help...06' poor MPG

[Burner]

..... that's why I gott'a call DC customer service.

 

[TylerMartin]

Me Too!

I have just recently purchased an 06 3500 SRW Mega Cab 6 speed 4x4 and couldn't believe the difference in Mileage compared to my 03 3500 6 speed 4x4 Quad Quab SRW. When I first got my 03, I was getting around 15 MPG (empty) highway driving. At 10,000 miles, I was getting just over 17 MPG, and finally at 65,000 miles, I was getting about 20 to 21 MPG under the same conditions (which I felt was excellent) .



With my 06, at 5 miles on the clock, I was getting 10. 5 MPG. At 5000 miles, I was getting 11. 5 MPG. Now at 10000 miles, I am getting just over 12 MPG! This is all under roughly the same driving conditions (empty highway miles at ~65MPH and reasonable driving habits). I put on a 5'' exhaust (with kitty removed) and a drop-in AirRaid filter at 7500 miles but saw little to know change in MPG.



The dealer said that many guys are getting around 17MPG with the same truck and miles on the odometer. They are willing to investigate the problem (if any) but wanted me to have at least 10,000 miles on it first just to verify that it has broken in, etc. Now that I'm at 10000 miles, I will be taking it in to get looked at. I will post what I find out. I imagine that they will reflash the computer or something? I have noticed a slight pinging noise when accelerating through 1500 to about 2100 RPM's (almost sounds like a 6. 0L Powerstroke) but dealer said this was normal and is caused by the pilot injection? I have not noticed any loss in power or white smoke.



Personally, I don't see any reason why these newer 3rd gens shouldn't be getting at least 17 MPG even with the higher RPM's caused by the G56/3. 73 combo. If I was getting 17MPG, I would be totally satisfied, but if 12 MPG is the best it will do, that's a little hard to swallow!



Tyler

 

[wcjp]

Just hit my highest mileage yet with my 06'. Attained 17. 8mpg with freeway driving. My work schedule changed temporarily. Removing stop and go from my commute on the interstate raised mileage from 16 to 17. 8mpg.

 

[ohnoitsyu]

Damn, and I was happy hitting my record of 16. 5 while driving in Mexico for new years. Do they have better diesel down there??? My 06 now has 7500 miles on it. Commuting to work, I get about 14 to 14. 5 unloaded.

 

[DHaynes]

Everything checks "OK". I've checked the oil 4 times in the last 500 miles. Oh yeah, every time it's checked is in the morning every time, no varibles.

Hi I am new to this so will stumble through the process. . I purchased a new 06 Dodge Ram turbo Diesel 4x4 Dually, long box with auto trans, 373 gears. It had 1200 miles on the clock when we loaded our Arctic Fox 1150 and headed to Arizona, The total weight was 12260 lbs. We averaged 10 mpg over all but we saw 9. 9 most of the time. I think the averfage mph came up when we were driving down hill from Ely, NV to Twin Falls, Id.

The dealers here arn't much help in solving the mileage problem. . I guess I should also state that when empty we get 12 to 13 mpg. and that over all driving on highway and city.

I can only hope for an increase as the mileage when we get more miles on the clock.

 

[RVTRKN]

Wow I hope you guys can figure out whats wrong with your trucks. It seems DC will have their hands full with this problem. Please keep us informed as to what DC said, I think you should have a long talk with your rep.

 

[blacksheep4x4]

Hey fellas... can anyone help me? I've had a Dodge before (93) and it got pretty dang good fuel economy. However, I ditched it as it fell apart around me. Sad to see such a great motor/drivetrain go for scrap because the truck was a POS. Anyway, I've had an 01 Ford PS, an 02 Duramax and an 03 Duramax that all got ok fuel mileage. I wanted to try a Dodge again. I was aware that MANY improvements have been made to the body and chassis. I stepped up and bought a new 06' 3500 4x4 Dodge dulley. I wasn't sure how low the MPG would be from the start but I knew it would be "kind'a" low. This truck had an easy first 1,200 miles. I would start it up wait about 2 minutes and take off and I stopped about the same way, cooling for 2 minutes. I really ripped into the truck a few times after 1k. I installed about 2k worth of stuff to work with. ..... now @ 7k miles it's just sucking wind. I dynoed the truck on David Dunbars dyno 250+HP and 470+TQ. The truck just will not perform? I mean it seems to pull ok but it's eating fuel like there is no tomorrow! I pulled 18,000 lbs about 330 miles and got 8. 7 MPG @ 125 hours and 3,200 miles. I pulled 7,700 lbs 370 miles just the other day and got 8. 1 MPG, @ 235 hours and 6,800 miles. Can someone tell me WHY this is happening? Can someoen give me a list to check? My "in-town" mileage is about 10, yeah I said 10 MPG in town. My in-town driving is 50/50 Hwy/street mix. I do not have any mods, nor do I want any as yet. I'd like to have a good truck that got got fuel economy.



