Horrible Fuel Economy & High Diesel Prices...Getting Old!

[Turbo Kidd]

I don't want to start another thread on poor fuel economy, but I'm beside myself here! I have a 2003 305/555 HO, 2500 4X4 with an auto 48RE and 3. 73 combo. I am getting 13. 2-13. 5 MPG around town empty and 16. 5-17. 5 MPG on the road empty running under 2000 RPM's (All hand calculated, I always put 1 gallon extra of diesel after the pump kicks off... So, there is a constant calculation). I'm bone stock except I am running 285's instead of the stock 265's. I have 43,000 miles and I have never had a problem with the truck..... In fact I love the truck! It just pisses me off when I read people getting 18 MPG around town and 20+ MPG on the road. Is there something wrong with my truck, or is this normal? Would an exhaust system (MBRP) and an Air Cleaner set-up (AFE) help at all, or just give me some performance? I'm a realist, I like to put my foot in it too, but I also like driving sane and getting some respectable fuel economy at $3. 40 a gallon (Chicago). Any help, advise and maybe your REAL fuel economy numbers would be most appreciated!



Thanks,

Karl (Turbo Kidd)

 

[tae73]

I am getting a little better than you only with a 6 speed. I get 14-15 around town and 17-18 if I keep it under 2000rpms. And this is with a scotty air intake and a DDP exhuast system. I know alot depends on where you drive, I would thinking with you in Chicago, being relitivly flat that would help alot. I live in the hills of Missouri. And they arent much of a hill, but there are a few good ones. Diesel is 3. 19 right now, cost me a $100 to fill and that wasnt even full, dang pump wouldnt let me have any more!

 

[Grizzly]

I don't want to start another thread on poor fuel economy, but I'm beside myself here! I have a 2003 305/555 HO, 2500 4X4 with an auto 48RE and 3. 73 combo. I am getting 13. 2-13. 5 MPG around town empty and 16. 5-17. 5 MPG on the road empty running under 2000 RPM's (All hand calculated, I always put 1 gallon extra of diesel after the pump kicks off... So, there is a constant calculation). I'm bone stock except I am running 285's instead of the stock 265's. I have 43,000 miles and I have never had a problem with the truck..... In fact I love the truck! It just pisses me off when I read people getting 18 MPG around town and 20+ MPG on the road. Is there something wrong with my truck, or is this normal? Would an exhaust system (MBRP) and an Air Cleaner set-up (AFE) help at all, or just give me some performance? I'm a realist, I like to put my foot in it too, but I also like driving sane and getting some respectable fuel economy at $3. 40 a gallon (Chicago). Any help, advise and maybe your REAL fuel economy numbers would be most appreciated!



Thanks,

Karl (Turbo Kidd)

Hay, don't feel like the Lone Ranger, that's about where I'm at. Make sure your tires are properly inflated and drive like you have an egg between the foot speed and your foot. Another thing we can all do is drive those 7000 lbs plus trucks a lot less. For commuting drive, an economical car. Also remember, most people lie about there mileage.

 

[fkovalski]

Don't know what in the world you are talking about...

I am getting a bout 35 MPG and fuel is around $1. 50- $1. 52 up here

I have no complaints at all :-laf



ACTUAL: 16. 8 MPG over all and $2. 97... . Just gonna' have to get used to the prices. But what is one to do? I looked at buying a used Honda for about $1900, but it would be a difference of driving it about 3 years for it to pay off (MPG difference between it and the truck) Not worth it for me.

I hear where folks are trding in thier exsiting cars to get one w/ better milage but increasing monthly payments to have the privalege of driving a cracker box!! Doesnt add up... . even with fuel prices.



A guy at work brags about his Honda Quaalude getting 30+ MPG... . Big deal... he is still pay as much per gallon as the next guy.

 

[JCleary]

I don't want to start another thread on poor fuel economy, but I'm beside myself here! I have a 2003 305/555 HO, 2500 4X4 with an auto 48RE and 3. 73 combo. I am getting 13. 2-13. 5 MPG around town empty and 16. 5-17. 5 MPG on the road empty running under 2000 RPM's (All hand calculated, I always put 1 gallon extra of diesel after the pump kicks off... So, there is a constant calculation). I'm bone stock except I am running 285's instead of the stock 265's. I have 43,000 miles and I have never had a problem with the truck..... In fact I love the truck! It just pisses me off when I read people getting 18 MPG around town and 20+ MPG on the road. Is there something wrong with my truck, or is this normal? Would an exhaust system (MBRP) and an Air Cleaner set-up (AFE) help at all, or just give me some performance? I'm a realist, I like to put my foot in it too, but I also like driving sane and getting some respectable fuel economy at $3. 40 a gallon (Chicago). Any help, advise and maybe your REAL fuel economy numbers would be most appreciated!



