Real World Mileage

[ShooTingSTar]

I'm looking at getting a 2006 CTD DRW with 6 speed when they become available. It will be a crew cab in 4x4, long bed. From those that own 2005's what can I expect the new truck, empty/no load to get for mileage? City and Hwy.



Thanks,



George

 

[MRutledge]

The information from my 2500 4x4 6-speed with stock tires and 3. 73's might not be a direct comparison for you, but...



Best: 18. 95

Worst: 13. 13

Life Average: 16. 25



My city average seems to be about 16. 5. Highway average seems to be about 15. 5. The 18. 9 tank was heading from Denver to Wichita Falls, TX. Posted speed limit on 287 is 65 MPH in most spots.



So I guess the answer is, "It Depends. " If you can drive 60MPH all day you'll probably get around 20 MPG. I can't drive that slow.



Oh, and I've got 13K miles on the ticker at this point. There was a big jump in milage at the 1500 mile mark, and a smaller jump at about 10K.



-Matt

 

[EBottema]

I don't think they are changing anything for 2006 in the engine. Quad injection for 07?? Down to 13mpg? LOL... . Unless your deadset on the 06 body style, go with an 05. I heard a rumor that the 06 came with factory installed blinders to hide the durtango front end. lol

 

[Mundgyver]

I posted this on another thread, but it is applicable here.



Your mileage will improve to a certian point as the engine breaks in. One note that should be thought about, is that these truck are designed to pull. If you look at the HP / TQ curves against the MPH you will noticed that the optimal speed for these outfits is between 60 and 65, which falls in line with normal towing speeds. If you have your truck Dynoe'd, pay attention to where your peak TQ is in relation to your RPM, then when you are cruising, put your speed inline with the RPM for peak TQ and watch your mileage. I have a 2nd Gen. My peak TQ is at 1,500 rpm which falls in line with 55 mph. At that speed I get 24 mpg. At 70 mph my rpm is 2,000 and my mileage falls to 17. 5. At 65 mph my rpm is 1,800 and I average 22 mpg. At 65 mpg with a 7,000 lb car hauler I get 18 mpg on flat level ground. The trip computer is always off by one or two mpg. I always cacluate by hand. When I fill the tank, I top it to the bitter edge where not another drop will go in.



Hope this helps you in your figuring.

 

[ShooTingSTar]

Folllow-up

Thanks for the post and interesting info on the 3rd generation mileage figures. My last CTD was a std cab, 4x4 from the last century. A 1989 that had a top speed of 66 mph going down hill with a tail wind. Obviously the newer models have obtain real worlds speds for todays highways and still been able to keep mileage at a respectable level.



I plan to haul a camper on and a trailer behind this rig in 2006 when I retire however don't feel like waiting till 2007 or 2008 for additional changes and beyond the first production year of a new model. Large Dakota front end or not. I guess I'll have to go with the owner blinder option.



George

 

[harleypilot]

My '03 6speed 4x4 LWB 4door got 29. 3MPG on a recent trip from Ga to Fla and back. The trip totalled 721 miles and took 24. 6 gal of fuel. I travelled at approx 45MPH over mostly back roads. Last year I went from Ga to S. Dakota with a Harley in the bed, and a 30ft camper behind, and averaged 15. 7 MPG for the 4400 miles... . I drove interstate speeds when possible. My mileage improved dramatically after about 10,000 miles. I now have about 50K and not the first problem... ... knock wood! I love my truck!!!!!!!!!

 

[dhill]

Here's my figures, I have a G-56 Quadcab long box. I have just over 4200 miles. I haven't pulled anything yet. Last trip to Seattle ( 370 miles mostly 70 mph ) 18. 6. The week before to Hoods Cannel ( 350 miles mostly 55-60 mph ) 20. 5. I also have the tank vent mod, so it's full when I fill up.







MPG

Avg. (all time): 17. 6

Avg. (Last 3 fills): 18. 0

Max: 20. 5

Min: 14. 4



Dave

 

[klenger]

If by "crew cab", you mean the 2006 "Mega Cab", your milage will be zero because Dodge does not plan to offer the Mega Cab in a LWB model. If you intend to get the Quad Cab, then see above posts.

