Better mileage ?

[ssanders60]

comments on fuel mileage

Re fuel Mileage



My '03, 2500, 4x4, quad cab, 48RE, fuel mileage

runs as follows. (373 rear end, 9,000 miles on it, also H/O CTD. )



1. Entirely city driving traffic lights

at every block amounts to------------17 mpg 2. On a recent round trip of 1320 miles

at 70-75 miles an hour which included

considerable city driving in Lynchburg,

Va. and surrounding cities included. --19. 6 MPG

3. On farm to market roads where speed

remains 65 mph and below and RPM

1700 and below I reach as much as---21. 9 to 22mpg.

My truck has never pulled anything, I anticipate

the fuel mileage to increase as well as the power as the truck reaches 20,00 miles. My wife's

intown driving averages 15. 5 to 16 mpg.

There is a great temptation to experience the

power of these trucks and if you do, there is

a price to pay, low fuel mileage. Although

fuel here Jacksonville is $1. 65 it does serve

as an incentive to get your best mileage, however I kick it occasionally. It's the most

"fun driving" vehicle I've ever owned. If

it has ever burned a drop of oil you can't

tell it on the dipstick.

 

[Jeremiah]

Re: comments on fuel mileage

Originally posted by ssanders60

Re fuel Mileage



My '03, 2500, 4x4, quad cab, 48RE, fuel mileage

runs as follows. (373 rear end, 9,000 miles on it, also H/O CTD. )



1. Entirely city driving traffic lights

at every block amounts to------------17 mpg 2. On a recent round trip of 1320 miles

at 70-75 miles an hour which included

considerable city driving in Lynchburg,

Va. and surrounding cities included. --19. 6 MPG

3. On farm to market roads where speed

remains 65 mph and below and RPM

1700 and below I reach as much as---21. 9 to 22mpg.

My truck has never pulled anything, I anticipate

the fuel mileage to increase as well as the power as the truck reaches 20,00 miles. My wife's

intown driving averages 15. 5 to 16 mpg.

There is a great temptation to experience the

power of these trucks and if you do, there is

a price to pay, low fuel mileage. Although

fuel here Jacksonville is $1. 65 it does serve

as an incentive to get your best mileage, however I kick it occasionally. It's the most

"fun driving" vehicle I've ever owned. If

it has ever burned a drop of oil you can't

tell it on the dipstick.

Go ahead and kick it, it won't hurt a bit. You might even find out it gets as many mpg as when you're babying it. You're getting about the same as I'm getting on my 3500 6-spd w/27,000 miles. Not bad! Don't forget to keep an eye on that air filter or you'll find your mileage dropping significantly.

 

[MCharlebois]

milage

got 16. 81 last tank-always buy hand-no towing this tank though-4. 10s and all and i DO NOT baby it-shift at 2k-how the hell can you not get into the POWER -it starts at 2k just my . 02

 

[Jeremiah]

Re: milage

Originally posted by MCharlebois

got 16. 81 last tank-always buy hand-no towing this tank though-4. 10s and all and i DO NOT baby it-shift at 2k-how the hell can you not get into the POWER -it starts at 2k just my . 02

The '03 transmission w/6-spd is geared differently 2 thru 5. The turbine begins spooling effectively at 1400-1500, which is right where the best torque is located, especially if you're running solo. But your shift point of 2000 is a good one because the next gear falls right where it should be torque-wise.



No, I didn't get this out of a book; I figgered it out on my own, which means some squint will come back and tell me PRECISELY where best torque is located. Hee!

 

[TAdamsCT]

Re: Re: milage

Originally posted by Jeremiah

The '03 transmission w/6-spd is geared differently 2 thru 5. The turbine begins spooling effectively at 1400-1500, which is right where the best torque is located, especially if you're running solo. But your shift point of 2000 is a good one because the next gear falls right where it should be torque-wise.



No, I didn't get this out of a book; I figgered it out on my own, which means some squint will come back and tell me PRECISELY where best torque is located. Hee!

I notice my turbo spooling around that RPM as well. I get my best gas mileage running light footed at around 55-60 mph on back roads. I live in CT and drive up and down some hills back and forth to work every day (35 miles each way). I'm averaging 19. 2-18. 6 depending on the temperature and school bus irritations. Only 4K on the truck and loving every minute of it!

 

[Jeremiah]

Re: Re: Re: milage

Originally posted by AdamsTa

I notice my turbo spooling around that RPM as well. I get my best gas mileage running light footed at around 55-60 mph on back roads. I live in CT and drive up and down some hills back and forth to work every day (35 miles each way). I'm averaging 19. 2-18. 6 depending on the temperature and school bus irritations. Only 4K on the truck and loving every minute of it!

Look up Dean Upson and say hello to him. He's from Connecticut too. He might even be your neighbor. He's a good guy and drives a great-looking '03 silver duallie.

