One year anniversary

[SHobbs]

After one year I currently have over 27k miles on the truck with not a single issue. It has been back to the dealership for flashes to the air ride, key fob and pcm. Darn thing runs like a top. I have all my fuel records from my previous truck as well as my current one and I did a little comparison to see how much the Eco has saved me. My last truck was a Ram Cummins 3500 dually, six speed manual with a 3.73 rear end. I added up the number of gallons and the total cost for each tank of fuel for the first 5k miles.

Ram 3500
335.78 gallons,,,$1250.96
534 miles to 5327 miles
Eco 1500
211.25 gallons,,,$765.18
444 miles to 5356 miles

 

[Turbopower]

Interesting

 

[R_Walter]

Yes, interesting also. But I assume the data you're showing for the 3500 was in its role of hauler for your fifth wheel. And now that you've gotten rid of the 3500 apparently, what will you use to pull the fifth wheel?

 

[SHobbs]

Actually, I didn't do any towing with it. I only have a couple weeks a year that I could travel with the rv, I haven't towed it in a while so I just didn't see the need for the 3500 anymore. If I needed to move it, I could get it moved or if I sold it the new owner could move it.

 

[TDRGuy]

So, forget the $$$ cause fuel has come down in price.

3500 mpg=14.3

1500mpg=23.3

Is that correct?

RP

 

[SHobbs]

Not sure if I follow your question.

 

[jjdiesel]

So, forget the $$$ cause fuel has come down in price.

3500 mpg=14.3

1500mpg=23.3

Is that correct?

RP

Looks correct by my math

 

[TDRGuy]

Thanks, jj.

If I'm just making the 200 mile trip on the interstate to grandma's house (average speed 75mph):
2010 2500 truck=19mpg
2114 1500 truck=24mpg

 

[TCDiesel]

MY ED average MPG is about 9MPG more then My Big Rams Both City/HWY My Big Rams average 11-13MPG City 17-19HWY, ED 21-23MPG City 25-28MPG HWY it about 45% better mileage.

Big Rams 50 gallons @ $2.75 =$137.50
ED 3.0 28 gallons @ $2.75 = $77.00
That's a $60.00 savings Per 50 gallons purchased

My ED will save me about $250.00 Per Month during My busy summer Travels

 

[TCDiesel]

Better Pictures......

 

[RVTRKN]

I'm glad everything has worked well for you, that's a good savings as well. However the comparison doesn't work. The capability of the 3500 has so much more potential than the Eco Diesel. It's comparing apples to oranges.

 

[TCDiesel]

I here Ya. I was driving either My Hemi's 1500 or big Rams W/Cummins, So its a big savings bottom line. Why drive the big Rams W/Cummins / Hemi's 1500 when the ED is fit for the Job. The comparison does work on bottom line cost.

 

[JerryNelson]

How did you do on oil changes. Did you wait the full 10,000 miles before you changed it ? or did you change it before.

 

[SHobbs]

Got some new numbers.
This time I looked at 25,000 miles to 30,000 miles..
3500
328 gallons,,,$1157.21,,,,filled up 15 times
25,317 miles to 30,164...4847 miles 14.77mpg
Average 5-6 days between fill ups

1500
204.64 gallons,,,$514.12,,,,filled up 10 times
25,340 miles to 30,188...4884 miles 23.69mpg.
Average 8-10 days between fill up

I put 8406 miles on the previous change, the oil life meter was showing 15% at that time.
My last tank was 27.72 mpg hand calculated.

I understand the comparison between the two as far as power, I do miss the Cummins it's a great powerplant and dependable. If the Ecodiesel had not been produced I would have kept the Cummins. So far the Ecodiesel has proven itself to me, I have had no issues to date mechanically, I do have an electrical gremlin that appears on occasion. Every now and then the four wheel drive buttons, and the center stack buttons ( air ride, traction control and tow/haul ) do not illuminate and will not function when pressed it's like they are dead. If I turn off the truck, pull the key and wait a minute then restart they illuminate and everything works like it should.

 

[sag2]

I do have an electrical gremlin that appears on occasion. Every now and then the four wheel drive buttons, and the center stack buttons ( air ride, traction control and tow/haul ) do not illuminate and will not function when pressed it's like they are dead. If I turn off the truck, pull the key and wait a minute then restart they illuminate and everything works like it should.

Next time it happens hit the door lock button and see if the center stack wakes up without having to cycle the key.

 

[RUSSELL5000]

I am rather a newby, and I don't understand the comparison here.

I would expect a 1500 would deliver better fuel economy than a 3500 dually. If you are only hauling yourself around then why use a 3500 dually - or a 1500 for that matter?

I haul myself around in Jeep Patriot. Far lower initial cost, similar fuel economy, but with gasoline (about $.30 less per gallon than diesel fuel here).;

How can one compare such different capabilities?

 

[SHobbs]

The 1500 is why I don't have the 3500 anymore. I just didn't need it anymore and the 1500 offered me the economy I wanted and still be able to have a truck with a diesel engine. Right now gasoline is $.20/gallon higher than diesel, in just one year I have saved enough on fuel to pay for the Ecodiesel option. If anything I am sharing some real world numbers to show just how economical this option is.

 

[TDRGuy]

I am rather a newby, and I don't understand the comparison here.

I would expect a 1500 would deliver better fuel economy than a 3500 dually. If you are only hauling yourself around then why use a 3500 dually - or a 1500 for that matter?

I haul myself around in Jeep Patriot. Far lower initial cost, similar fuel economy, but with gasoline (about $.30 less per gallon than diesel fuel here).;

How can one compare such different capabilities?

Not a comparison, SHobbs was just sharing observations.

RP

 

[SHobbs]

Next time it happens hit the door lock button and see if the center stack wakes up without having to cycle the key.

Ok, it did it again tonight. Got in the truck, key in turned to run and saw nothing. I left it in run, engine not running and tried the locks, nothing happened. I tried the door buttons and the key fob to see if they worked, nothing. Turn the key to off, removed it and hit the lock button on the fob then unlock. Put the key in, turn to run and presto everything lit up.

I tried just turning it off, removing the key and trying again twice before I cycled the locks. Once I cycled the locks every thing woke up. This started with just the four wheel drive buttons and now it includes the center stack.