MPG's

[KFette]

I hate to continue to bring this up, but I guess I have to...



Have an '04 QC 4X4 3500 automatic 305/555CTD with 2200 miles on it ( had 9 when I picked it up from the dealership).



The On board computer says that I am getting 9. 4 MPG! I have hand calculated 11. 2 MPG. My old Ford F250 gasser got 13! I mainly do city driving (Ft. Worth, TX area)



Dealership salesman told me to wait until 5k, 15k, and 25k to reach the "ultimate in MPG's". At these fuel prices, I think I would rather walk



I drive like I have the family jewels under the pedal... salesman told me that was the problem, and that I needed to "drive it like I stole it"! Well, I've tried that on the last tank, and I was around the 9. 1 MPG mark.



I've read all the threads of guys getting 17-18 MPG right off the lot, so I am beginning to wonder if I have a real problem. I have read about leaking injectors, re-flashes, etc... , but they seem to be directed towards the 04. 5 325/600's.



If anyone has a suggestion, it would be greatly appreciated.





Thanks

 

[jray]

Take it back to the dealer and have the service dept. look at it. If I was getting mileage that bad thats where I'd be headed. These engines are capable of getting mileage in the 20's. My 03 has given me a high of 23. 7 mpg @55. I wanted to see just how good the mileage could get so I ran it on cc @55 for 350 miles on mostly flat land. 23. 7 isn't too bad and it was check by hand. Take it in. Should be under warranty.





2003 SLT 3500 SWB CC 4X4 H. O. 48RE

 

[Forrest Nearing]

what kind of MPG are you getting loaded? these engines need to be worked before they start getting decent mileage IMHO

 

[sfr1047]

Do you have a 4. 10 or a 3. 73 rear gear? For a 4x4 in downtown city your milage may not be far off. Stop light to stop light just kills my milage. My combination city and highway is about 16 mpg and I have about 2500 miles on my 04. I just drove to Las Vegas and back from Phoenix at about 70 mph and averaged 19 mpg hand calculated. Try filling up with fuel close to a freeway and reset the overhead then get on the freeway and cruise at 60 mph. Within a few miles you should see some better numbers on the overhead.

 

[ndennis]

Kfette: The 315's and the Lift Kit will affect the mileage. Have to recalibrate the speedo if you have not already. The 3rd Gen Cabs are about 5 inches taller than the 2nd Gen and add 4WD, an almost 3" lift to that, and 315's and now you have turned a truck with the aerodynamics of a house into one approaching a skyscraper. My 2000 will easily get 18-20 mpg at 70+ but I am only 2WD with 265's and without a liftkit. Beg, borrow and/or steal a portable GPS and see how close your speedometer is to your actual speed is over the ground.

N Dennis

 

[Turbo Kidd]

I have an 03, 2500 4x4 quad cab and I now have 14,300 miles on it. I consistantly get 13. 5 - 14. 0 mpg around town (Chicago area with stop and go) and I get between 17 - 19 mpg on the road running between 75 and 80 mph. When I first got the truck, I was only getting about 11 mpg around town. However, right after my first oil change (I switched to synthetic) it jumped up a few miles per gallon.

 

[KFette]

I'v Been to afraid to pull my 5th wheel yet!! Gas stations would probably be to far apart! lol

Originally posted by Forrest Nearing

what kind of MPG are you getting loaded? these engines need to be worked before they start getting decent mileage IMHO

 

[KFette]

I am definitely changing to synthetic (Amsoil, Dad is a distributer) after the first oil change. Hopefully that will help... thanks

Originally posted by Turbo Kidd

I have an 03, 2500 4x4 quad cab and I now have 14,300 miles on it. I consistantly get 13. 5 - 14. 0 mpg around town (Chicago area with stop and go) and I get between 17 - 19 mpg on the road running between 75 and 80 mph. When I first got the truck, I was only getting about 11 mpg around town. However, right after my first oil change (I switched to synthetic) it jumped up a few miles per gallon.

 

[KFette]

Forgive me for asking the "dumb" question...

How can you tell the ratio of the rear end? The sticker off the truck only says "Rear 11. 50 Axle".



Thanks

Originally posted by sfr1047

Do you have a 4. 10 or a 3. 73 rear gear? For a 4x4 in downtown city your milage may not be far off. Stop light to stop light just kills my milage. My combination city and highway is about 16 mpg and I have about 2500 miles on my 04. I just drove to Las Vegas and back from Phoenix at about 70 mph and averaged 19 mpg hand calculated. Try filling up with fuel close to a freeway and reset the overhead then get on the freeway and cruise at 60 mph. Within a few miles you should see some better numbers on the overhead.

 

[CumminsBu]

Look in the glove box there is a sticker that tells you all about the powertrain. Well there is in mine.

 

[Turbo Kidd]

You are correct, the sticker only tells you that you have an 11. 50 axle. Call your dealership and give the service dept your Vin#, they can look up the ratio for you... . that's what I did. I have a 373 gear ratio. Now back to the synthetic oil. I started using the synthetic oil after my first oil change at 3500 miles. I have been told by some people that I should have waited longer... . and I have also been told that it doesn't matter. I guess that it could delay the break-in period. The upside is, synthetic oil will NOT cause any harm, it may just delay the break-in. I know one thing, I get much better fuel economy than I did with my V-10... LOL!

