Real Fuel Economy (MPG's) Please!

[Prairie Dog]

I've been running the TST on level 3/3 and keeping it at 65 on the highway (my commute is about 75% freeway). Last tank I got 19. 54 MPG hand calculated. W/O the TST the best I get is about 17-18.

 

[JChott]

Mine has crept up from 15mpg to 19mpg (on the latest tank) in the 6k miles that I've had it for my commute. I go 25 miles each way at around 70mph for 3/4 of it, 45mph stop and go the rest. Driving at steady 75-80 on the interstate, it gets around 16-17. I live about 500 feet higher than where I work and mileage is always higher when I stop at work than at home, so the small climb seems to affect it by 1mpg or so. Still seems to be creeping up at this point. I shift around 2k rpms and generally take it easy with it. Love the mileage for a 7500 lb truck and love the power towing in the mountains when I stick my foot in it.



I'm hoping it will break the 20mpg mark when it's fully broken in.



Jim

 

[SLinse]

My 555 and 14,000 miles I was getting around 19-20. Now I'm down to 13 hand calc. I can't believe the milage drop. I'm taking it in on thurs to get it checked out. I'm sure they will blame it on the winter fuel and say it's normal. It's worth a shot though. I'm kinda disappointed!! At least it's not 7-8 I was getting with the hemi...

 

[DGibbs]

My '03 HO is currently averaging 18. 75 - 19. 5 hand calculated. That's my unloaded commute mileage. My commute is 64 miles round trip with mixed city/freeway driving. I've got 21,500 miles on the odometer. When I'm on the freeway, I stay around 2000 RPM's unless I need to pass someone or get out of someone else's way!



Besides adding miles to the truck, I did notice a slight improvement after installing the Donaldson muffler.

 

[100 Proof]

Here is my data for the last year. It's pretty easy to pick out the tanks I was towing with. Sorry for the crummy formatting.



100 Proof



Date____miles_gal_calc_ind__odo

10/20/03 492 29. 8 16. 5 12. 6 8170

10/27/03 257 15. 7 16. 4 16. 4 8427

11/14/03 509 27. 2 18. 7 18. 5 8936

12/04/03 445 23. 4 19. 0 18. 5 9381

12/07/03 221 9. 2 24. 1 19. 8 9602

12/30/03 474 28. 0 16. 9 16. 5 10076

01/15/04 421 25. 5 16. 5 16. 2 10497

01/22/04 280 19. 3 14. 5 15. 3 10777

01/22/04 200 21. 0 9. 5 8. 9 10977

01/22/04 206 20. 7 10. 0 10. 2 11183

01/25/04 411 30. 1 13. 7 13. 3 11594

01/25/04 240 31. 1 7. 7 7. 9 11834

01/25/04 267 25. 5 10. 5 10. 5 12101

01/31/04 273 20. 0 13. 6 12. 6 12374

02/05/04 306 15. 1 20. 3 19. 9 12680

02/20/04 515 26. 7 19. 3 18. 5 13195

03/05/04 501 28. 3 17. 7 17. 0 13696

03/08/04 260 12. 1 21. 4 18. 1 13956

03/13/04 430 28. 2 15. 3 15. 8 14386

04/08/04 537 27. 2 19. 7 17. 4 14923

04/12/04 345 16. 4 21. 0 20. 5 15268

04/21/04 446 26. 8 16. 7 16. 2 15714

04/28/04 423 22. 4 18. 8 18. 0 16137

05/06/04 256 14. 4 17. 8 17. 0 16393

05/14/04 273 15. 1 18. 1 18. 4 16666

05/16/04 389 28. 7 13. 6 12. 1 17055

06/02/04 463 27. 7 16. 7 16. 8 17518

06/06/04 89 4. 2 21. 4 17. 2 17607

06/13/04 308 20. 7 14. 9 14. 0 17915

06/27/04 548 27. 4 20. 0 18. 5 18463

07/02/04 136 5. 7 23. 7 17. 9 18599

07/19/04 483 22. 4 21. 6 20. 3 19520

07/31/04 449 23. 9 18. 8 19. 2 19969

08/07/04 187 9. 4 20. 0 19. 0 20156

08/07/04 284 14. 3 19. 8 18. 5 20440

08/13/04 421 18. 9 22. 3 20. 2 20861

08/13/04 307 16. 2 18. 9 17. 3 21168

08/26/04 412 24. 3 16. 9 16. 6 21580

08/27/04 46 3. 2 14. 3 18. 8 21626

08/29/04 260 15. 5 16. 8 14. 5 21886

09/14/04 516 27. 9 18. 5 18. 5 22402

09/15/04 78 4. 8 16. 4 16. 1 22480

09/15/04 228 19. 5 11. 7 13. 0 22708

09/17/04 226 18. 7 12. 1 14. 0 22934

09/19/04 192 16. 7 11. 5 13. 0 23126

09/20/04 270 22. 9 11. 8 14. 7 23396

10/09/04 475 25. 0 19. 0 18. 9 23871

10/19/04 345 16. 8 20. 6 20. 0 24216

10/24/04 375 28. 0 13. 4 13. 0 24591

 

[nitrox2595]

Im dizzy from reading the last post But look at it this way a new V8 F150 only gets 16 City and 18 HWY. And i just saw one listed at a dealer for $39,000 HA HA

 

[Big_H316]

My '03 3500 drw 4x4 quad cab with H. O. and 6-speed has 140,000 miles on it and I can consistently get 18-21 mpgs on the highway. However, I had the same mpg's that you showed until the truck hit about 45,000. It'll go up with the miles .

