Could fuel company be a cause of poor mpg???

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Dropping my truck off to the dealer today to have some problems resolved before my warranty runs out. Since joining this site I realized how crappy my fuel mileage was. Been getting 10-12 mpg since new in 98(one of the last 12v bought in 12-97 right off the line- made in 12-97) I have been posting in the 12v site asking about timing issues etc and talked to Ted Jannety on the phone and he gave me some ideas also to increase mpg but to no avail For the record I have a 98 auto 4x4 with 3. 54 I do not tow and I do not drive hard on my vehicle. I use it as a daily driver everday but only put about 20 miles a day on in the city -I now have 26k. I read all the back posts concerning fuel mileage and see what other "realistic" people get. My question is ,if it doesnt sound stupid; I have been filling up with Texaco fuel since day one . I go to the same station because I feel that I wont have a water problem. Could there fuel quality be a cause of poor mpg. I used to have a Ford diesel 7. 3 with 410 gears and no overdrive and seem to get better mileage(went to Hess for all my fuel but they closed ). I used to feel with the truck weight that i would just expect crappy mpg but now feel I have been driving with some sort of timing issue or problem for 3 years. Ted Jannety said alot of 98 owners complain of mpg issues. Just looking for some feedback on this because I am running out of ideas and I would like the dealer to fix my problem before I start to add aftermarket things Thanks
[This message has been edited by RedNut (edited 10-09-2000). ]

 

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Rednut,an easy way to tell if it's the fuel is to add some cetane booster to a tank and see if it helps your mpg.

 

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Also wanted to add that the station has heavy truck traffic so I dont think it might be "stale" fuel

 

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You might get the dearler to re flash your computer. A friend of mined had his reflashed for an other reason and his mpg increased after it was reflashed

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97, Lamanie SLT, clubcab, driftwood, 3. 5 spicer 70 rear axle
96 Coachmen Royal 285rk 5th wheel, 11,000 #

 

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His truck isnt computer controled it is a 12v as far as it being fuel I doubt it because that stuff is tested once a year atleast I couldnt imagine it being bad 3years in a row..... but I guess anything is possible

 

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RedNut
Texaco is pretty decent company. I think it sells mostly premium diesel which should be better for your engine.
Timming could be off. But have you looked around the engine especially anything dealing with fuel? Looking for fuel leaks at low pressure fuel lines,lift pump, filter, injector pump. high pressure fuel lines, injectors and fuel tank(heard some were proan to leaking).
Do you have locking fuel cap? If not get one(someone could be borrowing diesel).
How is the engine running? Power? Coolant temp? Oil Pressure? Color of exhaust?
Could be Injector pump wasn't set up right from the start. Not neccisarily timing, but the inside mecahanics.
10-12 is way off. Even for auto, 4x4.

 

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Originally posted by illflem:
Rednut,an easy way to tell if it's the fuel is to add some cetane booster to a tank and see if it helps your mpg.

Stanadyne's fuel treatment stuff has a cetane booster. Been using Lucas for a while,and poured in first trial of S'dyne today, so, no report yet.

My 98. 4 (October '97) has never(?) gotten below 14mpg... urban mix driving has netted between 15. 5 and 17mpg-- long hiway runs go 19+ (once even saw 21 #ad
) I have suspected a slight mpg difference between "76" and FlyingJ, but requires many tankfuls, so not done yet. been logging fills/miles since new at 38 miles, and at near 70k now. No difference any more drastic than +/- 1-1. 5mpg, though, from one company to another.

Mine's a Quadcab auto 4x4 w 8ft bed and a campershell with all the requisite "stuff" in the bed. ---The 21mpg trip happened after finally powerBOMBing the engine, BTW.

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BOMBed 98. 4 1B7KF23D4WJxxxxxx-- BD's #5 plate and x-honed injectors--BD Brake and the associated transmission bomb goodies (except for TC,currently). . many homemade non-power accessories, 4" open exhaust(short)... big hole and old Scotty Air system(will eventually get Psychotty cannon, I suspect) camper shell, Warn front receiver, G159Unisteels on Rickson 19. 5's. . CD player is bone stock, so are the seats. PrimeLoc, also remote spin-on filter for the auto trans... Pyro Boost and Trans temp from Isspro,
Westin nerf rails(black),
bent welding rod to hang celphone on dashboard...

 

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Originally posted by RedNut:
I have been filling up with Texaco fuel since day one. ]

That's part of the problem.

My VW got the worst mileage (34 vs 49) using Texaco. It would smoke and soot, had no power. Just ran like crap, even with fuel additives. I used it once and never tried it again. Others at www.tdiclud.com had similar problems. When I got the Ram, I had no intention to try Texaco in it especially when other good fuels are pretty close.

Try to find a an Amoco station that sells 'premier' fuel. It runs 47-50 cetane. Nice stuff. Some of the Sunoco stations are selling a premium fuel as well... about 45 cetane. Otherwise find a truck stop. Flying J has stops in North East MD, South Jersey by the bridge and Carlisle PA. TA sells Mobil in Elkton, MD. And use some Redline, Amsoil, Power Servcice or what ever additive makes you happy.