..... why would I want to have this Dodge with "less HP" than my Duramax and "worse" fuel economy? #@$%!





Someone please help... ... . :{

I was having same problem with my '06 quadcab. I installed a Superchips flaspaq and my milage went up dramatically. I have it set on the tow setting. My mpg went from 13. 8mpg on the highway to 24mpg. And towing went from 9. 1mpg to 14mpg. I would by some type of programer.

 

[tgrfan2]

I was having same problem with my '06 quadcab. I installed a Superchips flaspaq and my milage went up dramatically. I have it set on the tow setting. My mpg went from 13. 8mpg on the highway to 24mpg. And towing went from 9. 1mpg to 14mpg. I would by some type of programer.

The only experience I have had with a Superchip was a friend's 04 D/A.

In Tow setting it was supposed to give him around 30hp/ 80# I think. He usually ran it in Performance Mode because if there was a Dodge around he always had an excuse not to tow! I don't think it changed his mpg much though.

I think I would contact Superchip and find out what the chip could be doing for your truck. That should give you a pretty good idea what is wrong with your truck's stock set up without the dealer knowing of your mods.

Mine is still getting about 16 in unloaded mixed driving which is very similar to the mileage we have gotten from 00 & 01 SO autos with 4. 10 gears.

 

[TowPro]

This thread almost has me scared to buy my 06. My 02 Auto 4:10 Dually is getting 15-16 everyday with 30K on the clock (winter fuel, add 2mpg for summer fuel). Towing my Titanium I get around 11-12 @ 65mph in summer. My 02 the Over Head Display MPG is always correct when I hand calculated at every fill up.



Those of you with the 06 that are reporting decent MPG, are your numbers hand calculated or OHD readout numbers? I hear the newer truck have wrong numbers on the OHD (only 06 need reply because of emissions difference from 05's and older).



I realize my 06 MPG will be lower until it breaks in. In April I have a 7 hour tow to the outerbanks of NC scheduled which will help with the breakin.

I am only hoping to get at least 1 or 2 MPG better then my 02 since it has less tires and the manual. (but it has the same affective gear ratio 02 auto 4:10's)



PS: my highway driving where I live is only 55mph so helps. The 02 at 65 drops about 1 mpg.

 

[tgrfan2]

My hand calculations and the OHD are close so far. I don't really trust it, but it seems to compute as I would expect it to decreasing avg in town and rising when I cruise on the I.

As I said before if this engine limbers up after 15K like the others have it will be one heck of a strong engine and fuel mileage for the power will be better than the early 24V SOs we have run.

 

[LLindsay]

Gillette Diesel here in SLC, states they can give me a 3 to 4 mpg increase with an Edge EZ. Without gauges a little concerned and don't know if the EZ can increase mileage that much???

3500, SRW, G-56 trans. Everything stock from factory, only tow John Deere tractor and 2 1/2 to 2 tons hay.

 

[CPG]

Burner, First off, do not let the engine idle too long. 30 seconds is about right and take off. These HPCR engines are not made to baby. Better yet, hook a load to it and take off. I do not understand people putting mods on these amply powered engines before they are broken in. Put some mileage on it and drive it. The rings on these engines take some mileage to seat in. Give it a break.

I am old in years & previously worked for two of the nations largest trucking company's overhauling Cummins engines. After running a few minutes and checking for leaks, the truck was hooked up to a trailer and driver driven to its destination at normal speeds. We seldom had trouble this way. This was the dyno check in the old days.

