Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 400 miles is all I get on a full tank of fuel...is that normal?

[FLynes]

I'm flying down to Houston this Friday to pick up our '01 3500 HO 6spd w/4. 10's and 235/85's. The only thing that's been done to it is the addition of a Jake Brake. I'll post numbers when I get back to Maryland.

 

[UP N MTNS]

I get around 630-640 miles per tank before I fill up. Thats on the Hwy with the cruise set at 70mph... If I drive 80-85 it drops down to around 480-500 miles per tank.

 

[painekiller]

i get an avg of 18-19 city and got as much as 24 on a road trip from ohio to s. carolina. all depends on how i drive.

 

[VIPERBLUELX]

My speedo was calibrated, I had the computer reflashed with the revolutions per mile info I got from M/T.

 

[J.BURCHFIELD]

40 psi is too low. Go by what it says on the sidewall of the tires. Use a Milton or Schrader gage to get accurate readings. My sense of feel tells me at least 65 psi but then again go by the Mfg. recommendation on the sidewall. I bounce between 17 and 18 mpg city/highway running 70 psi in my Michelins. I have a 98 12v and wish my milage was better.

 

[JKinney]

When I got my smarty last year... . Should I have logged in the biggest tire size available to keep my warranty going?

 

[VIPERBLUELX]

40 psi is too low. Go by what it says on the sidewall of the tires. Use a Milton or Schrader gage to get accurate readings. My sense of feel tells me at least 65 psi but then again go by the Mfg. recommendation on the sidewall. I bounce between 17 and 18 mpg city/highway running 70 psi in my Michelins. I have a 98 12v and wish my milage was better.

The Mfg. recommendation is for MAX LOAD, right?



Doesn't 65 psi make the truck ride stiff as a board?

 

[Jefff929]

40 psi is too low. Go by what it says on the sidewall of the tires. Use a Milton or Schrader gage to get accurate readings. My sense of feel tells me at least 65 psi but then again go by the Mfg. recommendation on the sidewall. I bounce between 17 and 18 mpg city/highway running 70 psi in my Michelins. I have a 98 12v and wish my milage was better.

the Michelins have a lower rolling resistance, there is a set of BFGs that come close... nothing else. Those MTs sure look cool

The Smarty on #9 helps when you drive like a blue hair, if you can.

Living in a state with a max legal speed of 65 helps too. Coming home from anyplace else the mileage goes up and speed comes down at the border.

Even with the 5er on, the worst I ever got was 10, 12+ is normal towing.

round town I get 16-18 depending.

The Mfg. recommendation is for MAX LOAD, right?

Doesn't 65 psi make the truck ride stiff as a board?

No not really, I run 55-60ish

 

[DPelzl]

Gotta love these guy's. Keep hope alive. You didn't say how much larger your aftermarket tank is to get the 800 per tank? Everyone on here knows it's impossible to get 26mpg... especially @ 75-80mph. Maybe you got a 4bt by accident in your rig. Could have been a factory mis-hap.

I stand corrected. I ment to say over 600 miles per tank not 800. Although it would be nice. I just returned from a trip up the coast 688 miles, 24mpg. My truck seams to run best between 75-80. 2000-2100 rpm. by the way thanks for the sarcastic reply to my original post be it right or wrong my intent was to help my fellow TDR member. I will be more carefull in the future, thanks.

 

[Boosted6]

Last tank on mine was 23mpg per the chart. I am very happy with mine... .



There is somethign about these trucks, I looked in the garage this morning and saw my SSR sitting there and I remembered the weather was going to be sunny and 73 today and I thought ahhh. . Top down weather. . Then I opened the garage door and there sit my 99 CTD... I drove the Dodge to work

 

[FTwardoch]

I've tracked every tank since I bought my 01 two and a half years ago, all hand calculated and (before Smarty) adjusted for tire size. GPS verified speedo is right. Mix of 70% hway/30% town gets me consistently 18 mpg minimum with long trips on the freeway hitting 20. This with 35" BFG All Terrains and a 2" front leveling kit. Doesn't matter if I'm hot rodding it or driving like a blue hair it stays consistent. This all with a Smarty on 9 and Mach 1 injectors with a built transmission. Get 450ish per tank in my short box QC.