Thanks,

Karl (Turbo Kidd)

I have a six-speed, and I'm right there with you. I drove 700+ miles this weekend, and had the cruise pegged at 2000rpm as much as possible. I drove trying to keep boost under 10psi and egt's under 600°. I yielded 18. 45mpg. Driving normally I average 17ish on the highway, 15 in town if I'm careful.



Have you had your pinion factor changed over since the 285's were installed? That will throw you off a bit on the low side (mpg) as well, you're travelling farther for every revolution.



I actually lost mpg's by installing an intake and exhaust FWIW. Bone stock with 285's I made the same trip and got 19. 6 mpg. , using the same techniques.

 

[Cochran]

why is diesel so expencive all of the sudden. Before I bought my truck it was cheaper than regular unleaded. Now it is 55 cents more per gallon in vegas selling at $3. 19-$3. 25. why are the petro companys screwing us.

 

[fkovalski]

why is diesel so expencive all of the sudden. Before I bought my truck it was cheaper than regular unleaded. Now it is 55 cents more per gallon in vegas selling at $3. 19-$3. 25. why are the petro companys screwing us.

I think it may because refineries are producing fuel oil for the winter months... . Not that I can get it in my local (or that I would ever burn it in my truck... no-no) but what color is it?

 

[Crazygator]

Well maybe you can locate a station that sells Biodiesel. I just found our only one and filled up with B20 - which is 20% biodiesel mixed with 80% #2.



Prices are much better with Bio - $2. 89 verses $3. 49 for #2.



I do feel like my mpg went up when I installed an AFE air system and MBRP exhaust. I also am running an edge ez and mach 2 injectors all through a DTT transmission.



15-16 pulling my enclosed trailer and 23+ on the road empty..... so go figure!

I love my mileage and am please with the performance too.



Call the Mark Craig at DPP, I am sure he can help you out with the performance and better fuel mileage.

 

[steved]

Fuel oil isn't usually dyed (at least the tanks I get aren't)... off-road fuel is... usually red.



And you are correct... here is my theory, heating season is comming in... so keep diesel and heating oil high to rape the public this winter... but since there are not many people traveling (you REALLY notice this if you drive long stretches and across roads you have been running for years), they are dropping the gasoline prices to "encourage" people to come back out add travel.



Oil companies need regualted just like electric utilities.



I fear there will be a lot of older people freezing to death this year because they can't afford to heat their homes. There are also going to be a lot of people further in debt trying to keep their homes warm... what to do, drive to work or heat my house?



I get around 17 mpg average... the Rokktech sensor seems to have me around 19 mpg, but it's too early to tell for sure. Airfilter, exhaust, and even a low HP box seem to up the mileage... does your 555 fall under the "reflash" TSB for mileage and driveability??? That alone gave me over 1 mpg gain.



Also, to add insult to injury, we are most likely starting to see winterized fuel at the pump (they don't tell you) and I usually lose about 2-3 mpg just from that crap.



steved

 

[NavyDood]

Go get yourself a 96oz bottle of Powerservice Diesel Kleen and 32oz bottle of Marvel Mystery Oil from WalMart. Mix them together and then split it up so you have 4 separate quarts. Use a quart of this mixture at every fill up. You will see a 2-3 mpg increase.

 

[Gaskicker]

what is the cost for this concoction?

 

[RMalone]

I agree the power service and mmo mix pay for themselves, but I sure don't see 2-3mpg, though some do. These energy prices are going to cripple the economy in this country. I don't just mean diesel and gasoline, look at electric and natural gas. I own a greenhouse and my natural gas contract ran out this past spring, I was at 34. 9 cents/cubic ft, now Im at 90 cents/cubic foot. Therefore what used to be a 6000 dollar/month bill will now be about 16,000/month. Im not the only one, everyone is affected both at home and wherever they make their living. The government better step in and control prices or the house of cards is going to fall in on itself!! Holy cow I just called for government control of industry, I never thought I could feel that way!!!



Some say just raise your prices to offset the increase in energy costs, easy to say but what happens when all the people that buy goods and services see their costs go up and the companies they work for go under or cut wages? People may indeed understand why companies increase prices but if they have no money to spend where does that leave you? This country runs on the expectation of people consuming, when you have no money it is awfully hard to consume!!!!!

 

[JMetzger]

I dont' know how much faith to put in this but last night on the local Reno TV Channel 4 KRNV 4 oclock news they had quite a talk that if the price of diesel doesn't come down by the end of Oct that the truckers are going to go on strike. If they do then maybe the price of diesel might come down. Truckers are saying that it is not worth running there trucks at the high price of diesel. Oh well we can only hope.

 

[John Robinson]

Heres what I dont understand, it has been proven that cummins can get 21 plus mpg in the old days before the epa started making us burn "CLEAN" diesels. Even though the 3rd gens are burning cleaner, we are still burning more fuel & in my opinion we are putting out more nox, Right

 

[MCecil]

Any help, advise and maybe your REAL fuel economy numbers would be most appreciated!

