculation.



I have obtained as much as 18. 3 mpg hand*calculated with the LT305/60R20's I run on my truck..... in summer months with regular (non-winterized) #2. With the LT285/70R17's that I run in the winter months, it is only 16. 7--16. 9 due to the winter fuel, additional idling, etc.



When a CTD owner posts such "outstanding" fuel economy numbers, ask them if that is by the overhead or hand calculated... ... then watch their reactions. :-laf



Greg

So you're saying that those getting "outstanding" fuel economy are liars?

 

[JJPage]

Empty truck on the interstate@70mph, whether I'm running stock fueling or on kill, between Spokane and Helena (3 major mt passes), I get 18+ mpg consistently, never have I reached 19 mpg.



The same route, same speed, pulling my 30ft 5th wheel toybox, Smarty on sw#3, 9+ mpg, could not make 10 mpg. Missoula to Sandpoint on hwy 200 (following rivergrade), alot of 50/65 mph, I actually made over 12 mpg with my 5th wheel packed, and that's a lot safer speed towing.



I know from experience if I stay under 65 mph empty truck or towing, I can do better, it just takes more discipline than I can usually muster after a few hours of traveling on the big roads.



Jess

 

[Barry]

18 to 19 Empty @ 65 mph. 11 to 12 towing(depending). If I tow one way and come home empty, I flight plan 15 for the round trip and generally beat that number. BTW, it is hand calculated.

Overhead is bonkers, especially with electronic enhancements. Am in Lakeland, Fl. tonight for an auction tomorrow. Coming down today, at 55 to 60 the overhead was 28 to 30 mpg... ... . I wished!

Also, with OEM wheels and tires, speedo was 2 to 3 mph fast. My new Ricksons with 225/70/19. 5s made the speedo dead on with GPS and road side radar monitors.

 

[gsbrockman]

So you're saying that those getting "outstanding" fuel economy are liars?

Wow... thanks for the personal attack... . I suppose it all depends all how the original person determines what "outstanding" is.



I've owned a 1998 12V, a 2000 24V, a first year 305*555 HPCR, and a 6. 7L. The 305*555 had the best power (bone stock) and the best fuel economy (bone stock). I've obtained 21. 7 mpg hand calculated on my 2003 RAM 2500 Quad Cab 4x4 Sport w/NV5600 and 3. 73's on a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC one year.



As far as people tooting their horn on fuel economy figures, perhaps you should visit Dodge Cummins Diesel Forum (6. 7L Forums) and see some of the posters getting 26 to 28 mpg with their 6. 7L's..... with the DPF intact. :-{} When some have been approached with "how" they simply say they were relying on the overhead lie-o-meter for their mpg figures. :-laf I own a 2004 Dodge Neon SXT w/2. 0L and 4 spd auto (daily driver) and barely get 28 or 29 mpg if I drive it sanely.



In a nutshell, you can whizz down my back all you want; just don't tell me it's raining though. :-laf



Greg

 

[mxaaron]

I asked you to clarify your statement.



You were questioning some of these folks statements (tongue in cheek or not) along with your little chuckling smiley emoticon implying that you were. I didn't see one post in this thread stating that anyone got 26 - 28 mpg. As far as personal attack's, well I think you might be a little sensitive. You commented that people believe their overheads without verifying any accuracy, and implied that they are surprised when you call their bluff.



I pay for membership on the TDR because I value what I read, along with what people here post. And in the interest of getting what I pay for, I am going to continue to read this board, not the Dodge Cummins Diesel Forum.

 

[bighammer]

It's not worth anybody getting all worked up about. (let's keep it civil) Mileage numbers seem to be getting like fish stories.

There are some wide ranges of numbers, but there are so many variables. The biggest is probably driving style. 2 guys driving the exact same truck on the exact same roads will get different numbers.

Wind is huge. A head wind or tail wind throws off everything. I seemed to get a drop just putting on tow mirrors. Any change to the height or profile changes things. Bigger tires have more mass and take more energy to rotate than smaller tires, but they put the truck up higher in the wind stream. More air has to go around/under.

I don't calculate mine that often, but I have a pretty good idea by how many mile on the clock when I'm low on fuel. I can often predict how many gallons it will take to fill by dividing by 20.

 

[gsbrockman]

I didn't see one post in this thread stating that anyone got 26 - 28 mpg.

..... and I never said there was anyone within this thread getting 26 or 28 mpg, either..... hence the initial reference to the previously mentioned website.

