miliage difference between srw and drw

[Elk]

My buddy just purchased a 3500 drw 4x4 373 rearend and I purchased a 3500 srw 3500 373 rearend. I am averaging around 18. 4 and he is getting 11. We both have around 1000 miles and drive about the same. Is anyone else seeing the drw getting such bad mileage. It is a good thing we are neighbors and I can show him on the computer and take him up to the station with me to see I am getting this mileage. He was a diehard ford man and after three years I finally talked him into the dodge.

 

[MattSt]

Is he filling up at the same station? I got a bad batch of fuel the 3rd time I filled up. Mine dropped from the first 2 tanks that were in the 15. 5-16. 0 range to 14. 1 Noticed power loss also. I have about 70% stop and go and the rest 65 mph interstate and my is a DRW. I don't drive slow by any means. Idle to red-line on the floor---shift repeat when necessary!

 

[Casey Balvert]

My dually with 4. 10 axle has been getting 18 to 19 mpg. And that is with a couple thousand on the clock. Your buddy must have his foot in it or there is a problem. Check under the hood. Maybe he has a V10 under there.



Casey

 

[ntenna]

I can back Casey up on that- I'm seeing 18-22 depending on how much I put my foot in it. Towed an empty 1800 lb trailer the other day and averaged 17. 8.



But I can do 14 if the pedal goes from idle to floor (good one, MattSt)



Hope your buddy can get more; don't want him to go back to brand F

 

[Fireman]

Casey,



Is that US Gal or British Gal ?



Fireman



PS I'm baaaaaaaack!

 

[Elk]

I thought the same thing, but I had him double check it said mpg. He also said he hears a rattle in the engine when it is cold. I think he better go see the stealer.

 

[MattSt]

Originally posted by Elk

I thought the same thing, but I had him double check it said mpg. He also said he hears a rattle in the engine when it is cold. I think he better go see the stealer.

Maybe you should be nice to him and listen for the rattle before he goes to the dealer. He WAS a ford owner! And it is a CTD. LOL

 

[Casey Balvert]

Originally posted by fireman56

Casey,



Is that US Gal or British Gal ?



Fireman



PS I'm baaaaaaaack!

US gallons sir. AND I exect a full report on the trip.



Casey

 

[Elk]

Well just an update the stealer told him to drop it off today and they will take a look at it.

 

[COBRAJET]

I have 4. 5K miles now with a non towing 70-75mph highway average of 16. 1. Best is 17. 2, low is 15. 1. The computer seems to read about 5-8% high. I don't rely on it..... CJ

 

[DIESELMAN]

Originally posted by fireman56

PS I'm baaaaaaaack!

And where were you???

 

[jdiebold]

Did a 2,000 mile trip for Christmas, starting milage on the truck was 350. I saw milage between 18 and 23. 5 MPG. The 23. 5 MPG was at 55 mph between Virgina Beach and I-85 on US-58. There were no less than 10 radar traps on that streach of road. The rest was freeway at 65 to 70 mph.



Of course it was all down hill from Virginia to Florida



JD

 

[Dean Upson]

This may be a little off subject,but it could be related to mileage. Have any of you noticed that it is much harder to "top off" the '03's? My 94 and my 98. 5 were both easier to top off then this new guy is. I like to fill it up till I can see fuel. That is the only way that you can be sure of your mileage.



Dean

 

[COBRAJET]

Dean,



Mine is a near futile effort to top off. The first few times I gave up. The next time I waited it out and it took forever. I stuffed 33 gals in it and the fuel light wasn't on yet. Either the tank holds more than 35 or it just kept mysteriously expanding. I round to the nearest dollar and go on now. The 01 was quick to top off. The 03 acts like my old PSD's... . CJ

 

[Dean Upson]

CJ,



It seems that something has changed because I never had this much trouble filling up the tank. It is impossible to get an accurate mpg figure if you don't start from the same place each time. Also if you fill up at a truck stop with the large hoses you can have even more fits with the foam. I think that some folks fill up and get a bunch of foam in the tank and get a really high mpg figure. If this is the only time they check it, that is what you hear of. I am certainly not questioning the honesty of the mileages stated here on the forum, I just wanted to call attention to the "foam factor" and the "top off" factor and how they infulence the equation. Members new to diesels may not realize these pecularities to the fuel we use.



Dean

 

[radar doctor]

more factors

i notice that the gentleman who had the problem has a 4x4 and the ones that respondeed were 4x2. this will make some difference. Never use the computer in the truck. alway fill up at the same station and do everything the same when your filling. fill up early in the morning when it is cool not in the heat of the day. good luck. i hope the 03 do good on mileage cause i hope to order one (depending on what the TDR has to say about them)sometime this fall. .

 

[Elk]

Funny I think my o3 is much easier to fill up then my 97.