Editorial to 2shus about post on poor mileage

[Bud Fox]

2shus I dont want to step on anyones toes butI feel you wasted good money on new tires and here is why- Let me back track a little
Let me start out and say I bought my truck brand new and since day one have never gotten over 400 miles on a tank of fuel. Have had fuel mileage issues since day one. Have had it back to the dealer a few times complaining about it but to no avail. They always said my truck was in fine running order. Then I came across this website one day . Great advice from fellow owners of the same trucks. They gave me several ideas on what to try, so let me give you a list of what I tried so far-
First let me tell you I keep up on my truck with oil and fuel filter changes and I also send oil analysis in to Blackstone. The first thing I did was find an authorized Bosch dealer to work on my truck. I found one that was reccommened by my local Cummins repair facility- They send all their pumps to this place. I had my truck towed to them to work on it because it was about 100 miles away and they needed it overnight. This is a very reputable place as I asked fellow members in my area about this place. To my surprise they really did not find anything wrong wiith my truck or my pump except the overflow valve was a little bit off on pressure so they replaced it . They also advanced my timing(my timing was dead on from the factory) and installed my torque plate since they had my pump apart and said if I keep my foot out of it my mileage should increase. Guess what --it stayed the same. I gutted my cat, plugged my wastegate line and guess what-- fuel mileage stayed the same. I then put on 305 70 16 on stock rims and guess what ---- no change in fuel mileage. Then as my final check,I changed my prefilter-Pulled out a clean one from the prefilter and installed a new one--AND STILL NO CHANGE IN FUEL MILEAGE!!!!!!!I bought Stanadyne-no change, K&N ,no change and changed fuel companies(Texaco,Hess,Amoco)and still no change. At 3/4 of a tank I am around 120 miles everytime. I think you get the point by now and my point is that guys who post 23 mpg on their trucks either exaggerate or have to drive 40 miles to get a loaf of bread. My driving is alot of stop and go, on and off and this may affect fuel mileage a little but not that much . I have come to the conclusion that I get what I get and I guess if I want better fuel mileage I should get another truck. Anyone interested in a 98 auto 4x4 Qc with 30k on it?? Not trying to flame anyone but some of you guys live in remote areas where of course,you get better mileage because you travel longer distances everyday in highway like conditions. 2shus dont beat your head against the wall trying to find something wrong with your truck because it may not be your truck-
just some s t r e t c h e d mpg posts! THANKS #ad


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98 2500 4x4 QC auto "one of the last 12 valvers- late Dec 1997" 305 70 16, K&N ,260/608 torque plate,EGT and Boost gauge under ashtray. Bought a spray can of CAT-BE-GONE. Ring removed- Whats next folks????

[This message has been edited by RedNut (edited 04-02-2001). ]

[This message has been edited by RedNut (edited 04-02-2001). ]

 

[Barry]

You are also in a colder climate than some of us. I too have envied the post of fuel mileages over 20 but I have never seen it. Best I have done is 19 and now that I have the injectors and box, I,m down to 18. But, it is a work truck. If I wanted mileage alone, I'd have a diesel Rabbit.

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2001 2500 QC, ETH/DEE,4:10s,LSD,EZ with elbow(28psi)Stage 1 injectors from Carl,Boost/Pyro Guages,4" Turbo back,BD Brake,Mag-Hytec Cover,Kleen Wheels,Energy Release,70 gal. fuel,20K Reese. 31,000 Miles on 03/01/01(Auto/Truck/RV Dealer)Honda GL 1500 SE Pearl White for fun.

 

[gitchesum]

I'm going to add my little experiment in this thread.
I've got a 97 3500 Club Cab 2X4 with 134,000 miles. I usually average 17 mpg. I live in South Louisiana where there are no hills. The only incline I drive on is a bridge crossing the Calcasieu River. Not sure of it's grade, but it is a fairly steep bridge. I run Conoco fuel exclusively. I have a 50 mile round trip drive to work. My miles are 90% highway. I also have 450 pounds worth of accessories(brush guard, rear bumper, running boards) added to the total weight of the truck.