 

[Riverboy]

Well said Bighammer, thanks for all the responses. I am still fairly new to this arena and have some questions. I couldn't find what I was asking on the in the "search area" so I started this thread. Its interesting to see what all of you out there are getting and your reasons for them. Thanks again.

 

[AWeiman]

i sure do enjoy a good mpg debate. since we bought the wife's 06 in dec. it has ran 15-16,probaly not a good guage though, it aint been above 40 degrees since we owned it. these are mainly all highway miles.

 

[CKESSEL]

On my 04. 5 dually q cab 2X W/nv5600, I'm currently doing 19-21 empty depending on driving conditions. Thats a mix of 40% freeway and 60% rural roads. I had been getting 17-19 but I changed my driving habits some. I try to run 60-65 on the open stretches or highway. When I hauled pallets of pavers, around 21k lbs, or the 5355 JD tractor I got13-15. Whether or not you can lift up your right foot when you walk or if you drag it on the floor cause its too heavy makes a HUGE difference in MPG.

 

[LRutigliano]

Completely empty back and forth to work (30% stop/go, 70% @ 60 mph) = 17 to 18 mpg with a single best of 18. 5 mpg.



With just the slide-in truck camper (4100 lbs) = 12 to 13. 2 mpg



With the slide-in and boat (4000 lbs) = 10. 5 to 12. 9 mpg



With the 10. 5k 36' 5er = 9. 9 to 11. 9 mpg (Smarty improved this to the high end)



Daily driving with the 92 Toyota Corolla (1. 6L DOHC, 4spd auto) = 28 to 30 mpg and I don't care about the useless miles and I'm completely comfortable with my manhood ... :-laf



(I've managed to keep 61k miles off of the truck doing this since 2004)

 

[EricBu12]

My 09 which seems to be doing good on the reliability thing and the emissions part is doing good. . Have only 6400 miles on it and if I baby it and keep R's as low as poss and drive 65 or less on the freeway,. .

Have a tonneau cover, and the "E" rated stock tires are aired up mostly. . around 75-80 psi. I coast whenever I can. . On city streets that are a slight downhill, this thing coasts pretty good in Neutral. (Georgia Overdrive? lol)

All the above said, I get around 15-17 combined city and freeway. I hand Calc. Every fill-up... ... If I was only on the freeway, it gets up to 19-20 max on the flat freeway. . (did a fill, reset, and drove 40 miles on freeway looking at overhead comp. ). . So we will see when I tow this summer if it will get broken in a little more and have the mileage get a little better but that is what mine is doing.

 

[PFlory]

I'm getting about the same as jkeith both towing my 14k 5er at 10-11 mpg, and 19-20 highway with cruise set at 70, and the Banks set at mid power setting.

 

[RRB]

I'm consistent with other posts. 18-19 around the county. 21-22 on longer trips 55-60mph. 22-23 if I keep the speed under 55. 14 towing my 37' horse trailer.

 

[RRB]

Interstate trips at 70-72mph a consistent 18mpg.

 

[Blu-meanie]

Towing: 10. 5 to 13 @ 60 - 65 mph

Empty: 14. 5 on less than 20 mile drives to 17 freeway 70mph and less

 

[AWay]

Mine pretty well matches JKeith's. '06 DRW manual trans. pulling a 15K 5th wheel will average 10 to 11 mpg. Highway empty behaving myself I can get 22. Yearly average for the last 4 years is 15. 8 mpg.

All of my numbers are hand calculated. I only use the overhead numbers when I'm bragging to a Ford or GM owner. I love to watch grown men turn green.

 

[DSlover]

I'm grtting 20-21 highway empty, 14 highway with camper, 11 highway with camper-trailer combo 16000#.

Dslover

 

[SPucillo]

Bought my truck in Tulsa, Oklahoma 2 weeks ago with 500mi on it. It was a dealer to dealer trade.

I drove from Tulsa to Amarillo to Albuquerque to Flagstaff to Phoenix to San Diego going between 75-85mph except where the law was watching.

It took me 25 hours during which I averaged 14. 5mpg which I thought was not to bad considering I have the aerodynamics of a brick turned sideways.

I now have almost 2000mi on it and if I do the 65mph speed limit I will get 16. 0 mpg on the freeway according to the lie-o-meter.

Who knows with city driving. It depends on the traffic.

 

[Barry]

What rpms are you turning at 60 mph?