Go figure

[JStraw]

The wifey finnally came to her senses and wants to drive a truck instead of her car. So off to the Dodge dealer we went. It started out alright with her looking at alot of 1500's. She diddn't like the 2500's at all and the 3500's were to long for her to handle in the shopping parking lots.

Being known to wonder around, I happened to walk to the very back corner of thier new arrival area and spied a shortbed 3500 crew cab, laramie package with the HO Cummins. My heart went into immediate overdrive as I raced back to where the wife and salesman was. We all walked on back to where the truck was parked and the wife feel in love with it. An hour later and we were driving off the lot with smiles.

Its going on three weeks since then and we've got 1500 miles on the truck. Funny part that I can't figure out is that after 4 tanks of fuel it's averaging 15 to 15. 5 mpg. I haven't driven it any harder than the good old first gen, which is tweaked and mod'd, but the first gen is getting a consistant 18 to 18. 5 mpg. First gen is also a 4x4 vs the 3500's 4x2 and ain't nearly as aerodynamic. What gives?



On a side note, I've had tree people wanting to buy the first gen. I sadly turn them away. Its great to have two cummins in the family.

 

[jersey diesel]

Congrats to your wife, her truck sounds like mine. Mine 04. 5 Quad

laramie ect. 4x4 swb. milage in hilly Northern jersey is 15. 5 mpg ave. with 4500miles. I'm hoping mine improves and I'm sure your wifes will in flat Fla with a 4x2. search mpg thread, lots of info.

 

[cerberusiam]

Was your driving around town, short runs, and stop and go? If so thats seems to the rule rather than the exception. Some are/were getting that and worse with freeway driving. Where do you want to start? Exhaust, air, injectors, pump, LP, ECM, sensors? If you have no codes the dealer generally will tell you thats the way it is and yet some trucks will make 20+ on the freeway.



I will take a guess its an auto and if most of your driving is in town thats probably a good share of the problem. RPM's are up and down the trans never gets locked and the ECM never gets a chance to compute and optimal curve. In addition, there were 38 software flashes for the ECM'd trucks and they all had subtle and not so subtle differences.



Your in the same boat as a lot of us, drive it the way it is and enjoy or BOMB it and enjoy. Either way good luck and congrats.

 

[dpuckett]

For once, torque doesnt translate to good MPGs. I was reading in the 3G forum last week (earlier this week?) that they had to dosomething to the timing (my guess is retard it to cut NOx) to get it to pass emissions, and have the torque as well. So, you can thank the Egotistical Pinhead Agency for that one. I have talked to a few guys here in the swamp that get 22-23 city/ 25hwy.



But, you have one consolation- at 1500mi, it is nowhere near broken in. It will take 8-10K for everything to get broken in and seated real well. And dont baby it anymore. Drive it like you stole it one day, then normal the next. The varied load helps rings and everything else seat well. (I stand for correction or calrification here- I have no personal experience with new engines; just repeating what I've read). Maybe that's why the ones that leave the lot and get hooked up to a trailer for the next 200K do so well. I wouldnt look for more than a 2-4mpg gain, though.



Daniel