OK enough details. For two tanks of fuel I decided I would keep the enigine RPM's below 2000. Let me tell you, that is not an easy thing for me to do as I am used to running 75+ mph. I would also shift gears below the 2000 rpm mark.
Results: On those 2 tanks fo fuel I averaged 19. 75 mpg.
Have I changed my driving habits for good? Not really. I thought it would be interesting to see what kind of mileage I could get out of the thing.

Maybe I should be getting better mileage for the conditions I drive in, but I don't let that bother me too much as I enjoy my truck, and 17 mpg in a 1 ton truck is better than 30 mpg in one of those litte mini truck in my opinion.

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Curtis Harris
1997 3500 Club Cab
"CASPER"
Check out the Lone Star TDR

 

[CUMMINS KID]

i have a 1st gen with 97kmiles ans i get from 20=22 mpg with herthats around town and highway

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1993 LE 250 4X4 AUTO 95,000
MILES. BED RACKS. ALL STOCK ... FOR NOW... .

 

[BCFAST]

Well, you can see what I drive in my signature... I just fueled up after an entire tank of stop and go... home to work-work to home... this is stoplight driving... and got 20. 8mpg including the over-tall tires. I have gotten a best of 23. 93mpg on the highway. . with the cruise set at 2000rpm and the a/c on!

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97 2500 CC 4x4 3. 54, 5spd, Green, #12 plate, 4inch open exhaust, 235/85 Michelins, RS 9000's, PrimeLoc, Red Tops, TDR cloisonae grill badge!

 

[SlyBones]

Well I will agree there maybe a few out there who get the great mileage, I would guess most of are not. I get 18-20 hiway, 15-16 city and 12-13 towing. I have a similar equipped truck.

14. 5, 90% hiway does seem low.

Must take into account the speed you drive. I only get over 20 f I go 60. With 21. 5 being the best ever. 19 being typical with 70+ driving, long trip, A/C on. And I feel good about that. I see many who dont get that.

I think the real point here is whether it was worth $500+ to see if tires were the problem. Since you did not really like the monster truck look anyways, maybe you can sell the big tires, recoop some of the cost, and it will be worth it to get the truck looking they way you want, etc.


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1997 2500 4x4, CC, Auto, 3. 54 LSD, 66K, Everything inc Leather, K&N, 4" BD cat-back, otherwise stock, Isspro Gauges(3), 285/75/16 on Alcola's, RS9000's, Canopy, BedLiner, and tons more.

 

[grtescpa]

Originally posted by RedNut:
2shus I dont want to step on anyones toes butI feel you wasted good money on new tires and here is why- Let me back track a little
Let me start out and say I bought my truck brand new and since day one have never gotten over 400 miles on a tank of fuel. Have had fuel mileage issues since day one. Have had it back to the dealer a few times complaining about it but to no avail. They always said my truck was in fine running order. Then I came across this website one day . Great advice from fellow owners of the same trucks. They gave me several ideas on what to try, so let me give you a list of what I tried so far-
First let me tell you I keep up on my truck with oil and fuel filter changes and I also send oil analysis in to Blackstone. The first thing I did was find an authorized Bosch dealer to work on my truck. I found one that was reccommened by my local Cummins repair facility- They send all their pumps to this place. I had my truck towed to them to work on it because it was about 100 miles away and they needed it overnight. This is a very reputable place as I asked fellow members in my area about this place. To my surprise they really did not find anything wrong wiith my truck or my pump except the overflow valve was a little bit off on pressure so they replaced it . They also advanced my timing(my timing was dead on from the factory) and installed my torque plate since they had my pump apart and said if I keep my foot out of it my mileage should increase. Guess what --it stayed the same. I gutted my cat, plugged my wastegate line and guess what-- fuel mileage stayed the same. I then put on 305 70 16 on stock rims and guess what ---- no change in fuel mileage. Then as my final check,I changed my prefilter-Pulled out a clean one from the prefilter and installed a new one--AND STILL NO CHANGE IN FUEL MILEAGE!!!!!!!I bought Stanadyne-no change, K&N ,no change and changed fuel companies(Texaco,Hess,Amoco)and still no change. At 3/4 of a tank I am around 120 miles everytime. I think you get the point by now and my point is that guys who post 23 mpg on their trucks either exaggerate or have to drive 40 miles to get a loaf of bread. My driving is alot of stop and go, on and off and this may affect fuel mileage a little but not that much . I have come to the conclusion that I get what I get and I guess if I want better fuel mileage I should get another truck. Anyone interested in a 98 auto 4x4 Qc with 30k on it?? Not trying to flame anyone but some of you guys live in remote areas where of course,you get better mileage because you travel longer distances everyday in highway like conditions. 2shus dont beat your head against the wall trying to find something wrong with your truck because it may not be your truck-
just some s t r e t c h e d mpg posts! THANKS #ad

