Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) fuel mileage?

[jkh]

my brother just bought a 2002 3500 4x4 DRW with 4. 10 gears. He just got back from a trip to Tennessee and said he only got 13 mpg. It has a bully dog "torque dog" and a strate thru muffler with no cat. Does this sound right for the mileage,it sounds low to me. I average 17-18 around town with my 12 valve and I have a #6 plate and stage 2 D. D. injectors. Any oppinions?

thanks

jerry

 

[Mundgyver]

The question is how fast was he going, loaded or unloaded? I get 18. 5 to 20 mpg around town if I drive easy and don't get anxious about the little ricers. On the highway my mileage will move up to 21 to 22 mpg at 65 mph. Go to 70 and it will drop to 18. 5/19 mpg. This is all unloaded.



Pulling with a trailer will vary anywhere from 15. 5 my worst with 23,000 lbs on a flatbet to 18. 5 with a single car hauler and one car coming in at 5,000.



I have the 6 speed with the 3. 54 gearing in the axles.



I use my Edge-Comp only when I am unloaded for what I call manuvering power on the freeway and I tow in stock mode only to protect myself from my child like nature We 53 year old children don't like to break our toys without a good reason



Hmmm, where are them Fords and Chevys at

 

[Graphic man]

A MAP or a IAT sensor could cause bad MPG... . along with a heavy right foot :-laf

 

[ILIANBG]

Mundgyver, how did you get your 3. 73 gearing in the axles? Did you have that installed in a shop or yourself?

Ilian

 

[Crazy Horse]

Mundgyver's sig says 3:54's.

 

[Hendricks]

my truck has never gotten better than 16 at anytime. i average 13 on the freeway running 75 and around 11 in town. my smarty has never been on anything but #9

 

[Mundgyver]

My bust they are 3. 54's from the factory. I am having to work today and my thoughts were elswere earlier when I was writting. Also I find as I get older (my wife says somthing about being more mature and slightly deaf :-laf ) that I do more of the dislexic thing when I type

 

[mhenon]

Pulling with a trailer will vary anywhere from 15. 5 my worst with 23,000 lbs on a flatbet to 18. 5 with a single car hauler and one car coming in at 5,000.

Mundgyver... . I hope 15. 5mpg@23K lbs was a typo too (I mean I hope you're getting that... but it would make me wonder what's wrong with my PU). I'm lucky to get 13 mpg towing my 10K lb TT.

Mike

 

[SMoules]

I went on a long drive from central CA down to SO CAL and back. Total trip I got 18. 9 mpg pencil and paper. Thats with 4. 10, comp and cruise control majority of the time. Occasionally a heavy foot. Average speed 67 mph. This was all before the sps and mach's.

 

[Mundgyver]

Mike,



The picture of my truck is here with a load of welding and gas bottles.



Total load of everything was 23,000 on the nose. Combined GVW. Sorry if I miss led anyone, was not intentional.



The mileage figures are correct and hand calculated.



https://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?t=138720&page=2&pp=10



I did three of these loads from Portland Oregon to 30 miles beyond Bend Oregon through the mountians. 1 load a day 400 miles round trip, loaded going over, empty comming back with 1 tank fill at the start of each trip for the whole trip. 1,200 miles on 77. 4 gallons of fuel, back when it was cheaper and I was only paying about $1. 50 or so.



When I bought this truck in July 3 of 2000, fuel was 89 cents a gallon.



Anybody is welcome to ride with me on my next outing if they are in doubt



The mileage I get when loaded is with the Edg-Comp turned off and everything in stock mode, so all I have working for me is the 275's and a slightly bigger tire (285 vice 265 stock). The speedometer is correted and dead on with the gps. I use my RoadRelay engine load TQ function to monitor my load TQ output and fuel use per hour and the EGT gives me my quickest indication when I need to shift up. I keep my RPM in the peak Torque range of 1700 to 1850 while working to keep my EGTs as low as possible.



It is focus and work to get good mileage, this is one of the reasons I plan on keeping this truck. It has taken me a long time and good planning on my mods to tweak the mileage up and get everything dialed in, including my driving habits.



One big factors if making sure your valves are set properly once a year. If they are off, it will eat up fuel.

 

[mhenon]

That's just great mileage for the load. My TT must be like a barn door going down the road. I don't get anything close to 15mpg.

Mike

 

[Mundgyver]

Yea I know that feeling, I have a 16 foot cargo trailer also, that I load down and it is like towing a huge bread box with all the frontal area on it. I have found that as long as I don't get aggressive and just keep my speed to 65 and under, normally 60 I do very well.



I have use airtabs on my trailer and truck and I can't tell you how much of a gain I get with them, but they do take out and reduce the buffeting I use to get in high winds going down the gorge up here.



-Wally-