 

[Kirwin]

Performance chips and overhead miliage

I don't believe that your mileage went up 5 MPG while towing. I'd rather believe that the ECM is not taking into account the extra fuel that your aftermarket performance chip is adding to the combustion cycle and thus the overhead computer shows higher MPG. Check your mileage with a hand calculation and you will see that it your mileage will most likely go down as you are pulling faster with the extra power. TST has a good explanation as to why this occurs on there website. Now running empty your mileage will most likely go up as the chip will correct the retarded timing that the EPA rules result in. Just my 0. 02. Ken Irwin







From M Murry's post



I was having same problem with my '06 quadcab. I installed a Superchips flaspaq and my milage went up dramatically. I have it set on the tow setting. My mpg went from 13. 8mpg on the highway to 24mpg. And towing went from 9. 1mpg to 14mpg. I would by some type of programer

 

[kah68]

Well my 05 dually stinks when it comes to fuel milage empty, 8. 9 mpg the other day. Now I was at 28K total but my 01' will deliver 12 mpg pulling the same load. I am looking for a crew p/u to haul my 32' 10k 5er, and to be honest there are some good deals on 8. 1L 6speed alli's and with the new specs, and the motor being $5500. 00 less and owners getting 8-10 mpg towing and 14-16 mpg empty it seems very competitive with the diesel. Or I will look for an 03-04 QC 5600?

 

[RIDGERACING]

Bump,anyone? I just purchaced an 06 and my 1st tank I got 12. 8mpg. I hope it gets better. :{

 

[Jeremiah]

Gillette Diesel here in SLC, states they can give me a 3 to 4 mpg increase with an Edge EZ. Without gauges a little concerned and don't know if the EZ can increase mileage that much???

3500, SRW, G-56 trans. Everything stock from factory, only tow John Deere tractor and 2 1/2 to 2 tons hay.

My experience with Edge has been no change in mpgs, just more ooomph! when you need it while towing. I'd guess that Edge's claim of 70 hp and 220 lb. ft. of torque is about right. Whoever said it "wakes up a Cummins engine" has it right. It won't lay you back in the seat or burn rubber for a block and a half, but it will get off the line faster and it's definitely got more power in the critical ranges.



Worth the money? Yes, if you need the power, have gauges, and are willing to risk your warranty if the dealer finds it on your engine. No, if you don't need the power, don't have gauges, and are not willing to risk your warranty.

 

[SteveMiller]

I have an 06 QC 4x4 manual and I drive around Denver and am getting right about 14. I got 14 for the first 500 miles and that was all highway doing 65. So I think its getting better. I haven't had a long trip without towing to compare to that number yet. I have 4000 miles on it so far. Most of that was towing 12,000lb trailer and getting around 7mpg.



I'm all for better mileage if we figure out how to get it.

 

[JConley]

I only have 1700 miles on my 06 Mega Cab, but the last tank of fuel which was a combination of city driving, towing and highway calculated to 14mpg. The overhead display showed 13. 8mpg.



It looks like I get right at 17 highway and about 11 towing a 20 foot pace Vnose trailer. City driving is around 14. I kinda miss the economy of my 12 Valve, but I love the room, ride, and features of the 06.

 

[Poulsen]

I just turned 1100 miles on my 06 - the first two tanks, I got no better than 11 - hand calculated - I filled up my third tank yesterday, and hand calculated, I got 13. 95 Oo. - and that's all city driving - I live 2 miles from work, and I drive a total of maybe 15 miles a day - and the overhead still says I'm getting 11mpg.

 

[CMusgrove]

I must be one of the fortunate few but after 1,800 miles my 06 mega cab 2-WD, 3. 73 auto. got 20. 5 hand calculated on the highway the other day. Cruise set at 70 MPH, RPM about 1,925, no wind, not much traffic. Have not pulled anything with it yet. Of course I was wanting to see what the mileage would be so filled up about every 200 miles for the first 1,000 or so. First fill up (40% city/60% highway) = 16MPG. 3rd or 4th fillup (same ratio of city/highway) = 17MPG. Last fill-up (400 miles at same ratio) = 17. 5. I read in these posts that MPH makes pretty big difference and I think I have seen that. Turnpike lets me go 75 but that puts the RPMs up over 2,000 and I think there is a 1-2 MPG difference just between 1,925 and 2,025 RPM. I just wanted to post what I am getting so that those who are considering getting an 06 would be able to compare to some of the low MPGs that I've been reading hear. Like I said, I may just being blessed extra well (as usual).