2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Diesel Gas Mileage

[RArden]

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I'm a new member and trying to figure this site out... . how to use it etc.

Question...

I have a 2004 Ram Diesel. Now have over 7,000 miles and only get about 16. 5 mpg. Is this as good as it gets?

Thanks

Ron

Palm Springs, CA

 

[McCRam]

So far, my 97 has averaged 17 mpg since I bought it. I'm towing about 40% of the time. 170k and no rattles in the cab, a couple in the bed though. I like the interior of my truck and find the seats more comfortable then my uncles 98. 5. But I would rather have a quad cab. I use my truck for everything. From hauling groceries to hauling cattle. If I lose my truck for some reason, I would definatly get another. I would hold out for a 98 12v quad cab.

 

[EBoyts]

mileage

Don't know if this is your first diesel or not-- but I would suggest doing a search. I have found several TDR threads with some really good input from very experienced drivers. Here's one:



MPGstinks,ramman2u



Basically, it comes down to: rear axle, acceleration habits, highway cruising speed, and manual vs. auto transmission:



3. 54 axels will average better mileage than 4. 10s-- all else being equal.



Acceleration: If you're after better mileage, you can't drive these like gas engines. With diesels, use your right foot like there was an egg under your shoe (got that from Dl5treez).



Highway: fuel efficiency drops precipitously with speed. Soon after buying my truck, I ran the same 1200 mile round trip twice (2400 mi total) and was very careful about speed to see what would happen- once cruising at 60 mph, and once at 68-70-- the mileage was 23. 45 and 18. 75, respectively.



A manual transmission transfers engine torque through an entirely mechanical linkage, and so is 100% effecient. A factory auto transmission typically locks up only at higher speeds-- this means that when you're driving around town it is not locked-up and there is a fluid "gap" in the drive train: the torque converter is using fluid pushed by the impeller to move the stator-- and this means less than 100% efficient transfer of torque. I've never had a manual cummins, but I've read this often translates to only about 1 mpg or so.



I typically get around 18-19 in town, and around 22+ on hwy-- and I couldn't be more pleased considering the size and power of these CTD trucks!

 

[pwerwagn]

Im a 5-speed, 3. 55 4x4.

yup, I keep it under 5 pounds of boost when accelerating if I can. I also try to make slow increases of speed when needed, and I put the truck in nuetral as soon as I see a red light. i shift at about 2000 rpm. this translates to about 18. 5-19 mpg empty in town.

at about 60 mph, I get pretty good (20-22)

at 75 it drops to 16. 5-17. at 85 it gets real bad.

hope this helps.

Im happy. for the sheer size of this truck, it does great on gas. and it does great on gas while towing too. but I also have a 74 power wagon that averages 5 mpg, so the cummins feels like an econobox to me!

 

[pmcnulla]

This is the dumbest poll yet. There is no way to give you anything that can be tabulated; i. e. no choices under the questions. I like my 01 ho 6 spd, good milage - 20 on interstates @ 70, 14 towing 8. 5 K 5th wheeler @ 62, 22 empty driving around VT with 50 MPH speed limit. No rattles w/48K. Also, no wander, still on original brake pads and Michelin tires.

 

[RArden]

Yea, I did a dumb poll. Didn't know what the ---I was doing. Sorry!!

 

[RArden]

Thanks... . you were a big help.

Ron

 

[RArden]

Thanks EBoyts, your info makes a lot of sense. It's my first diesel and I have the 4. 10 axil. I also need to slow down and do slower starts from red lights. !

Ron

 

[BTowler]

Personally, I don't get GAS mileage with my diesel!

 

["Mad Max"]

My '93 D250 gets ~ 20 hw and ~ 15 city. Long block is stock, turbo upgraded to HX-35 with 16 cm collar, POD injectors, but the pump is pretty detuned - in Colorado we have to smog our rigs. It still gets 200 hp at the tires with the pump turned down, and when it was turned up in California it got 253 hp at the tires. Cool thing is it got the same mileage after the Bombs as it did stock, yet it nearly doubled the hp and tq. Went from 136 hp stock and about 350 tq to 253 hp and 630 lb/ft - all at the tires in 3rd (od off). Pretty cool stuff these Cummins rigs. My Powerstroke buddy was amazed at the power increase compared to the cost (about $1100) and ease of installation (about 3 hrs). He said he couldn't touch that kind of increase for that kind of money.

In 2005 I'm doing a complete restification on the rig, which will include major body and chassis surgery - I'm making a true 6-pak ('85 crew cab with modified club cab-into-quad cab rear doors grafted on the back - should sit 4 adults and 2 kids easy), stretching, boxing, and laminating the '93 frame, doing a 4x4 comversion, dually conversion, 4-link/air bag conversion, tilt front end, DTT trans, twins, PDR Stage II head and cam... should make for a fun year... .

- Sam

 

[starring]

Nothing to complain about hear. 25hwy 19city

 

[master1578]

Personally, I don't get GAS mileage with my diesel!

LOL. . I knew this was coming but I'm surprised it took this long :-laf





BTW, I'm getting about 17MPG, would definitely buy another.

 

[RArden]

Okay BTowler... ya got me on that one. No GAS mileage. . diesel mileage!! Thanks,

Ron

 

[RArden]

Hey SamsRam Dude... thanks for that great reply. I learned a lot, dude... great and I thank you!

Ron

 

[JFitzgerald]

Just bought my third CTD truck a few weeks ago, so I guess you could surmise I'd buy another. My first two ('93 W250, '79 Chevy w/'91 CTD both BOMBed) would get high teens driving to work on country roads, and low to mid teens towing depending on the weight. The new one (no BOMBs yet) got 19. 6 on the first tank, no towing. 15. 5 on the next tank with some towing. I just got the GV overdrive working yesterday, and expect that'll boost me into at least the low 20's. I'm working on new tires, 4" exhaust, BHAF, gauges and a fueling box as soon as I can decide and order... .



The nice interior and suspension are a good upgrade from the old trucks.

 

[GEM]

I agree. They just show results for which question we would like to answer. When do we get to answer the question????

 

[jrlawler]

Did a 4400 mile round trip this fall. Going East, empty, slight tailwind, 70 to 75, no showing off (OK maybe a little) I got 18. 5 Coming back West same roads, 1000 lb payload,constant mild to severe headwind, 75 to 80 I got 16. 5----around town forget about it 14-15. 2004- 305-555 48RE - 3. 73 gears-AFE drop-in- ARE shell- T-Rex Welds no bombs (hey this truck is fast enough for me)

 

[RJOL]

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I'm a new member and trying to figure this site out... . how to use it etc.

Question...

Ron... Go to the user control panel and set up your signature (i. e. stick/auto, gear ratio, 4X4, etc). That will help a lot in responding to your specific questions.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I generally get 16-17 in town with my longbed CC 4x4 with 3. 54 gears and stock 245 tires. Highway 18. 5-19. 5. My truck is pretty tight with new shocks installed and DSS (steering stabilizer). Very little sqeak/rattle. The transmission leaks a lot, it needs some attention, and right now I'm having some fort of fuel system issue causing a lot of blue smoke. I have 364,620 miles on mine at the moment.



Vaughn

 

[Wiredawg]

I like the whole pkg

All:



I like the fuel mileage on my 02 3500 and 03 2500.

14. 7 MPG on my 3500 (9300 lbs of awsome power)

19. 1 MPG on my wife's 2500.



I love the fit/finish of both trucks. It's a little better on the 03.



We drive both city and hwy. They perform awsome on both.



We are Dodge/Cummins truckers. 4-ever



Wiredawg