[This message has been edited by Switca (edited 10-11-2000). ]

 

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Rednut,I used Texaco diesel untill I found that it pluged my pre heater fuel flter,I changed to Mobile and improved mileage a couple of gals per mile I now average about 19 per gal city-hwy. 0n the road with about 500lbs constent load I get 24+. I make sure i buy from a high volumn dealer,i prefer truck stop but i found that no matter where i buy Mobile it is allways good fuel,and i allways use Stanadyne fuel treatment,it is good for the injector pump and lowers the fuel pour point up to 40 degrees and fights fuel gelling,waxing and freeze-upin cold weather. I highly recomened this product. Hope this helps. I have gotten bad diesel from Texaco before,about 3yrs ago.

 

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My fuel mileage for September was exactly 21. 05 miles to one gallon. No additives in the tank. Just plain ol diesel fuel.
From my experience having the timing bumped up did help my fuel mileage. Properly set valves helps a little. If my mileage does start going down. I dump in some Power Service fuel system cleaner.
If your timing is off you will smoke quite a bit and have low power.
If you can't smoke and have low power. Lift pump could be bad. Could have plugged fuel filter. Check fuel line presure. Check fuel pre heater screens.

 

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See signature... my truck is also one of the last 12v ers to leave the assembly line... 12/97. I usually fuel up at truck stops and can't recall ever getting less than 15mpg, even with a load. Check your fuel filter and then your timing... just my two cents worth...

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Rob's 98 Ram2500 SLT RegCab 4X4 12-valve Cummins, Automatic, 4. 10 Axle w/ Lim-Slip, Trailer Tow Pack, 255/85R16 Dunlop Radial Mud Rovers... Silencer Ring disappeared; TC lockup switch, CAT removal, and decent paint next... . 53,000 miles; Wife's 99 Ram1500 SLT QC 4X4 w/360 eng, Automatic, Trailer Tow Pack; STOCKER! 41,000 miles - both daily drivers. If your STROKIN, your CHOKIN... on CUMMINS smoke!!!

[This message has been edited by Yuppie Redneck (edited 10-12-2000). ]

 

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RedNut: In my experience (most of which is on diesel boats) 99. 9% of fuel problems are caused by mishandling fuel or improperly maintained fuel tanks.

HOWEVER: In 1993 I spent a couple of years in LA. A local TV station there did a story about a Texaco distributer who owned a bunch of stations and had been caught numerous times watering down their fuel! Texaco took the position that they were not responsible for what the station owners did with their fuel and continued to sell them fuel under the Texaco brand. No one seemed to be able to stop this situation and the watering down of fuel continued. I never bought fuel from Texaco in LA County after that and it's my last choice when running dry else where. I'm not saying that this is what is happening to you, but just that it's possible. Try a different station!

Maybe TDR members in LA county remember this and can fill in more details.

By the way: I get about 20 mpg unloaded and 15mpg with my camper.

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1995 2500 SLT Club 4x4, auto, 3. 54, 3300 pound Elkhorn slide in camper, AirLift air springs, Ricka dual wheel adapters, K&N, DC tow hooks, Rancho RS9000, Hellwig rear sway bar.
101,000 miles and counting.

 

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Landshark If they watered down the fuel would that give any side effects(eg smoke or hard start etc) My fuel filter is changed reguarly and the only thing not checked is my timing. I drive to NJ to get my fuel because they are much cheaper than Pennsylvania. This station has high volume with big trucks but I did notice one thing about this place As your filling up if you watch the numbers they skip a few numbers as you filling up( 1 2 4 5 7 9 0) I dont think this is normal. My truck is in the dealership now trying to fix this problem before my warranty runs out. The service manager promised me they would look at every option to try to find something wrong> they must first road test it to double check the mileage problem will post if they find anything

 

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Where in NJ do you get your fuel?

Drop me a note: switca@hotmail.com

 

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Do not know why, but I ran a test between 3 different suppliers down here in south Texas and my fuel mileage varried 2. 5 mpg between the three. The test was over 1000 miles of driving back and forth to work. No other variances. I put 400+ a week on my truck in commute. I reran the same test 4 months later and got roughly the same results. My point is that there are differences in fuel from different suppliers.
Worst of the three was Texaco, best was Chevron from the local Chevron distributor.
I started looking at this because of the wide swings I was seeing in tankfulls of diesel from different stations. I keep extensive records and noticed a trend that led to the test.
As a side note, do you monitor boost? Air is as important as fuel in the equation for power with efficiency.

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'94 2500 Diesel Reg. Cab
Auto 3. 54 4X4 TST 230hp
"If you can't Dodge it, Ram it!
'96 2500 diesel clubcab 4x4 5speed

 

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I talked to several diesel shops in the area when I moved here (Colorado Springs). They recommended Total first (50 cetane posted on pump). Diamond Shamrock second, and Texaco last. Your experiences with Texaco match mine (poor mileage), but sometimes it was the only place to get fuel. I dilute it with "good" fuel as soon as possible.

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'95 2500 SLT ClubCab, automatic, 3. 54 LSD

 

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Haven't used Tex very often but WOW!!! now i won't at all---rich