Fuel Milelage

[railroad94]

Is there much difference in mpg's between 4. 10 gears and the standard gears. I have a new truck pick out but not if I need that low of gears.

 

[Casey Balvert]

During the warmer weather (last fall) I got 22 mpg running 70 solo with 4. 10 gears.

 

[jdiebold]

I've seen mileage on the computer from 17 to 26 mpg. I'd say an overall average of 20 mpg is about right.

I had the exhaust brake installed 2 weeks ago and seem to have lost a mpg or 2. I'll give it a little longer to see for sure.



JD

 

[railroad94]

Thanks for the info I have a 2003 picked out will be in it next week, HO, 6 speed, 4 door, 4X4, and all the toppings.

 

[railroad94]

Thanks for info, have a truck found with all the extra's but was unsure of the gearing.



Thanks again

 

[SilverFox]

I put 2000 miles on my truck in 3 days driving all interstate roads with a minimum of in-town driving. This was on a trip from Texas to Oregon. My overhead gage got as high as 15. 6 MPG and as low as 13. 7. After 2000 miles it read 14. 6. I know this is not accurate but you can compare to your overhead. I was still breaking in the truck and occasionally accelerated to 75-80 MPH but mostly drove between 60-65 MPH. My truck was loaded to 9,500 GVW. No towing. I have a 4 door dually with 4 wheel drive and 4:10 rear. A Mopar e-brake is installed.



One thing I noticed is the millage seemed to deteriorate with the e-brake turned on. During the latter half of the trip I only turned the e-brake on when I needed it.



I was not impressed with the millage, especially driving 5 to 15 MPH under the speed limit.



Hank

 

[MMeier]

Silverfox, did you just go by the overhead or did you get out the ol' pen and paper and figure it out the old fashioned way?

 

[SilverFox]

I used the overhead. From what I read here I would have been even more disappointed if I had used the "old fashioned way".



Hank

 

[MMeier]

Mine is just the opposite , low on the overhead, 2. 5-4 more doing it the old fashioned way, ( which is more accurate in my book)!!

 

[AKsmoker]

I'm looking at getting rid of my 99 2500 and going for a big butt 03 4x4 HO dually, 6spd with the 3. 73s. Anyone have some MPG info?

 

[Fireman]

Smoker,

With 3:73s I average 17 mpg and get 9-10 towing a 12K high profile 5er. I run her fairly hard, but I doubt it would change my economy more than 1 mpg if I babied it.

There are 2 things men will lie about, their fuel economy and how much they're getting.

Fireman

BTW The check's in the mail

 

[Posm]

I drive a lot of miles ( over 170 K in the last three years) and have been looking for the magic combo for my next rig. I tow30% and run empty 70%. Here are my observations, and they are worth what they cost you.



Some get as low as 12 MPG unloaded and some get as high as 23. The rear end combo seems to have little bearing on the MPG. The three common threads to low MPG are #1 speed, # 2 4WD, and #3 personal driving habits.

The Dodge will pull way harder at 75+ than at 70 MPH. If you don't believe me just watch your overhead computer fall or your boost climb.

The 4 wheel drives seem to get a couple of miles less than the 2 wheel drives. I think you have got to account for the weight ( about 500 lbs) the gear train drag ( transfer case and and extra pumpkin to turn), but most important is the extra wind resistance the higher stance creates.

I would say there is less than 10 % or 12 % difference between the worst truck ( a dually 4 WD with 4. 10 gears and Auto) and the best one ( a 2500 2 WD with 3. 73 with a 6 speed) with the same driver at the wheel.

If RPMs were such a HUGE factor then a 3. 73 Auto with over sized tires would get the best mileage????



Bryan

 

[jdiebold]

I picked up my new 5th wheel trailer last Friday. I had a 130 mile drive home. The computer showed between 11 and 15 MPG. Note that the truck only has 5,000 miles on it. That was about 30% freeway driving at 55 mph.

This is my first diesel truck, so I hope that what I have read about MPG getting better as it gets broken in is true.



JD

 

[Maddey]

I've been a little dissapointed with my fuel mileage. Ive got 3. 73s in a 4wd auto and have been averaging between 13 and 14 mpg. Towed the 5th wheel this past weekend and got around 10 mpg. Now I know this is not totally correct since I have 315/70/17s, but I had the same tires on my '01 with 3. 54s also and consistently got around 17 mpg. I am thinking about adding an edge ez to hopefully increase mileage a bit. Are there any other little tricks I can do to tweak the engine to gain better mileage.

 

[Elite1]

With a 373 rearend and the six speed manual, HO motor, what do you think the optimum RPM's are for fuel mileage, flat ground?

 

[railroad94]

First Tank

Well I just ran the first tank in the new truck and got 17. 7 by the comp. I am happy with that and I am sure it will get better as it's broke in. Can't believe the difference in power.

 

[AKsmoker]

Fireman, thanks thats a little better than I expected. I just bit the biscut and ordered an 03 4x4 dually QC HO 6spd with everything but the leather seats. Atlantic Blue 8weeks!







Oo.

 

[reyDG]

MPG

I left Az for Colo with 300mi. on my 3500, HO,auto,373gears. lots of highway, 17. 2 on overhead 17. 6 by pen& paper. total of 1400 mi. on trip. 0 problems.

reyDG

 

[nanook]

AKsmoker,



I picked up my Green dually HO 6 speed, 3:73 three weeks ago in Anchorage. On the drive to Fairbanks, by the overhead console I got 16. 1 mpg, with cruise control on at 73 mph.

 

[AKsmoker]

Thanks Nanook, if you know of anyone looking for a very clean 99 2500 CTD 5spd,4. 10 larmine steer them my direction. Congrats on the new big butt!