Normal Fuel Mileage?

[SteveOsborn]

New to this forum and not trying to ask a question that has probably been answered, and I did do a search and didn't find a lot of info so hope nobody minds me asking.



I have a 2008 2500 quad cab 6. 7 4x4 3. 73gears. Around town driving at an easy go pace really babying the truck I can squeeze out 14mpg. On the road doing 75-80 I get 14mpg. Is this normal. I have all current updates on the truck from dealer. It has had turbo cleaned and all that wrap stuff. Fyi truck is stock.



Thanks

 

[FFeiller]

welcome to the forum.

two topics that really get going are mpg and what weight you can get away with hauling.



so many variables. i'd guess that someone will jump on this one that has a similiar rig to compare with. the 3. 73



my 5500 has 4. 88's suprising i get about 14 at 70mpg with a c&c

 

[Jim W]

Welcome to the forum.

I agree with FFeiller, also this is always a hot topic on any forum. A lot has to do with your driving style and how the truck is configured. Mileage will vary from summer fuel to winter fuel and if you pull a large trailer.

My truck is a 2008, 2500HD Mega cab 6 sp Auto with 3. 73 gears 4X4 and the tire size is LT265/70R17E, this will all make a difference on the mileage reported.

I have hand calculated all my fuel mileage from day one, Nov 07 till now. The mileage ranges from a low of 9. 3 MPG (Towing) to 17 MPG, combined driving 70% city and 30% highway. I did have a max of 14. 2 MPG before I installed a Smarty program for my Dodge. My best now is 17 MPG.

This is way better then my 2001 6. 0L gas 3/4 ton Chevy pickup, I never got above 12 MPG average with that truck. When pulling my 5er I got as low as 7 MPG.

So I am very happy with the fuel mileage for this 8,000 LB vehicle.

 

[Grizzly]

Welcome to TDR. It's a great site.



The mileage you're getting sounds realistic for a new truck. You don't say how many miles you have on the clock. The mileage on both of my Dodge/Cummins trucks increased some after I passed the magic threshold of 15K miles.



Another point to remember is that at 75 to 80 mph, you're not going to get the mileage of 60 mph.



Towing mileage will vary depending on size and weight of trailer and speed.

 

[mules4me]

Just purchased a new 09 w/ 3. 73 & 68RFE and first trip I drove w/just the truck no load and got(hand calculated) 17. 3 for apprx 240 miles with speed limit at 65 max. 3 uphill grades included. then I jumped on freeway from Fruitland Id to Pocatello Id and got 18. 6 and ran at 75with only one potty break. I was amazed as had heard I would not get that great of mileage. computer shows 20. 7. The faster I go the better mileage I get. Of course the freeway was w/out any hills . Have 2300 miles on trk now. very happy.

Oo. Oo. Oo. Oo.



Dave



better check and see if I need to drain any excess fuel out before it overflows

 

[SNGLESHOT]

Welcom to TDR!! Our trucks are identical. I have 30 K miles on it and the mileage is great. I get 17-18 around city but freeway driving with hills included is anywhere from 19. 5 to 22 now. I was getting better mileage out in Arizona but now back in PA with more hills I guess makes a BIG difference. Towing 18K trailer I got between 13-14mpg avg across country on a 2200 mile trip. Sounds like you are in the ball park for mileage and it seems like my truck likes certain speeds around 55-60 as that seems to get me my best mileage. Up in the 70's and 80's I will still get 18-19. Of course, like the others stated above, individual driving habits will make it vary. Can't wait till my truck actually gets broke in. YOUR truck isnt even close to being broke in. You will see better mileage with that. So many variables factor in: Air pressure in tires, type of tires, type of oil, bed covers, synthetic diff lube, etc etc. Hang in there. It gets better.

 

[SteveOsborn]

Thanks for all the info, I have always been a huge CTD fan. I just hand calculated my mixed driving at 13. 4 mpg. I am a little dissapointed but do love the truck. Around town here is mesa, az we have timed traffic lights so If I average 42mph I usually make it through all the lights, of course that doesn't always happen. I was so used to getting 17mpg averages and up out of my 5. 9's. I will be patient and hope my mileage increases. It sure seem that after I had it in to the dealer and they reflashed and cleaned and wrapped etc etc that my mileage got worse, probably in my head I know.



Thanks for all the info.



Oh yeah do you really think different oil can make for better mpg?

 

[Whiteranch04]

Thanks for all the info, I have always been a huge CTD fan. I just hand calculated my mixed driving at 13. 4 mpg. I am a little dissapointed but do love the truck. Around town here is mesa, az we have timed traffic lights so If I average 42mph I usually make it through all the lights, of course that doesn't always happen. I was so used to getting 17mpg averages and up out of my 5. 9's. I will be patient and hope my mileage increases. It sure seem that after I had it in to the dealer and they reflashed and cleaned and wrapped etc etc that my mileage got worse, probably in my head I know.



Thanks for all the info.



Oh yeah do you really think different oil can make for better mpg?

Your milage will go downhill and stay at about 13 miles per gallon unloaded and loaded about 9 1/2, the 6. 7 is a fuel pig and always will, 5. 9 milage is avail if you delte the emission set up.

