Need More Fuel Milage Not More Power

[MAtkinson]

Need More Milage Not More Power I bought a new 2006, 2500, Quad Cab, Long Bed In Dec 2005. Overall performance is satisfactory and fuel milage is 14-16 MPG Range. Considering Chips or Programers (But Don't Who Is Best For My Application), Air Filters and Intakes (Lottsa Hipe In The Magazines), Maybe Exhaust (Lottsa Hype And $ Here Too and Don't Want A Loud Truck). Don't want to spend Mega dollars. Must be totally reliable and reasonable modifications. What Do You Recommend??

 

[MAtkinson]

Need More Mileage Not More Power

I bought a new 2006, 2500, Auto Trans, Quad Cab, Long Bed in Dec 2005. I am generally satisfied with performance but want better mileage. Currently (With 4100 Miles on it) I am getting 14-16 MPG. Considering Chips or Programmers (but don't know which is best for my needs). Reliability is a must. Would consider Intake and Exhaust modifications but don't want to spend mega bucks either. I am a new member and need some good advice.

 

[osiris]

well i really like my quadzilla XZT module. Its a 65HP chip but i would say my mileage during the winter fuel months so far has jumped up about 1. 5-2. 5 miles per gallon depending on idle time and how much i slam the gas. on the HWY i can get as high as 18 tho and its also very resonably priced

 

[wcjp]

I was talking with one of the local guys about his injectors on his 05'/G56 4x4. He had his stock injectors Extrude Honed for 90hp. It added 73hp and mileage went up about 1. 5mpg.



The shop that did the work was DDP.

http://www.dyno-mitediesel.com/door/

 

[TSpecht]

I use the TST box, and if I can manage to keep it on a lower setting (not higher than 4) and keep my foot out of the throttle it seems to help mileage a bit.

Of course there are some basic ways to help fuel economy with no spending at all. It's no fun to drive that way, but so far it appears by keeping EGT to ~600, boost under 6psi, and not exceeding about 1900 RPM is the key to good mileage. I'm still testing this theory however. Of course that means one can't be in too big of a hurry and/or need to leave slightly earlier to make up for it. On the expressway or infact anytime I need to operate 65mph+ mileage drops off quickly, partly due to how fast the engine is spinning and aerodynamic drag starts becoming a large factor also.

The other thing you may want to do is hook it up to something heavy and drive it like you stole it for a few hundred miles, that should help finish up the break-in and get things worn in where they need to be.

Of course the above is merely my opinion and others may or may not agree...

 

[p-Bar]

It's going to take 30k + to break that engine in and start seeing some good mileage. I don't do much long haul but had the chance to this last weekend. I towed a Ford Festiva on a car dolly from no. Sandiego to Bakersfield , about 220 mi round trip and drove at 65 got about 18 mpg. Topped off tank and drove home with dolly only and got 22mpg. Don't rely on the overhead for accurate mpg you must hand calculate. my overhead said I was getting 28. 2 mpg. See my sig for my mods. Give it time

 

[RIDGERACING]

Looking for same here!

 

[JFaulkner]

IMO You can pretty much forget about good mileage until you get quite a few miles on it, like 15000 or so. I have about 16000 on my 05 and it still stinks, a friend had an 04. 5 with a little over 20,000 and was much better. I tend to have a heavy foot though.

 

[Sorensen]

I put a afe stage 2 on my 05 and got about . 75mpg, Then I added an aeroturbine muffler and got NOTHING at all. I also put a rokkteck sensor on it and got between . 5 to 1 mpg, I only have about 6k on my truck right now so I don't expect much yet either

 

[cerberusiam]

If you want better mileage, drive slower. Sorry, but thats seems to be the best option.



Exhaust and intake mods to a stock truck don't seem to make much power or mpg gains. The cheap easy things we used to do to the 12V and the early 24V trucks have pretty much been addressed. The RokTech sensor helps some and a better air filter helps if you are pushing the truck but for mpg's it doesn't offset the cost. Some fo the programmers will make a difference for some but the results are all over the place.