Have to agree with all said on this topic. My 97 2500 extended cab with fiberglass cap gets between 16-21 mpg. Av 19 to 21 driving route 80 into PA. About 14 pulling a 6x10 loaded utility trailer. Best was about 26 going down hill for 50 miles. Never drove that way again and never saw the milage that high again.

 

[DavidGardner]

Best milage I've gotten was 23 mpg on the first tank of fuel when the trk was brand new. I found that the speedo was off and also the odometer was reading more miles than I was actualy going. I complained to the dealer and they sent me to a speedometer shop to have the speedo & odometer recalibrated. After this was done the speedo was spot on when checked with police radar and also against a GPS. Now I was only getting 20 mpg empty witha a metal bed cap and running boards plus some stuff in the back. Not to bad eh. Towing was 17 to 19 towing a 24 ft trvl trl. All was well. Then at 85,000 miles a tst 230-605 plate was installed. Milage empty 19 and towing 15 or so. Loved the power but milage went down. Haad Piers install 215 injectors and Bill K. do his thing with the transmission. Now get 17 empty and around 12 to 14 towing. Moral of the story. Love the power but the milage sure went south. Would I go back to stock? No way. I think some of these guys with the fantastick milage may have odometers that are not exactly correct. They also may be very conservative drivers.

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95 slt, reg cab, 2wd, auto, BD exhaust brake, primelok fuel filter relocator, K&N air filter, Cat sleeping in garage by fire, TST 230-605 fuel plate, Bill Kondolay modified trans, 100k plus miles still going strong "Who says six in a row don"t go?

 

[Cooker]

Barry,
Cold weather? What are you saying? That in cold climates the truck will get better MPG's.

I'd have to disagree. Perhaps in some months out of the year this is true (some parts of spring and fall). We run on winter fuel from Nov 1 to at least April 1, and this surely doesn't help mileage.

I understand that cooler intake air is better, but there are many other variables to consider. I would think you would get excellent mileage in your winter months. Temps around 70-75 degrees and no winter fuel to deal with. I don't know of your particular winter climate, but the cold weather isn't all that great for MPG's.

 

[n_fairchild]

I have to agree with cooker, winter fuel downright sucks, in the summer i get 17-18 MPG (40 mi round trip everyday, country driving) In the winter 14-15. Best ever was 22. 5 on the turnpike in no hurry. I try really hard to keep a light foot but for some reason i never can.

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95 3/4 ton, 4x4, Auto, 235 plate, K&N, straight through exhaust, wastgate mods, more to come, 108,000mi and still going strong

 

[dieselburner]

Originally posted by n_fairchild:
I have to agree with cooker, winter fuel downright sucks, in the summer i get 17-18 MPG (40 mi round trip everyday, country driving) In the winter 14-15. Best ever was 22. 5 on the turnpike in no hurry. I try really hard to keep a light foot but for some reason i never can.

I once got 25. 8 mpg. This was at 55 mph 1500 rpm and pre bombed. The volkswagon beetles were even passing me. I just did it to see what it was capable of. All mileage was at sea level and on flat ground in the central valley of CA. Several very boring hours but it did show me what the truck was capable of. I carefully topped off at the same station using the same pump facing the same way before and after and the speedometer was calibrated. This was real mpg. Never seen it since because I can't stand to drive that slow. Now with the mods and 75-85 mph driving over the altamont pass every day I get about 17. 5 mpg. Mileage will probably pick up soon with the winterized fuel going away. I was getting 18. 5 consistently last summer.