Hi Karl. I, too, only hand calc my mileage (rather anal about it, truth be told). It appears that the only differences between your rig and mine is I'm still running stock tires, I have the aFe Stage 1 and I have 36,173 miles on at this moment. My mileage is a bit higher than yours with Interstate and Hwy mix mileage varying between 20. 2 and 22. 4 with a all time high of 23. 5 mpg unloaded and the average is 21. 5 for those runs I've tracked. Before I retired, my average workweek mileage was 220 miles Interstate round trip and 245 miles round trip to work and apt. during the week. Best run was 22. 2 with the worst run at 17. 9 with an average of 19. 5 for the 22 runs calc'ed. Last year on a 4400 mile vacation, I got an average of 21. 3mpg.

All of the above was driving at 60-62 mph in OD and mostly with cruise on except in the parking lots that Portland, OR refers to as highways.

Last month we pulled our new 5th wl back from Indiana and with a gross combined weight of ~19. 5k, my spreadsheet says we got 11. 791 mpg for the 2633. 5 miles we were towing of the 3251 miles. The worst leg was 8. 069 and the best was 13. 068 mpg (nice tail wind in SD). All of this was done at 57-60 mph.

I drive rather conservatively and always travel at least 20 miles or the Dodge stays home. It doesn't stay home often though since we live in the country and nothing is close.

Hope this info helps. Enjoy your day and God Bless.
Merv

 

[jwduke]

My pickup is here to stay, guess I'll drag out my Caveliar and drive it. Gas is 2. 469 here, and diesel is 3. 329! RIPOFF!

 

[Turbo Kidd]

Well, I thank all of you for your feedback. I realize that fuel is going to cost more over time... . However, here is my problem with it. All over the world people rag at the USA, telling us that our fuel is cheap compared to theirs... . and they are right.



However, their fuel prices grew over time, our exploded over an 18 month period, and most of us have not seen our wages (Cost of living), keep up with REAL world costs. It is a sad day for people on a tight budget. I feel very lucky to have a nice comfortable life style, but I have friends and family that I worry about!

 

[abdiver]

I dont' know how much faith to put in this but last night on the local Reno TV Channel 4 KRNV 4 oclock news they had quite a talk that if the price of diesel doesn't come down by the end of Oct that the truckers are going to go on strike. If they do then maybe the price of diesel might come down. Truckers are saying that it is not worth running there trucks at the high price of diesel. Oh well we can only hope.

If Truckers go on strike, All that will happen is they will get an increase their rates and WE will still pay high price for fuel AND more for everything hauled in by truck.

 

[steved]

If Truckers go on strike, All that will happen is they will get an increase their rates and WE will still pay high price for fuel AND more for everything hauled in by truck.

It will never happen... yes, the independents are hurting, but the JB Hunts, Schnieders, CRST, Prime, Swift, etc don't care and IMO, they probably wish it will happen since most independent drivers are hanging it up because of the fuel prices... those big companies have fuel contracts and fixed rates... they don't need to strike. I feel bad... I travel a lot and you hear a lot of guys selling of their stuff because they have given up...



And you are 100% correct... if they strike, two things will happen. Fuel prices will increase (since the oil companies work backwards) to offset the loss of not selling as much fuel and the price of EVERYTHING will increase as a fuel "surcharge" is passed to the consumer.



And back to the question... I forgot: High of 21mpg, Low of about 10mpg. Best mileage obtained under 2k RPM... running any faster and it drops very quickly. Best mileage to date was running northern Texas (Highway 82) at about 55mph.



steved

 

[hasselbach]

Boy, a lot of you need a lesson in economics. Regulating the oil companies will only cause a significant reduction in oil supply and a major increase in prices, ie gas crises.



Have any of you noticed that the price of oil is trading at over $60 a barrel? Last year it was closer to $30 per barrel.



Have any of you followed the significant increase in oil consumption by China, which is pushing the price of oil on the world market higher? Have any of you read that China is buying all the available oil leases off Africa and other oil rich areas to develop new refineries?



Have any of you noticed that the liberals have prevented any new construction of oil refineries over the past 30 years here in the USA? Right now, our refineries are operating at over 99% of capacity. When one goes down, the supply is significantly reduced pushing prices up.



And, the same goes for new drilling say in Alaska or off the west coast. There has been no new oil sources tapped in a long long time.



If you were a stock holder in an oil company, wouldn't you want the biggest return in your stock investment? That spells Capitalism... The theory is an unregulated free trade market will result in the highest return on investment, as well as lowest prices to the consumer (ie competition).



I can't believe how many of you are oblivious to the above, and whine about the 'oil companies' screwing us. Its just not true. If there were say 5 major oil companies in the USA, wouldn't you think one would lower prices significantly to sell more fuel and make a bigger profit?



Regulating the oil companies will only make fuel really really more expensive. Look at the countries that have federal owned oil, and you will see 6 to 7 dollar a gallon prices.



The USA has enjoyed cheap fuel for a long time compared to other countries. Now that other countries are developing and more are able to buy cars, etc. . the pressure at the pump in prices is starting to be felt by us all.