New truck, fist impressions

[JDHaze]

Finally got my truck last week after 4 months of waiting. 3500 600,quad cab,4x4,6-speed,srw,pat. blue,3:73 anti-spin, and a few other small options. I have had a 95 3500 and a 01 2500 both 4:11 auto's. In my personal opinion this truck is miles ahead of both. The build quality is what I noticed first. Excellent!

This truck is so much more refined than the other two yet it feels like it can handle so much more. First purchase is going to have to be a RADAR detector!! This thing will fly. Very impressed with the power, especially to be new and tight. My previous experiences with the other two trucks shows that these motors take a while to loosen up and really go. Man, if this one does the same I'm in trouble. Which brings me to another subject, Mileage.

Now in the days and months leading up to my trucks arrival I saw all these post on mileage concerns on the 600. People talking about getting 13,14,15 mpg with 1000 miles and being upset. Both of my previous trucks started at 13. 5 and 14. 0(95 and 01 respectivly) so this suprised me to hear people complaining. My 95 was getting 20. 5 when I sold it with 31000 miles and the 01 was getting 19. 5 when I sold it with 18000 miles. I havn't run my first tank out yet but overhead says 16. 5 and I've got about a 1/4 tank left with 435 miles on the odometer so this sounds about right. Much better than the two previous trucks started. Will this truck loosen up and get better with each oil change like the other two? Only time will tell. And the post injection ping issue. Well yes I can hear it but only at low speeds, 1600-1900 rpm, radio off, a/c-heat off, windows up and no wind noise. Otherwise I never notice it. Some people are a little too picky in my opinion. Sorry for the long post but just wanted to give you a honest,competent, and un-biased review of what seems to be the best truck I've ever owned. Dodge really did their homework on this one. Oh, forgot to metion that best I can tell I don't have the 70mph vibe or drone.

 

[thames1948]

If I was getting 16. 5 mpg's I wouldn't be picky either.

 

[OHale]

Where are you located Ric? I am trying to correlate wait time with location, if that's possible.



Thanks.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

I only got 15-16 on my first tank or two with my '03 shortbed 2-wheel drive but a fair amount of that was running around town. Highway was about 19. Now I'm about 18 in town and 21-22 highway.



My '01 was similar, didn't break 20 until after 3000 miles. It was also a shortbed 4x2.



Vaughn

 

[klenger]

I think the myth of the 600's haveing low fuel economy is crumbling.

 

[JDHaze]

Ohale, I live in N. C. near Charlotte. I think most of the hold up was when they put it in storage waiting for railcar. Ordered on Feb 18, D-1 on April 1(due to the small dealership not having much allocation) completed april 27 and shipped on may 18. Arrived at dealer on June 2. I found insight to be right on the money as far as estimated time deliveries. As far as the fuel mileage issue, I do agree with the members getting bad mpg(10,11,12,13), their must be a reason, but you also have to remember these trucks have gained some weight over the years and even more HP/TQ. Not to mention some people drive more aggressively than others. I'll keep posting numbers as I get more miles. One more note, my engine build date was 4/17. They must really run a tight ship on the shipment of these things.

 

[thames1948]

Originally posted by klenger

I think the myth of the 600's haveing low fuel economy is crumbling.

I only wish it was a myth, but I fill my tank and ck my mpg's and drive it real easy. No myth here, just lousy mpg's

 

[rfoust]

I wonder if your Kalifornia fuel isn't as good as the rest?? I get varying MPG's from station to station and from what I have heard there is something different about your fuel out there.

 

[OHale]

Hi Ric,



Thanks for the info. My truck moved right along also until it was marooned in the port in NJ. Its been there 3 weeks. Now with Insight down I'm not sure whats going on.



Congratulations on your fine truck!

 

[RMH]

see sig for trk... my last fillup was 16. 7 all hand cal'ed. now have just over 15k miles.

 

[Apence]

yeah its not a myth that 600's get bad mpg its just that not all 600's get bad mpg i am one of the unlucky ones that gets 13 mpg