 

[radar doctor]

High Mileage

Mr S Sanders up towards the top of this article got Really great Mileage for a Automatic... I wonder what part of the country he is from? I am getting a New 03 the same as his next week and i can't wait to add my mileage to this Post. . I will do it right after i get it then again at 5 then 10 K and well see if they do better after they break in. Mr Sanders How long did you leave your break in oil in? Did you go back with break in oil on the second change?? If so what kind of oil does the factory use? Weight etc?Tks Bill

 

[ssanders60]

Answer to Radar Doctor

Radar Doctor,



Since I have the free 2 year lub and oil

change from the dealer, I am using the MOPAR

oil 15w/40 that is packaged for MOPAR by Valvoline under specs. given to them by MOPAR.

I changed the oil at 7,000 miles and even

then the oil was only slightly discolored,

not much difference from new oil. The engine

apparently operates and burns fuel very

cleanly and efficiently. It used no oil as

far as I could determine from the mark on the

dip stick. The oil stayed just a fraction above

the full mark the entire 7,000 miles. The new

MOPAR oil, again was just above the full mark

after it was changed and remains there after

I have put 3,000 miles on it. When my free lubes

run out I will either use delo 400 or URSA by

Havoline, both 15w/40, both are proven oils on

all types of diesel service.

My better fuel mileage probably results from

the flat terrain in the Jacksonville, Fl. area,

although the traffic is stop and go and very slow,

in fact there are many days the truck will not

see 4th gear due to slow traffic. It simply will

not change into 4th gear until it reaches 42 MPH. I had the tires rotated at the oil change, however

it was not evident that a wear pattern had set up. Tires are wearing evenly, couldn't ask for

better. They are BFGoodrich 265/70/17 TA's,

in perfect balance. I've been very pleased with

everything about the truck, NO PROBLEMS and

congratulations on your new truck!!



Stan Sanders, Jax,Fl.

 

[geusterman]

You G3's worried about low mileage might try what I finally did on my 02. Had Piers's shop check boost for leaks (was OK) and clean both MAP and IAT sensors. Took of the EZ in case I had to go back to dealer. Did a road test and moved from 14 mpg to almost 18. Hmmmmm. Will probably put EZ back on and according to Piers pick up one to one and a half mpg. BTW my 02 has had 14 mpg since new and has 18K on it. geusterman.

 

[djbobo]

That would be me... . 14. 7 & holding(up from 13. 9 when new) . Mostly city however. I'd be more than happy with 17+ average.



I checked intercooler clamps - what would the sensers have to do with poor mileage?



kilby, mattst, shannanphillips,sdbelt,parshal & others with lower than average MPG-- have yours gottn any better?



dj

 

[MattSt]

Originally posted by djbobo

kilby, mattst, shannanphillips,sdbelt,parshal & others with lower than average MPG-- have yours gottn any better?



dj

My old post:

Originally posted by MattSt

Same for me. I actually hit 16. 1 on a 100 mile trip going 60 the whole way. My 30 mile commute to work (75 mph) is getting me 15. 2-15. 6 That's with a 6 speed and 3. 73 gears. Glad I didn't get the 4. 10's!



I'm about to throw a chip, exhaust, injectors and intake on it and at least give it an excuse for getting crappy mileage!

Yes a little. I put on a AFE intake and a Bully Dog box. I'm getting about 16. 4 around town and on the same trip above I got 19. It now has 21,000 miles on it.



So the city driving has not improved much but the highway has. When I get mad I go talk to my next door neighbor who has a 2003 chevy with a big block. He gets 8 mpg around town and 6 towing.

 

[kshimizu]

After reading a number of these post I was worried about what kind of mileage I would see in my new 04. When I test drove it, it had 32 miles on it and the trip computer showed 17. 2 mpg. First tank mixed city/highway it got 16. 5 mpg. Second tank 17. 5 city/highway. Third tank 19. 0 mpg highway between 75-80 mph. The 4th tank was the worst, 15. 2 mpg going 80+ mph into a 35 mph head wind. The trip computer has never been off by more than 0. 5 mpg.



This is my family's 6th Cummins, we've noticed in the past that around 15-20,000 miles is when we see an increase in mpg.



1993 (my dad's work truck) is getting 23-24 mpg at highway speed. (275,000 miles, nicely broken in)



1991 averaged 18/20 mpg (City/Highway) Reg Cab Ram 350

1995 averaged 18/21 X-Cab Ram 2500

2001 averages 18/21 Q-Cab Ram 2500 4x4 LB

2002 averaged 18/22 Q-Cab Ram 2500 4x4 SB



All trucks are/were manuals with the exception of the 93.

 

[Jeremiah]

You guys, I hate to break your hearts. I just got back from driving to NW Arkansas - 834 miles going and 734 coming back (GPS fastest way going and direct way coming back). I got 22. 9 the trip east doing 65 mph and 17. 9 coming back doing 70-75 against a huge headwind. The computer average wandered between 20. 9 and 20. 5. I have 29,000 miles on it now.