 

[RJOL]

I've got just about 4K on my 2005. I've been running some informal/non scientific road test and just completed my last one today. Speed is the big factor on what you will see for mileage. I cruised up I-5, in Oregon, for 135 miles and got 19. 3mpg when I was doing 60-65. I ran the next test at 70-75 and the mileage dropped to just over 17mpg. I was surprised by the difference over a 10mph range...

 

[dhill]

I don't think speed and rpm have as much to do with milage as does boost pressure. This summer I'm going to do some tests in eastern Oregon to prove to myself if this is true.



Dave

 

[BHolm]

I don't think speed and rpm have as much to do with milage as does boost pressure. This summer I'm going to do some tests in eastern Oregon to prove to myself if this is true.



Dave

Dave, When I run across Nebraska empty with the cruise on at 85 mph I get 14-15 mpg. Pretty sure I am not running much boost empty cruising across a flat state. When I run the rolling hills around my place, and definately get into the boost at times, and run 60-65 mph I can easily knock down 19-20 mpg. I see the fuel economy directly tied to speed/rpm.

 

[Mundgyver]

Find your peak TQ RPM and that it where you get the best mileage. Peak TQ is where the engine is it's most efficient, producing the most usable TQ. The application of TQ is what wins races and fuel economy because it is where you are getting the most power out of a given quantity of fuel injected into the cylinder.

 

[Boosted Inline Six]

Just filled up an hour ago. Pen to paper 18. 5. 4700 miles on it

 

[EMD-Run8]

Just topped a solid 20 mpg at 24,500 miles with a recent change to Amsoil 5w-30 from 15w-40. The driving was pretty much at sea level to 100 ft or so mixed town/hwy with better than half of the tank run at 75 mph on I-10 across NW FLA ( not exactly hilly but not flat either). I'm happy

 

[dhill]

Dave, When I run across Nebraska empty with the cruise on at 85 mph I get 14-15 mpg. Pretty sure I am not running much boost empty cruising across a flat state. When I run the rolling hills around my place, and definately get into the boost at times, and run 60-65 mph I can easily knock down 19-20 mpg. I see the fuel economy directly tied to speed/rpm.

What I mean is, running at 60-65 pulling a 10k trailer your are not going to knock down 19-20 mpg. Driving with a 20 mph tail wind and then turning around and driving into it, I'm pretty sure your mileage is not going to be the same.

When I first got my '97 I charted the boost pressure against mph. Using the theory that 1 lb of boost = 10 hp, by the time I got to 98 mph I was at 18 psi. or 180 hp. I'm going to do that with the new truck. Then using the overhead, check the milage against each lb of boost, into the wind and with the wind. I know the overhead computer is not accurate, but I think it will be close enough across the boost range for my test. This test should give ME the information I need.



Dave

 

[Turbo_Bob]

I don't think speed and rpm have as much to do with milage as does boost pressure.

It has everything to do with it, the faster you go (MPH) = more air drag, which will increase boost to maintain speed, which equals more fuel.



The Dodge HD trucks have a peak torque that starts at 1600 RPM's, thats where you want to be to get the best MPG, which is around 55 mph.

 

[dhill]

It has everything to do with it, the faster you go (MPH) = more air drag, which will increase boost to maintain speed, which equals more fuel.

Speed and rpm aren't the only things that increase boost. My truck, on level ground, takes about 6psi boost to maintain 60 mph, on a 6% grade (up) MY truck takes 15-16 psi boost, down about 2 psi ( that's as low as it will go with the cruise on) I can assure you that I will not be getting 19 mpg at 60 mph with 15 psi boost. That's what I'm talking about. That is what this thread is about, real world milage, not what it should get on paper.



Dave

 

[ox1]

I've got just about 4K on my 2005. I've been running some informal/non scientific road test and just completed my last one today. Speed is the big factor on what you will see for mileage. I cruised up I-5, in Oregon, for 135 miles and got 19. 3mpg when I was doing 60-65. I ran the next test at 70-75 and the mileage dropped to just over 17mpg. I was surprised by the difference over a 10mph range...

I'm in with this.



We got better mpg at 50mph down the snow covered two lanes south and west of Denver through the mtns - than we got at 70mph across Ind, Ill, and the plains states.



I went from 18mpg empty/hwy in my '99 duelly 4x4 to 16 mpg when I swapped the stock bed for the flatbed with the headache rack. Catching more air = -2mpg at 70mph.



(3. 54's 5 speed)