A lot simply has to do with driving style and where the driving is done. "Tape a pine cone to your accelerator and drive barefoot" is still the best mod for mileage there is. Stop and Go is just not good no matter what you do. Hiway speeds that exceed 70 mph drop mileage considerably. The reality is you bought a powerful truck to work with. Economy was not included when the truck was built, not that it can't be but that is a whole other subject.



Not tryin' to rain on your parade but "It is what it is" and anything else is going to lighten your wallet considerably.

 

[BillGotthelf]

He's right about driving slower and your mileage will increase in our trucks. Also mpg does tend to get a little better when you get some miles (15,000+) on them. The timing boxes (like tst) get better mileage as long as you don't keep your foot in it. But you can buy alot of fuel for the beans it costs. I did hear that TST is working on the mileage problems with some new stuff. I doubt you will see a mileage increase by changing out the air filter system, I never did on any generation truck. As far as the Rokktech I am not sold on it either as I have seen as many neg reports as positives.

 

[TSpecht]

Basically you'll want to keep the RPM's down as much as possible without lugging, and keep boost pressure down. This unfortunately means accelerating fairly slowly and not exceeding about 1900 RPM or so, from what I've experienced extended running at that RPM level and above mileage seems to drop off quickly.

 

[RaymondSmith]

In the hilly terrain I drive in I have realized a 1. 2 mpg gain over the same route using the tow/haul mode all of the time. I drive 42 miles a day over the same route which is about 15 miles of freeway at 60mph and about 27 miles on secondary roads at 45+mph. Overall fuel economy on my route using tow/haul adverages between 18. 1 to 18. 4mpg hand calc.

 

[wcjp]

Latest TDR has an article on increasing fuel mileage with the 3rd Gens.

 

[MMoroney]

If you are in a cold climate, your fuel supplier may have winter blend fuel, which will decrease your mileage. Synthetic oils throughout the truck will help. A "winter front cover" will also help in cold climates to keep the heat in and increase your fuel mileage. Mike

 

[DPKetchum]

www.rokktech.com best bang for your buck. Rest is getting MORE miles on the truck. Lots MORE.

 

[Parks]

This thread may look a little funny because I merged the same threads that MAtkinson started. Same questions. Two threads?



Brandon

 

[DieselFiend]

My milage SUCKS! I've been strapping the pine cone to the gas peddle for the last two tanks and rarely see anything above 16 mpg. I drive 3 miles stop and go then 9 miles highway then about 3 more miles stop and go going to work. My edge/attitude isn't helping me out much either. More power but little in the way of MPG. Oh, I've also got 18K on the truck and I towed a 9,000 camper last summer. So, I'm thinking break in is over and this is as good as it gets. Love the truck, disapointed with the milage. In Feb, I started a record of my milage that I'll pass on in about six months or so just to show you the curve.

 

[pwr2tow]

My milage SUCKS! I've been strapping the pine cone to the gas peddle for the last two tanks and rarely see anything above 16 mpg. I drive 3 miles stop and go then 9 miles highway then about 3 more miles stop and go going to work. .

Try that type of commute with a gas truck and see how well you do.

Do a commute of a few hundred miles all freeway with no stop and go at 65 MPH, then check fuel mileage I'll bet you'll be pleasantly surprised. When people report their fuel mileage that's usually the type of driving they have done, that way they can report the best which makes them look good.

 

[Grizzly]

well i really like my quadzilla XZT module. Its a 65HP chip but i would say my mileage during the winter fuel months so far has jumped up about 1. 5-2. 5 miles per gallon depending on idle time and how much i slam the gas. on the HWY i can get as high as 18 tho and its also very resonably priced

If you slam the gas does that mean that you have a gas engine. If so which gasser do you have?