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1998 2500 Quad Cab, 12V, 5spd, 4x4, HD Transfer Case, 370HP Diamond B Injectors, #4 TST, 16cm2 Housing, AFC Spring Kit, BD Governor Spring Kit and other governor modifications, Walker Muffler, 285/75-16 BFG AT's, Stainless Steel Tube Steps, Reese Fifth Wheel Hitch, Leather, CD, LSD Dana 80 Rear, 60 Front, McLeod Dual Disc Clutch, Rancho RS9000 Shocks, Rancho Steering Stabilizer, ATS Exhaust Manifold, Psychotty Air Induction, BD Exhaust Brake, Enterprise Engine Delivery Valves

 

[vc]

I get around 19 combo city/highway goin to work. Long trips mostly interstate gets me around 20. 5. When I towed the last boat I had(6600 lbs) I got 14 at 65mph,12. 5-13 at 70.

 

[Turbo Thom]

Well: For my . 02 cents worth I'v been getting 18. 4-19-1 mpg empty with 14. 3 on the average towing. Well I had some work done and add 300 injectors. Checked my milege last night and it was 21. 1 mpg. Thats running 75 to work and back in fifth-over. Thats at 1850 rpm. You think I'm lieing. I might be but that's what the calculator and pump came to. Yeh I'm supprised and delited. I think the trick to the power increase and milege is the tuning of the two.
They have to work together.
Cheers. #ad

Preston

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96 3500, Black SLT, 5 speed, turbo diesel, , with US Gear overdrive, Rhino liner, Reese 15,000 lb. fifth wheel hitch, US Gear de-celarator exhaust brake, muffler elimination kit, Amsoil lub. , Mag-hytec rear cover, dual-remote by-pass filters, and Roadmaster Active system, AutoMeter Pyro & boost, Primeloc

 

[KWhitlow]

I have only owned my truck for 5000 miles (the truck currently has 205,000 miles on it) and I have been VERY happy with milage. I have been getting 19-22 in town and 22-26 on the road with the best being 28. 5 between Williamsburg VA. and the DelMarVa penisula. (I just fill it up whenever I feel like taking a break)
the truck is a '95 2wd, auto, 3. 54, stock size tires, and traveling unloaded -it even still has the cat!
Keith

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'95 2500 2x4, Auto, 3. 54, 205,000 miles, Just starting to have fun!

 

[barrfishe1]

On my only highway trip while not towing from Chicago to St. Louis and back I got 21 MPG round trip. I got 20 MPG going S with a side wind at 70 MPH and 22 MPG going N with a hard head wind and I slowed to 60 MPH instead of 70 MPH. This is the MPG the previous owner told me to expect but I did not believe him. #ad

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97 3500 4x2 3. 54 Leer Cap (stock including cat) 56,000 miles (just broke in) and Premium Blue

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Barry Fisher

 

[Matt42]

Since people are reporting mileage, I thought I'd chime in.
Driving Conditions: 90% city driving in Phoenix, AZ area. Traffic lights every 1/2 mile as far as you can see and beyond. The lights are synchronized for 40 MPH, which works except at peak traffic hours, when the streets are just too full. Winter daytime temperatures average 50 F, summer averages 105 F. (Frequent backing required, hence rear brakes stay adjusted. ) Occasional towing 27 foot 6K lb trailer, on Interstates and secondary highways, ambient temperatures of 90 F to 120 F.
Truck: 1996 2500 cc lb 4x4, 5 sp, 3. 54, stock Michelin tires, Transfer-flow aft-axle fuel tank.
Mileage, in MPG:
City, winter: 17
City, summer: 19
Towing: 14 - 17, depending on conditions. Better mileage on flat interstates than at 12K feet in Utah.
Miles traveled at fill-up: 800 to 1100.
Commentary: 17 mpg minimum out of a 6K empty, 8. 8K full lb truck? No complaints! Worst city mileage is better than best city mileage (15) in my daughter's late 1983 AMC Concord, and comparable to her current 1993 Saturn (20). Beats my 1976 4-banger Ford Courier at all turns. Used to tow a 19 foot trailer with a 1983 Jeep Full Size Wagoneer LTD. Premium gasoline required. 5 MPG with gusts to 6. Fuel leaks common. Problems with vapor lock and overheating at ambient temperatures over 115 F.
Bottom Line: We don't look back. And when we smell gasoline, we know it's not us.

Matt in AZ