Milage Again

[Don]

This truck is great in everything except the milage. I only have about 7000 miles on it and I know it should come up some with more miles, but this is hard to take. The BEST I have gotten so far is 15 mpg empty and 9. 4 mpg loaded with a 12,000 pound 5th wheel and that is most of the miles driven. I keep tires at proper psi and burn fresh fuel. I realize I am not going to get what I was getting with my 5. 9, but this is quite a drop. If any of you have found any improvements for milage, I am all ears.

Thanks,

Don

 

[AH64ID]

How far below 9. 4 do you dip when towing? 9. 4 isn't bad for a 20K lb GCW, depending on the speed you are running.

Give it some more miles as well, 7,000 isn't enough to break it in, even with towing.

 

[Tryingit]

It will get better..... but not by too much. With all of this emissions crap I got 17 mpg on a long empty trip to Florida. I have the 373 gears and 45K miles on the clock... . My 04. 5 got 21 mpg( slightly modified) on the same trip. I won't delete until I'm much closer to my 100K extended warranty... But I must say this truck just a much better job than my 04 (cummins 600) did with it slight modifications.

 

[bigblock_doc]

Same here. at 40,000 mileage still sucks but the truck is really nice to drive. 10 with trailer and 14. 8 without at 70. Thinking of dropping the exhaust but...

 

[JLeake]

Our 2011 2500 4x4 with 3. 73 gears and now 12K miles total empty has shown mileage between 16 and 18 running empty, 70mph or a little above from SF to Las Vegas. Today, from SF to Reno via the north shore of Tahoe, 18mpg (from the EVI display) which I have found is not far off.

 

[Cummins12V98]

27,000# combined 9. 5 average west coast towing 14k on the clock. It is getting better. I am happy for the weight I am towing. Also 3:42 gears. I tow at 60.

 

[Don]

I have been around 8. 4 when towing if I encounter any stop and go traffic. I run between 55-65 mph.
Don

 

[HBarlow]

Don,

Your truck is normal. If you are a full-time RVer and have a lifestyle similar to most you probably don't move your home (fifthwheel) every day and probably don't travel more than around 300 miles a day when you do so your monthly fuel costs are only a few dollars more than the earlier trucks. The new trucks are apparently very plush and very comfortable from what I hear. I recommend you enjoy the comfort the truck provides and relax. A few dollars of fuel cost aren't going to change your lifestyle.

Keep in mind - most of the fuel mileage claims you hear and read are not accurate in the real world. Your fuel mileage is probably exactly the same as other Gen IV trucks.

 

[RonD]

10. 2 mpg average so far all with 5th wheel in tow , 22650 pounds combined total weight, 40 years ago I would have a big block gas engine and be getting 6 mpg and 30 mph going up hills, no complaints at all

 

[HBarlow]

10. 2 mpg average so far all with 5th wheel in tow , 22650 pounds combined total weight, 40 years ago I would have a big block gas engine and be getting 6 mpg and 30 mph going up hills, no complaints at all

An excellent comparison! Look on the bright side.

A big block gas engine would be straining its guts out, shifting down to second gear on every upgrade, and getting 6 mpg as you said.

 

[jeepit]

Don, While I get 13 mpg towing a trailer with my Jeep on and a Lance camper in the bed my truck consider the power you have and the comfort of that new truck.

I would trade you in a heartbeat!

My truck was broke in at 45,000 to 50,000 miles and mileage did improve at that point... . not sure about these new motors but keep us updated form time to time.

 

[crispyboy]

Mileage improved 1-2 mpg on my 09 truck around 23k miles. As others have stated I get 18 on the interstate and 11-13 pulling a 31' bumper pull travel trailer.

