Disappointed in the 05 600...Fuel Milage Once Again

[gambler]

Wait til you get 10 or 12 thou on it.

You'll be surprised.

Gambler

 

[BrittonTurner]

Why do people pull a brand new truck, off the lot, and expect spectacular mileage? its just NOT going to happen. . These trucks need to break in. Give it time. . Don't even look at the overhead until you get about 4k miles on it.

Scott

because my 03 did get spectacular mileage when i pulled it off the lot. this one has sucked so far. i know it will get better but man

 

[DPelletier]

Dodge better get things straightend out before they go from # 3 in sales to # 4... ... when the New Titan Diesel comes out Don't get me wrong, I'm a loyal Dodge Cummins driver. But with the price of fuel going through the roof if there is a comparable truck to haul with that get 5+ mpg more then Dodge, I'm going to have a tough decision on my hands when it's time to buy a new truck.

If and When Nissan makes a diesel truck, don't expect it to be direct competition for our CTD's, more like a competitor of Ford's F-150 Diesel (assuming they get it to market). If Nissan makes a 600ft lbs, long box, dually pickup with 12,000 lbs GVWR, I'll eat it.





Dave

 

[Pit Bull]

Hope this is not a dumb question, but what is making the 600 such a poor MPG vehicle compared with the 03?

 

[Dukenrock]

Just picked up my 041/2 from the shop-They flashed it and said it was to help fuel economy and "a couple other things". Mechanic wasn't there and it didn't say what they other things were on my ticket. I can't wait to see how it effects the MPG's.

 

[DPelletier]

Hope this is not a dumb question, but what is making the 600 such a poor MPG vehicle compared with the 03?

My Opinion Only;



- the 3rd injection event was added in order to keep the exhaust gas hot enough to make the catalytic converter work properly. An increase in exhaust gas temp is wasted energy (diesel used to create heat rather than push down on the piston). The increase in EGT's were obviously anticipated as the 600's have sodium filled or iconel (can't remember which) exhaust valves, increased cooling for the turbo, change in intercooler and new fan arrangement to increase the efficiency of the engine driven fan. Cummins has indicated that they anticipated a drop in mileage and informed DC of the fact before the 600's were released.

Again, IMO the only "fix" that the 600's would have to have to make them achieve the same mileage as the earlier 305/555 HO's would be to change the ECM to an earlier unit or somehow modify the ECM code to eliminate the 3rd injection event. This would be illegal, of course.



Dave

 

[Pit Bull]

Thanks that makes sense. So what is generally the difference in mileage?

 

[vloesche]

I know everybody keeps talking about the 03 trucks getting good milage, but I have an 03 cali 3500 and I am lucky to get 11 around town and 14 freeway even if I am going easy. I had an 01 HO before this truck that never got less than 15 in town and 18 or better on the highway.

 

[DPKetchum]

MY 03 has never been CLOSE to 20 mpg!

 

[Bertram65]

Same here,my '03 best mileage ever was 17. 8, I 20K on my truck, I usually get between 14 and 16 combined city ang highway all hand calculated, no computer. Mine is a CA 235 HP as well.

 

[JBR]

I now have 9K miles on my truck. It started out making 14. 5 on the highway being very careful how I drove. I was very disappointed. However, today it makes on average 19. 2 MPH. It started getting better at about 5K miles. I was very surprized when the miles increased so quickly after the 5K miles when it didn't change much up to that time. It made me wonder if they have programmed the increased fuel while it was breaking in. I'm very happy now.

 

[DPelletier]

My '03 HO has gotten a high (under absolutely perfect conditions) of 20. 2 mpg on a 300 mi trip. But I generally average about 16. 5 mpg combined city/highway empty.



Dave

 

[DPelletier]

Thanks that makes sense. So what is generally the difference in mileage?

Based on comparisons between my two trucks ('03 HO ETH and '04. 5 600 ETH), I would say 2 - 3 mpg.



Dave

 

[bombero]

My 92 4X4 3. 54 rear got 15/19. My 01, same vehicle except lots more HP. got the same miliage. Now my 04. 5 has LOTS more power we will see what it gets when I break it in

 

[Pit Bull]

Based on comparisons between my two trucks ('03 HO ETH and '04. 5 600 ETH), I would say 2 - 3 mpg.



Dave

Dave so you get around 14 mpg combined city/highway unloaded with your 04 "600"? Looks like that is the norm with the "600's". I was thinking about getting a new 3500 dually 4x4, but I don't think I can afford it if I will only get 14 mpg combined. My 2000 3500QC 4x4 got around 18 mpg combined, I know 4 mpg doesn't seem like much but I think it would add up. Thanks for your responses.

 

[DPelletier]

Pit Bull,



14 - 15 mpg is about right. I guess it is never "empty" as it has a 500 lb full rack and probably another 350 lbs in the toolbox. I wouldn't blame you for keeping your 2000 if it's meeting your needs. I think the older Cummins powered trucks got exceptional mileage compared to the competition, but now it's about even (except for the poor souls getting horrendous mileage).



