Outstanding mileage with an 05?

[TX Gooseneck]

I drove to Grand Forks, ND last weekend and pulling a single goose (7000lbs) I was seeing about 13. 8mpg. Coming back empty I was averaging 23-24mpg running 75+. I had over 780 miles before I got fuel. Just curious if anyone else was seeing this. I haven't repeated that high, but getting 21-22 pretty consistently.



Go figure.

 

[RMalone]

Real nice numbers, the best I've done empty is about 19 on the freeway at 70mph.

 

[ERohloff]

With only 3k on the odo doing 20-21 non-towing, easy driving and high 19's mixing in some city driving.

Towed a 8000lb boat 350 miles this week, again easy driving and did 14. 3mpg. All hand calc'ed numbers.

Bob...

 

[Flat_Lick_Dodge]

I would be tickled to death to get 16 consistantly. I have 2300 miles and maybe it isnt broken in yet i dont know. If I got 23 24 mpg I woul think I was in my vw. Mine is a drw. Is yours a drw or a srw and did you have a 70 mph tail wind?

 

[Sled Dog]

I'm with you Flat Lick. And when I drive "Like I know where I'm going," I get 14. 3 empty. 13K on the OD.



Same set up as you with SRW.

 

[Turbo Kidd]

I must be a sucker too! I have an 03 2500 4x4 305/555, 373's and I can get 17. 5MPG - 18. 5MPG running empty on the road, not bad, but I would love more. Now city driving, that is a joke! I get 12. 5MPG - 13. 5MPG, all hand calculated too. What's my problem?

 

[CHolman]

I can get about 22 with the cruise set at 60 on flat land. I average about 18 mpg @ 75 wit the cruise set. Towing 6k I average 14 @ 65...

 

[lilthumper]

3rd tank of gas. Mixed driving, half empty, half pulling 18 ft boat. 13. 8 mpg. hand calculated.

 

[KNeeley]

With 2700 on the clock. 4. 10's with 35" tires. Pinion factor reset to correct rev. per mile. Running a mixture of back roads and red lights yields between 21-22 mpg. All back road driving 22-23. That is hand cal. Be gentle with the right foot and keep the rpm's in the sweet spot. :-laf

 

[TX Gooseneck]

I've got 42k on this one. I drive pretty hard so I'm not sure what gives, my 04. 5 never sees this kind of mileage



It's a 3500 drw 6-speed 3. 73 equipped truck.



I thought it was a fluke (still may be) but I've seen this kind of mileage the last 4 tanks empty. Nice never touching a gas station from SD to OK.

 

[RMachida]

You need to take it it the dealer to get that mileage down to where it's supposed to be

 

[Grizzly]

Best way to increase your fuel mileage is to lie about it. That's what my Brother-in-Law does with his Ford V-10 gasser. My Dodge/Cummins does poorly compare to what most of you are getting.

 

[KCrispens]

Best way to increase your fuel mileage is to lie about it. That's what my Brother-in-Law does with his Ford V-10 gasser. My Dodge/Cummins does poorly compare to what most of you are getting.

I agree, the best I have seen to date running empty and all hi-way driving was 18. Usually I am getting between 16 & 17 all hand calc'd. Currently have 4900 miles on the old power plant.

 

[KNeeley]

Best way to increase your fuel mileage is to lie about it. That's what my Brother-in-Law does with his Ford V-10 gasser. My Dodge/Cummins does poorly compare to what most of you are getting.

Welcome to ride with me for a week and calculate it yourself Stop and go will drink fuel to no limit and be gentle with the right pedal. On the way to and from work I will pull the engine down 1000-1200 before even think about shifting. Done that with a 6 speed Dmax and always got more mpg than anyone one else.



Oh by the way, I got a couple certifications from Caterpillar for on-highway truck engines in performance and fuel economy :-laf PAR certified



Yep, I work on Cat engines and drive a Cummins :--)

 

[milehigh.o.]

I would love to trade vehicles with anyone that is getting over 18mpg. I just don't see how it can happen unless we break everthing down from altitude, 2wd vs 4wd, 6spd vs auto, chip, intake, exhaust, tire size, srw vs drw, driver and then see what works and what does not.



I tried keeping the truck below 1600rpm and this did get me some better milage, but also just about got me killed on the freeway or killed somebody, I felt unsafe. In the Denver metro area @ 5:30 am people tend to fly down the freeway about 75-80mph. As far as city driving goes, I don't see how anyone can get better than 15mpg unless you let the truck idle in take off and take a mile to get up to 30 mph.



JMOP



Russ

 

[PWelsh]

Running empty back and forth to work (26 miles run on I-35) I'm averaging 19. 7 mpg at 65 to 70mph. With Lance Camper & 18 foot boat all loaded up I'm getting 13 to 14mpg. Beats the heck out of my two previous Fords.

Paul

 

[mlandis2]

19-21 empty on the highway at 68. 16-17 around town. 13-14 or so towing 8500#.



5300 miles on the clock. Its increasing little by little as the mileage goes up

 

[Will24]

Dad's 04. 5 (bought 5/04) has 39k on it, he gets about 17. 3 going to work, mixed back roads and highway, about 60 miles each way. Truck has stock tires, and is 48re equipped

 

[brods]

I'm skeptical too. How many are just going from instantaneous readings on the overhead? I can get those numbers from the overhead only if I reset the overhead while at speed. Hell, I can get 99 mpg coasting down a hill :-laf



Also hand calcs need to be consistent, short fill one tank and you'll have great mileage. If someone gets 20+ mpg hand calculated over 4 or 5 tanks in a row that would be impressive.



Those that are sure they get such high mileage all the time, have you checked your speedo? Mine reads a bit slow, maybe yours reads fast?



I don't get near that mileage with an early built 05 without the reflash. Around here you are road kill if you tried to accelerate at the rate of an old VW Rabbit diesel! Thats about the only way I can see getting any kind of decent mpg out of a 7000 lb truck.

 

[JamesPhillips]

I'm with milehigh. The best I've seen in my 04. 5 is right at 19. 0. That's empty and highway < 70 mph. Pulling my 9K lb 5th wheel, I get 10 - 11 at best. I have 8k miles on the truck and had the TSB reflash done. I'm happy with the truck but disappointed with the mileage. I previously had a 96 2wd that was getting 22 - 23 highway and 15 - 16 pulling the 5th wheel. Oh well, still better than driving a Ford or Chevy.