 

[swmnkdinthervr]

I don't go anywhere slow and I run everything I own b*lls to the wall except when cruising long distance on my Harley, (I keep it under 90 ) in city driving I get lousy mileage due to my lead foot and tire size. (255/85/16... about 34") The average is about 14-15... out on the highway the tires help, (I try to keep her under 80) I'm getting about 17-18 mpg... all with 4:10 gears... I've gotten as high as 20 on the highway when I held it at a steady 70 mph! This is hand calculated.

 

[bmoeller]

I think the 35's w/aggressive tread are your main culprit.

I would go to 50 or 60 psi up front. 45 on the rears. Won't be enough to affect the ride much, if at all, but should lower the rolling resistance some. The engine is heavy. more air would be a good idea up front.

Stupid question, but are you correcting the mileage for the largers tires, or had the speedo recaled?

 

[Threewolves]

New I was getting 18. 5 mph running around town and back a forth to work 16miles each way. Running out to Ocean Shores and keeping it at 60 I could get 21. 5 mpg with stock tires 265. I went to 295 for 50. 000 miles and would get 16. 5 to 17. Then I got all the Banks stuff, down tube, 4 in SS. and the power pack I was suppose to get a 3% increase in fuel miliage. That didn't happen. I talked to Banks, they said just check every thing out make sure there were no air leaks. Checked it all out and now it seem like I get 18 around here and 18. 5 on the highway. Called Banks back, no solutions, no resolution. I think I can just un plug their stuff and plug the OMe stuff back in (it is all still in the truck). I haven't done it, but was wondering? should work. Any thoughts?



Don't get me wrong it goes Zoom, esp when it is punched around 60 to 70 mph, but I bought the stuff because I wanted better mileage. Paul

 

[BDW]

I have a stock 06 with about 14K miles and on winter fuel average 16 mpg mixed hiway and city. Figured by hand of coarse.

 

[FLynes]

I just got back to Maryland, from Houston. I took I-45N to Dallas, then I-20 to I-30 to I-40 to I-81. I drove 400 miles at 55MPH, 400 miles at 60MPH, 400 miles at 65 and 400 miles at 70MPH. At 55 the truck averaged 20. 3MPG. At 60MPH it averaged 19. 7. At 65MPH 19. 2, and at 70MPH 18. 7. Overall, I am quite happy with the truck. While the truck is noticeably louder than my '05, it feels a lot better... . the seats are way more comfortable (heated seats rock!) and I really like the feel of the dually. Now for the mods..... :-laf

 

[MCummings]

My '98. 5 with a few mods, gets 12 in town and 23 on the highway if I keep it below 70MPH, and in the 65-68MPH range. If I head up to 80MPH the mpg drops fast, and I'm in the 16-17mpg range.



Of course, I have a 2wd, Michelins at full pressure, avoid using the A/C and slow down going up hills, and speed up going downhills. I think the EDM injectors, the cam, ported head, baby twin turbo's, and very high timing help too...



Merrick

 

[cArNiVaLwOrKeR]

80???

I notice I get better mileage when I set cruise to 65-70 as opposed to 80. 80 might get me there faster, but it does cause a noticeable hit on fuel mileage.

And get POPPED from the FUZZ and getta citation???

No way... Im w/you 65 72 tops...

 

[JR2]

I have logged ever gallon of fuel run in my truck since it was new. My average, the last time I updated my spread sheet, was 15 mpg. Some of that was townig a snowmachine tralier, some drag racing, lots of highway miles and includes all the mods I have done plus the summer vs winter fuel. What it amounts to is that in the summer I get 17-18 mpg on the highway and 15 in town. In the winter I get 11-13 but there are quite a few long idles to let it warm up. The majority of this mileage was with stock tires at full pressure. I now have 285's and they knocked a couple MPG off.

If you want good mileage, fill your tires to max allowed presssure, drive 60 mph, check your intercooler clamps and see what happens. Any speed over 60 will hurt your milage as our trucks are not aerodynamically designed to get good mileage.

 

[BTowler]

Best ever 20, worst 14, averages around 16. Can't complain too much, but I have to wonder when I see these claims over 22.