 

[Jengle]

I just rolled 30k on mine and the mileage seems to still be creeping up. I was averaging 19. 5 for mixed driving, but since the job location changed, I am commuting to DC. In the mornings, I can run pretty much steady at 55-60, but the evening gets me to idling most of the 57 miles home. I have seen 20 running 75-80 since the TST box went on. Over all, I think the box gives me 2-3mpg improvement, running at level 3. But when I ran 75-80 level 3 had the overhead creeping downward, until I turned the box up to 5s when it went back to the original level. The overhead is about 2 mpg less than actual. All my quoted numbers above are hand calculated. I did see 22 once, when held to 55, but it was in the mountains of KY, some pretty good hills to climb. That was before the TST. When the truck was on its first 2k, I hauled a load of wood that scaled 4k back to VA from CT. I averaged 19. 6 mpg for that trip, before the mods.

 

[Yo Hoot]

14/20 on the average

 

[EbarA]

I have about 40k on 03 555, 4x4, 3. 73, long bed quad cab. In the city the milage is 17. 5-19 mpg depending on how much stop and go I see. I run with the pack taking off or slightly ahead. The milage also seems to drop off a bit if the motor does not get and stay warm because of short runs around town.



On the highway I get between 18. 5-22 mpg depending on head wind and speed. Basically what everyone else has pointed out on this post.



I have drilled the air box and use an Amsoil filter. I also have DPP 4" exhaust with was good for about 1 mph improvement.



Always using gas before this truck, I am still getting use to and learning about these motors. At one point the milage droped off some, I checke the air filter and it was packed! From my reading and experience, these things pull a lot more air then what the gassers do. An airfilter on one of these motors at 10,000 miles has sucked up as much dirt as a gas motor at 40,000 miles, or so I think.

 

[robobx]

over the last 33,000 miles I'm averaging 19. 2mpg. which ain't too bad considering I have pulled a 6000+ pound trailer with a jeep, and a 3000 cargo trailer probably 1/3 of those miles. I keep it at or below 2000 rpm as much as possible.

 

[OT-OF-HERE!!]

Well for myself,. . I get what your getting. I drive my truck and not like I've got an egg under the pedal. I'd say it's about right for the weight and power considerations. My . 02!

 

[Turbo Kidd]

Well, I just had my truck in the dealership on Monday to have a new seat base put in on the drivers side (Only prblem so far), and the service manager called me at work to give me some good news! He informed me that DC just sent out a new flash for the 03 HO. It is supposed to help with fuel economy, and give better acceleration. I have only driven the truck for two days now, but it does seem to pull better from a dead stop, as far as the fuel economy goes... . I won't know for another tank or so. I was told it usually takes about 200 miles or so before you see a difference. Oo.

 

[realsquash]

So you know the TSB number? I get 18-20MPG all the time driving to work each day but I have that stupid surge and I wonder if this reflash would fix that.



Andy

 

[SWeddell]

With 3000 miles on my truck I just completed a 600 mile road trip with about 80% freeway driving at 70 mph. My had calculated milage for that tank was 19. 4 mpg.

 

[DocDetonancour]

23 and change when all freeway and 2000 rpm. No drone. No bull. . Good truck! Doc

 

[MMeier]

Yes turbokid, what is that TSB #, taking mine in next week for a leaking front pinion shaft leak and while I'm there I would like to point this out to them, even though they don't like it when I do such things!

 

[curatchko]

My mileage has been going down lately and I'm not sure why. . possible bad fuel??



I would average 19-20 going 65-70, in the winter months.



This weekend I'm running a long trip and I can barely get 17 running around 68mph... . Yeah 3 mpg don't sound like much, but this truck is usually deadly consistant.



Runs good, but it is not getting the mileage that my 99 got. I could get 13 towing, and almost 21 empty with my 99. Same trailer, I get high 9's low 10's, and now 17 empty. With the price of fuel that's a lot of money.

 

[Turbo Kidd]

As soon as I get back from work, I will post the TSB#... . it is on the paper work. I can honestly say that my acceleration has improved, but I have not seen any change in my fuel economy..... I guess I got one of the diesel pigs!?! I will just have to stop dreaming about those high MPG's people talk about! I will settle for 13-14MPG city and 16-17MPG on the road (Empty). It is still better than my V-10... . Funny thing is diesel cost more than premium gas here in Chicago , so at the end of the day I should have just baught a Hemi!?!

 

[HootieF]

Just did the TSB on my truck the overhead is reading 15. 5 to 16mpg but paid $2. 49 for a gal of fuel, isn't that great!!!!!!. Couldn't hand cal. because it's back in the shop for the tried time this month. Can anyone tell me if they feel a viberations betwee 65-67mph. My dealer is giving me the run around. :--)