 

[SteveOsborn]

Wow, why so much all over the board of people achieving such great mileage with the 6. 7 and some not? Sure is confusing.

 

[Jim W]

I believe that you need to track every tank of fuel and then do your hand calculations. My fuel mileage may vary between a . 5 gallon on every fill up. A lot has to do on how you fill up your tank and when you shut the fuel nozzle off. First click of the nozzle or do you top off the tank?

Last year my total combine fuel mileage was 11. 59 MPG. This was for all highway driving, towing and city driving. The time period was from Nov 07 till Nov 08, 12,741 miles. This year so far my mileage is 13. 04 MPG, 24,018 miles. This is from Nov 08 till now I believe that I may fill up one more time before Nov and this may change by a tenth or so.

My spread sheet covers the total miles driven, total fuel used, miles between fill-up, price per gallon and total spent for each tank. I then add up total cost, total miles driven and total gallons used to get the combined total mileage. This also gives me a cost per mile for fuel used.

In a separate column I note any changes to the truck so I can tell if there is an improvement and what caused this improvement.

To me this is the only way to do it and to report actual real world fuel mileage for me.

 

[HBarlow]

I'm completely satisfied with the performance, reliabilty, and fuel economy of my ISB6. 7. I have no idea what the fuel mileage is and spend no time thinking about it. If somebody asks me I tell them I don't record the purchases or mileage, don't calculate the fuel usage, and don't know. It's probably about 10mpg towing and 14-16mpg empty but that's only a guess. It may be less. It is what it is.

My '01 with manual six speed and 3. 54 gears got great mileage. My '06 ISB5. 9 was less efficient. This one is probably even less efficient. I can't change it so never give it a thought. Why obsess over something we can't change?

 

[DHuffman]

Your milage will go downhill and stay at about 13 miles per gallon unloaded and loaded about 9 1/2, the 6. 7 is a fuel pig and always will, 5. 9 milage is avail if you delte the emission set up.

Not true.



My overall average after 7,800 miles is 16. 7 mpg. Best tank was 18. 1, worst was 13. 7.



My 5. 9L averaged 17. 3 mpg over 45,000 miles.



I am satisfied with the mileage and performance of the 6. 7L at this time.

 

[RVTRKN]

SteveOsborn, wellcome to TDR, and yes the MPG reports are so far apart from one another, thats normal. You will have too calculate your own, but don't get frustrated yet, your true MPG wont be known until about your 20K mile mark due to breakin on your CTD. Just enjoy the awesome power and reliability of the CTD. I have a 3500 C&C so you can't compare to mine but it is 8-9 MPG towing at 22K and 14-16 empty at 10K GVW. My 04. 5 2500 is pre DPF and gets a lot better as you can imagine, at 20. 7 MPG empty at 70MPH and 13-15 towing at 21K GCVW. City driving I ignore because it is so variable. There are a lot of people that will argue those numbers, but thats what I get.

 

[Grizzly]

I don't get great fuel mileage, towing or empty. Certainly not as good as many of you get.



Remember, the best way to increase your fuel mileage is to lie about it!

 

[SteveOsborn]

Thanks for all the great information and replys. I am not one to modify things and mess with warranty and engine light and overall concern. I do get frustrated thinking the EPA/government has established emission laws that are supposed to save fuel and create less particulates but now we are burning more fuel it seems and spending more money on the fuel, makes no sense.

 

[Jim W]

I'm completely satisfied with the performance, reliabilty, and fuel economy of my ISB6. 7. I have no idea what the fuel mileage is and spend no time thinking about it. If somebody asks me I tell them I don't record the purchases or mileage, don't calculate the fuel usage, and don't know. It's probably about 10mpg towing and 14-16mpg empty but that's only a guess. It may be less. It is what it is.



My '01 with manual six speed and 3. 54 gears got great mileage. My '06 ISB5. 9 was less efficient. This one is probably even less efficient. I can't change it so never give it a thought. Why obsess over something we can't change?

Harvey,

I and others are not obsessing over fuel mileage so we can complain about it, at least I am not.

I track my mileage and other items on my truck for a trend analysis. I use this as a base line to know if issues will arise that need to be looked at. I guess this is the engineer in me coming out. I was trained to use trend analysis to identify potential failures and to avoid them.

This is very similar to what other user are using the oil analysis from testing companies for. The testing company uses trend analysis to identify what may fail in the engine by identifying high wear items in the engine oil analysis.

I am just trying to be pro-active less expense to fix before a complete failure occurs.

Jim

 

[Grizzly]

Jim W, I agree with you to a point as one engineer to another. I keep a record of my mileage by hand calculating. A low spike in mileage could indicate a potential problem, which could be a bad or low tire, or it could be bad fuel. The problem could be almost anything including the weather. You on the other hand seem to be a little paranoid by over calculating and finite analyzing the mileage thing. Loosen up and enjoy the ride.

 

[TulsaOkie]

after 288k, 12. 6 towing. 16. 8 no trailer

 

[Grizzly]

Tulsa, you're an honest man. My hat's off to you.

 

[PFranzese]

after 288k, 12. 6 towing. 16. 8 no trailer

10,000 and miles about the same, occasionally a tank around 18. haven't seen the 20mpg's that others have claimed. But I didn't buy it for mileage I bought it to tow my Jeep in comfort.