 

[Lonestar]

If in fact you haven't calibrated your Speedometer for your new tires, that is a lot of your problem. There is probably about an 8% error for the larger tires. Meaning for every 100miles your odometer shows, the truck has actually traveled 108miles. I am running 37's with a 6inch superlift and I am getting 15around town and 17-19 on the road @ 70. Much over 70 and the mileage drops TREMENDOUSLY. Like was stated before, get a portable GPS and verify your actual speed and determine the percentage of error. Mine was 15%, so I'm guessing you will be somewhere around 8-9%



KEEP ON TRUCKIN'

Lonestar

 

[cpizz]

I get 13. 5 to 14. 5 mpg. I drive 70-75mph about 80% of the time. The other 20% is stop and go city traffic. I have 7500 miles on my truck and can't seem to break 15mpg. My '03 identically equipped got the same mileage.

 

[KFette]

Thanks for all the responses.



I do realize that I have the relative worst case scenario (i. e. the "specs of my truck") as far as MPG's are concerned. Given this is my first diesel as well as my first Dodge, and that the salesman told me the day I bought it that I should get around 17-18 MPG (NOTE TO SELF: Don't listen to a salesman), I felt 9. 1 MPG would indicate a genuine problem.



I filled up today $1. 64/gal and was "giddy" to do so. haha I found that I had been resetting the computer while I was waiting in the truck (still running). I noticed that the readout said 1. 7 MPG as I was pulling out, so I reset it again while I was driving. Lo and behold the readout rose to 16. 8 before I hit the first stop sign, then went up and down to end up at 13. 2 when I got to my house approximately 5 miles away. Hey it's better than 9. 1MPG!



I currently have on order the Banks Six Gun with Speed Loader, and the Ram Air filter assembly which they claim will give 2-3MPG after installation, so we'll see.



Thanks Turbo Kidd and Malibu, I did find that sticker in the glove box and the rear end was 3. 73's...



Anyone have any feedback on the Banks system???

 

[OTRPU]

Load it up and run through the Nevada hills or most any and I can guarantee you 6. 5. C2C and 49 states. Watch your EGT's if your over 1,000*F you ain't gettin no mileage, you see high EGT is what results from burning fuel. Simple fact of life, any engine gets better mileage going 55 than 65. Those that don't think so are just kidding themselves. The higher it is, the heavier it is, the windier it is and up hillier it is all takes it's toll. And starting and stopping trucks this weight takes fuel, lots of fuel. The way some kids talk I'm convinced they're always going downhill with the wind to their tail.



Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[KFette]

OTRPU: Sounds like something I need to do! I agree, some of the MPG's I am reading are definitely hard to swallow with the mileage I'm getting. I didn't expect Honda Hybrid mileage, but I thought it would kick my F250 gasser's $%&!!



Have a good one!



KFette

Originally posted by OTRPU

Load it up and run through the Nevada hills or most any and I can guarantee you 6. 5. C2C and 49 states. Watch your EGT's if your over 1,000*F you ain't gettin no mileage, you see high EGT is what results from burning fuel. Simple fact of life, any engine gets better mileage going 55 than 65. Those that don't think so are just kidding themselves. The higher it is, the heavier it is, the windier it is and up hillier it is all takes it's toll. The way some kids talk I'm convinced they're always going downhill with the wind to their tail.



Cheers,

Steve J.

 

[KFette]

ndennis: Thanks, I will try to get a GPS. I think I am 8. 2% off on the speedometer with the 315's. I found a website that will calculate stock/original vs. upgrade and give you a % that you are off. It says "Miata" but it works for any tire size... pretty cool and seems to be accurate based on the ticket I just got!haha



http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html



Have a good one, KFette

Originally posted by ndennis

Kfette: The 315's and the Lift Kit will affect the mileage. Have to recalibrate the speedo if you have not already. The 3rd Gen Cabs are about 5 inches taller than the 2nd Gen and add 4WD, an almost 3" lift to that, and 315's and now you have turned a truck with the aerodynamics of a house into one approaching a skyscraper. My 2000 will easily get 18-20 mpg at 70+ but I am only 2WD with 265's and without a liftkit. Beg, borrow and/or steal a portable GPS and see how close your speedometer is to your actual speed is over the ground.

N Dennis

 

[KFette]

That's what I have found out... with some digging!



Thanks Lonestar.



How does it ride with your superlift... just curious. Would like to do it, but I like to have my baby in the garage!!ha

Originally posted by Lonestar

If in fact you haven't calibrated your Speedometer for your new tires, that is a lot of your problem. There is probably about an 8% error for the larger tires. Meaning for every 100miles your odometer shows, the truck has actually traveled 108miles. I am running 37's with a 6inch superlift and I am getting 15around town and 17-19 on the road @ 70. Much over 70 and the mileage drops TREMENDOUSLY. Like was stated before, get a portable GPS and verify your actual speed and determine the percentage of error. Mine was 15%, so I'm guessing you will be somewhere around 8-9%



KEEP ON TRUCKIN'

Lonestar

 

[ndennis]

KFette: Any of your friends or acquaintances pilots? If they are, odds are pretty good you might be able to snag a GPS. I would be interested to in how far off the speedometer is.

N Dennis

 

[Lonestar]

Originally posted by KFette

That's what I have found out... with some digging!



Thanks Lonestar.



How does it ride with your superlift... just curious. Would like to do it, but I like to have my baby in the garage!!ha

I love the ride, only problem I have right now is Axle or spring wrap. Sounds terrible. On a truck with stock power it shouldn't be a problem, but with my setup I can really move the axle around back there. A good set of traction bars should fix it, but I'm going to install the Kelderman Airride rear lift so that it rides better while towing, no axle wrap, and load levelling.



Bye the way, I had a 7ft garage door, and there was no chance of getting the truck in there. I have since totally remodeled my home (ground up complete demolition) so I built a BIGGER garage with 9ft doors



Now it fits



KEEP ON TRUCKIN'

Lonestar