 

[RustyJC]

10. 2 mpg average so far all with 5th wheel in tow , 22650 pounds combined total weight, 40 years ago I would have a big block gas engine and be getting 6 mpg and 30 mph going up hills, no complaints at all

I'm getting the same 10. 2 MPG with our 350/650 Cummins towing the 16K GVWR 5th wheel in my signature, generally at 65 MPH on the Interstates. Running empty at 75 MPH, we get about 16-17 MPG. That's about the same as my previous 2002 HO/6-speed 2WD dually with 4. 10 gears towing the same 5th wheel and bombed to 347/762 at the rear wheels. We had a 1996 V-10/47RE 2WD dually with 3. 54 gears - it got 6. 5 MPG towing a 13. 5K GVWR 5th wheel in the Texas Hill Country, and many of the grades were 2nd gear, 55 MPH and 3500 RPM.



Rusty

 

[Don]

Thanks for all the input. I do enjoy all the comforts this truck has to offer and it is a real beast when it comes to pulling.
Don

 

[cerberusiam]

If any of you have found any improvements for milage, I am all ears.
Thanks,
Don

EGR and DPF delete, tuner to reset the timing into a more efficcient range. That will probably gain you the most.

Cam change will probably add some more.

In order to fix the fuel consumption you have remove the offending parts, not much else you can do but drive it and hope for the best.

 

[Tryingit]

Don,



Your truck is normal. If you are a full-time RVer and have a lifestyle similar to most you probably don't move your home (fifthwheel) every day and probably don't travel more than around 300 miles a day when you do so your monthly fuel costs are only a few dollars more than the earlier trucks. The new trucks are apparently very plush and very comfortable from what I hear. I recommend you enjoy the comfort the truck provides and relax. A few dollars of fuel cost aren't going to change your lifestyle.



Keep in mind - most of the fuel mileage claims you hear and read are not accurate in the real world. Your fuel mileage is probably exactly the same as other Gen IV trucks.

I would have to agree. I believe that my 2010 (stock) gets very close to my 2004. 5 (C600) stock for stock. The big differences are the plush fit and finish of the 4th generation trucks, the smoother ride at the cost of mushier springs (rear) and the ability to modify. My 04. 5 had a smarty jr (as well as an exhaust system, air intake) which was undetectable then. Now a days I won't risk my extended warranty to gain a coupl of extra mile per gallons. Like you said it doesn't really affect my lifestyle.

 

[KYOUNG]

So far my 2011 runs well, pulls well, Stops well and is totally stock. The fuel mileage is nothing to brag about, but so far I have no complaints and will leave it stock, at least until out of warranty. It is a very comfortable truck though.

 

[RonD]

Harvey must have been behind me in 1972 heading into Yellowstone Park with my 24' TT towing with the 360 Ferd and a 4 speed manual, as I recall everyone passed me with a sour look on there face, it was in 2nd gear doing about 3500 RPM's, speed was slow, and I had 3 fuel tanks that didn't go very far, these new trucks are the best for sure.

 

[HBarlow]

No, in 1972 I was living in Bremerton, WA for an overhaul and conversion of the nuclear submarine I was on at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. At the time I owned a '70 Chevy C-2500 w/350 ci small block and pulled a 24' Prowler tt. The old Chevy was a good running engine with a 4 bbl carb and added dual exhaust. It would have passed a 360 Ferd on a steep grade winding up against the redline.

I later owned one of those Ferd 360s, a '76 F250. It must have had 6. 5:1 compression, a 2bbl carb, and cam with round lobes. Probably had 16 penny nails for valves. It was the worst dog I have ever owned. I could have floored the throttle with a concrete block and got out and walked around it to change drivers before it reached ten miles per hour. With a trailer attached it couldn't get out of the way of a heavy loaded 18 wheeler. It used oil from day one also.

 

[Bill Stockard]

I could have been one of those who passed you. At that time I was driving a company supplied '72 I-H Travelall with a V392 engine and a 4-bbl Holley carb towing a 20' Mobile Scout travel trailer. The Travelall had dual factory fuel tanks and it need 'em. It would pass everything, but a gas station. :-laf



Bill