Cheers,

Dave

 

[DPKetchum]

Yesterday I reset the overhead after it was warmed up. Never went over 55,drove like it had a feather I didn't want to disturb under the gas pedal. Even coasted some out of gear to slow for yelds etc. Tried to avoid any idle time. NO ac. Things I normally just COULD NOT do driving habit wize. The overhead finally settled in to 18. 4! Any kind of NOT paying attention to any of the above its 15mpg or so. Has 12,500 on the odometer.

 

[jsimpson]

Don't plan on any president getting fuel prices under $2. 00. Look for it to go higher for now on. For the best reading on the subject ever written, go to:

http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?041011fa_fact



Better get friendly with your local McDonalds and set yourself up to make bio diesel.

-bj

 

[joeyou]

I've been reading these fuel economy posts and I finally feel compelled to weigh in. I now own a 2004. 5 4X4 Auto 3. 73 and the mileage is not quite what I would like it to be, but it is still pretty good considering the engine isn't even broken in (2800 miles so far. ) I commute 100 mile round trip 80% freeway/20% city every day and I put about 550 miles on the odo between each fill up. So far here's the results I've gotten (hand calculated):

First tank = 15. 3 mpg (I'm betting the dealer didn't fill the tank all the way is the main reason this first tank was lower mpg. )

Second tank = 18. 1 mpg

Third tank = 18. 2 mpg

Fourth tank = 18. 2 mpg

Fifth tank = 18. 5 (had the fuel econ flash done about 100 miles into this tank. )



As you can see, pretty consistent. Before this truck I had a 99 that consistently got 20. 1 overall mpg. And before that I had a 95 that consistently got 21. 5 overall mpg.



I have to believe that you guys who are getting 14 highway without towing are driving with a lead foot or are relying on the overhead console for your mileage numbers. The overheads have never been accurate! Also, I'm wondering if some of you reporting these numbers mistakenly have your overheads set for metric thus reading L/100kM... this will give you a reading of about 12. 5 L/100kM at 18+ mpg... . this may explain some of the numbers. I think we all should commit to only reporting hand calculated numbers on this site... also, reporting numbers after a 250-300 mile trip is not going to be accurate. The more miles you put on between fillups will lessen the error in where you top off.



I drive about 68-70 mph. I don't baby my truck, but I also don't drive it like a jackass romping the pedal to the floor at each green light and waiting until the last minute to slam on the brakes when coming to a stop. I also keep my tires inflated to near max pressure, this will help mpg and make your tires last longer (I had 110,000 on my Michelins on the 99. ) Trading in the 99 at 144,000 and never even replaced the brakes. It's all in how you drive.

 

[Pit Bull]

I've been reading these fuel economy posts and I finally feel compelled to weigh in. I now own a 2004. 5 4X4 Auto 3. 73 and the mileage is not quite what I would like it to be, but it is still pretty good considering the engine isn't even broken in (2800 miles so far. ) I commute 100 mile round trip 80% freeway/20% city every day and I put about 550 miles on the odo between each fill up. So far here's the results I've gotten (hand calculated):

First tank = 15. 3 mpg (I'm betting the dealer didn't fill the tank all the way is the main reason this first tank was lower mpg. )

Second tank = 18. 1 mpg

Third tank = 18. 2 mpg

Fourth tank = 18. 2 mpg

Fifth tank = 18. 5 (had the fuel econ flash done about 100 miles into this tank. )



As you can see, pretty consistent. Before this truck I had a 99 that consistently got 20. 1 overall mpg. And before that I had a 95 that consistently got 21. 5 overall mpg.



I have to believe that you guys who are getting 14 highway without towing are driving with a lead foot or are relying on the overhead console for your mileage numbers. The overheads have never been accurate! Also, I'm wondering if some of you reporting these numbers mistakenly have your overheads set for metric thus reading L/100kM... this will give you a reading of about 12. 5 L/100kM at 18+ mpg... . this may explain some of the numbers. I think we all should commit to only reporting hand calculated numbers on this site... also, reporting numbers after a 250-300 mile trip is not going to be accurate. The more miles you put on between fillups will lessen the error in where you top off.



I drive about 68-70 mph. I don't baby my truck, but I also don't drive it like a jackass romping the pedal to the floor at each green light and waiting until the last minute to slam on the brakes when coming to a stop. I also keep my tires inflated to near max pressure, this will help mpg and make your tires last longer (I had 110,000 on my Michelins on the 99. ) Trading in the 99 at 144,000 and never even replaced the brakes. It's all in how you drive.

That's pretty good, is your truck a 2500 or a 3500 dually? Based on your driving you should get around 16 mpg (50/50 normal) City/highway driving. If you are doing this with a 2500 short bed then a 3500 long bed would get a normal 50/50 city/highway of around 14-15 mpg which is what many have been posting. I don't think you are getting "good" mileage, you just are driving long distances (80%) highway up in the cool northwest. When I would drive my 2000 auto or 2002 6speed 80/20 highway/city I would get 20-22 mpg. Man I wish these new trucks got better mileage, with diesel prices going up and mileage going down it makes it tough. Thanks for the information.