4X4 Fuel Mileage

[Ray Torresdal]

Milage

I'm averaging 18. 25 over the first 60,000 miles on my 2001. I've never seen anything under 12, but I'm not towing a high fiver into the wind, either. Grossing 24,500 and towing at interstate speeds, 13-14mpg. (lighter coming home) Ray

 

[ftb87]

you might want to just compair the 3500 vs. the 2500 Big difference (compair apple to apple). The 2500's will almost always get better fuel milage.



Just my . 02 worth.





Frank

 

[Pit Bull]

Mine should get the worst mileage, weighs around 7600 lbs with me in it and nothing else (see sig. ) I check fuel mileage every tank and around town I am getting 16 mpg. When I go for a long highway run to KC averaging 60 - 65 mph I am now getting around 18 - 19 mpg. Winter fuel.

 

[rkressg]

Milege

18???, 13???, Heck, empty I nleyt see 12. 5 on the highway. around town 9. 5 -10. Loaded pulling a 24' box @ 10,000lbs I only get 5. 5 - 6 mpg. Granted, that is going 70 - 75 mph thourgh the hills of PA, WV, and KY, but that is still very bad. I don't mind because I love my truck.

 

[Hale on wheels]

If I only got 11-12 mpg, I would be very upset, but that is me. I usually get in the low 18. xx's, with a 30 mile commute to work 70% highway, 30% Dallas traffic. The best I have ever gotten is 19. 4, almost all highway, but I don't have the willpower to drive less than 70. 13-14 pulling a 7000# TT. It doesn't matter if I pull the trailer in OD or 2500 RPM in 3rd, at 65 mph, I got the same mileage. I am still wanting to hit that magical 20 mpg mark, but I have not been successful so far. BTW, it does get better when you get 10-15k miles on the truck.

 

[jimnance]

4X4 Fuel Economy

I have had Dodge Diesels since 1991 and my 1999 4X4 Quad cab has the worst mileage. Part of that is the 4X4 and the weight of the truck.



I was getting 19. 5 MPG on the open road, and about 17. 5 all around driving. Since winter fuel is being sold I'm about 2. 0 mpg below these numbers.



Your numbers seem a little low, but if you just got the truck and have been using winter fuel then maybe you are in the ball park.

 

[THerman]

I would agree with jimnance. I get 17-18 with 75%hwy 25%city(Atlanta. . ie stopped sometimes going) With the winter fuel that just came out I dropped around 2. 5mpg.



I've also noticed that the majority of 20+'s are coming from 2500 owners... not the 3500 owners... . Quite a weight difference there.



Give it time to break in and get off the winter fuel and your numbers should come right up.



Tod

 

[Kraut67M]

I have a 2500 ETH with 3. 53 gears and I have gotten as low as 17. 3 (Cold winter temps and winter fuel) to as high as 21. 7 on a trip in summer with good fuel averaging 70-75mph. I try to keep my rpm's below 2200 on the highway. In the winter I use an additive to boost cetane and it gives me 1mpg better than straight winter fuel. I also have kept track of every drop of fuel I put in it including type and where I get it. The MPG are calculated and I fill to top every time. I have >45K on my truck now. It has never pulled anything but has had a loaded bed once. I typically drive <15 miles each way to work so truck never really gets to operating temps in winter when cold. I am not the youngest on this board but I do have a moderately heavy foot and am seldom not the fastest driver on the interstate. Truck is bone stock except for synthetic rear end fluid.

Kraut67M

 

[LoneRam]

Mileage Envy

First fill-up the other day. The math worked out to 15. 3. Not what I hoped for, but could be worse. DTT TC 91% and VB just ordered today so maybe that will help a little. Someone said they picked up 1. 5 mpg by switching to synthetic diff fluid That seems a little too good to be true. Does anybody think you should log some miles before switching, just as with engine oil? Just curious.

 

[jwskrintney]

Hey All,



Certainly not the numbers I was looking for. There definitely seems to be a big difference between the 3500's and the 2500's but I believe there may be some hope for improvement from some of the comments I have read... . I sure appreciate the enthusiastic responses. And yes, I do love the truck even if the fuel mileage does not quite step up to what I expected. I will be taking the first long road trip in it tomorrow and I will certainly be interested in seeing how it does on the road with a light trailer behind it. I will post another response with my road trip mileage when I get back in town in the next day or two.

 

[RKohn]

72k miles avg is 18.2mpg...

mixed 80mph hiway & slighty slower city.

 

[KevinK]

The best I've ever gotten on a tankfull is about 16mpg. I rarely have it out on the highway for any length of time without towing, so I don't have any good highway numbers. I just refilled last night after running through a full tank with a set of DD2s. I was hoping for the 1-2mpg increase that other people see, but I got 13. 8mpg. Maybe my right foot has something to do with it. I also notice that the winter fuel causes a 1-2mpg loss. My average over 25k miles is about 14.



Kevin

 

[5thram]

JW,

Nice truck. You have good taste. Trust me, your mileage will improve, but it takes time. There's gonna be a day when you'll be glad you got the 4x4 option. My . 02

P. S. Thank God for the NRA. Without our help George Bush wouldn't have been elected... .

 

[FFSchooley]

I am only getting around 12MPG. Thats both highway and around town. Whats up with that? I do have 35" tires, so I guess that is what is making this much difference? Hmm...

Brett

 

[DavidD]

fuel milage

FF, i have almost the same truck ck. my signature. I have been running 315-75-16's which is the same tire as a 35/12. 5/16. 5. i have gotten as good as 24 and about the worst is 13 with a headwind going 80-90 over the utah and nevada desert. I usually get about 16-17 around town. I would suggest its the type of tire your using. I have tried 3 diff. tire from all season to snow tires to Goodyear wrangler MT/R's which is on it now. the milage is still about the same i got 17 the last tank and I like to use the right foot! Good luck with the swappers

 

[SnoKing]

I get around 15 in town, 18-19 hiway, 10-11 towing 5er, and 13-14 towing snowmobiles in the mountains. Still under 6K on truck. SNOKING

 

[DocStressor]

I get 19-21 mpg empty keeping the speed below 70. Towing a 3000 lb boat, I get 16. 5-17. 5 mpg. With the camper loaded I've gotten between 13. 5 and 18. 2 mpg (with a 50 mph tail wind) running at 62-65 mph. Towing the boat with the camper loaded I've gotten 13. 2-15. 1 mpg.



I've averaged almost 1 mpg higher after switching to synthetic lube in the drive train. I hardly ever drive in town, so I don't know what the mileage would be in the city.

 

[Snow man]

I get 13-16 99% of the time,best tank was 16. 5,wworst 10. 5 mpg,plowing. If i drive at 75-80(just keeping up around here),with my 4. 10's mileage stays under 14 mpg. if i go slower ican get 16 at best.

 

[ABailey]

12. 6 mpg 90% stop-n-go in city

best ever 16 mpg on highway

ISB under 3k miles so I'm hoping for improvement.

 

[WCrovo]

As high as 23+ empty and as low as 8 running fast and hard with 18,000+ gross. All stock With a head wind and large load pedal to the metal she can guzzle, if i back off and go alittle slower the milage is good. Also over 70mph she gets thirsty esp. with big load.