Where do these guys come from?

[DaveHess]

To freakin' funny BigNasty! I suppose his mouth-breathing girlfriend (or sister (hard to tell)) could help him with that. I saw some towing MPGs and my two cents here is I get between 10 and 11 at 65MPH with a GCWR of 17,080. 12 if I am real lucky with no wind or a tail wind. Low to mid 10's is realistic. Did get 7. 6 once pulling the TT with a 45MPH cross wind at 55 MPH. Not my brightest moment. My arms hurt for several hours after that fight. Actually I think every muscle in my body ached from being tensed up for 2 hours.

 

[chipster]

... . and he appears to be the type that could not count to 21 also ! :-laf

He could count to 21, but would be arrested for indecent exposier !!! LOL !!:-laf:-laf

 

[BDaugherty]

My previous truck was a 2000 4x4 QCSB 2500 model with 3. 50 gears, automatic, stock suspension, 285 tires, and a Banks "Big Hoss" tuner (40hp). It was consistently in the low to mid 17's and would usually best 20 mpg on trips which involved mostly highway driving.



My freind (also a TDR member) has a 2003 2wd 4DSB 5spd 2500 model with the PSM intake and Banks Big Hoss Bundle and 3. 75 gears with stock tires and suspension. He was able to get just a fraction over 23 mpg for back to back fillups before he lost patience and went back to normal driving.



The truck in my sig will just barely get 18 if you really take it easy and compensate for the increase in tire circumference. Normal mixed driving mileage is consistently in the low 16's.



That said, I can't stand people who estimate their mileage and then claim to have hand calculated. Drives me nuts. You either track it or you don't.

 

[Wingate]

He was hand calculating but ran out of fingers!

hahaha... he ran out of fingers probably due to one being in his ear, and the other being in "another" orifice!!!. .

Ran across a kid at the gas station about a year ago... young and inconsiderate... too inconsiderate to turn the friggin music down. Anyway, he asked me what kinda fuel mileage I was getting... I told him I really didnt check anymore due to not really caring. Told him I didnt care how much fuel it burned as long as it pulled whatever was tied to the back of it. .

He was trying to convince me that his Ford F-350 dually 4 door, 4x4 with a 6. 4L with 40+ inch tires, twin turbos, and his Banks system.

He said that he was getting a consistent 30+ MPG... .

I couldn't help myself... I asked him. . "Did you say 30 mpg, or 30 MPH??? He kinda chuckled. . but I could tell he REALLY wanted to say something... So I prodded him a little more and told him that he prolly could get 30 MPG behind a WRECKER!!!...

He hung up the nozzle and left... and finally it was quiet again!!!. .

 

[macdaddy]

Over the years since my first CTD, 99. I can tell when someone knows about diesels. They are actually easy to spot. They are usually... .



*Friendly

*Seem to start the conversation before I do.

*Knows what "Full Floater" means.

*Asks "How do you like your 3rd gen".





Mac

 

[surfbeetle]

Well my average MPG is 19. I drive to and from work nine miles each way, 8 of that is highway. My best is 24 MPG but that was on I-5 south from Sacramento to San Diego at 70-75 miles per hour with only a couple of stops that were less than a mile off of the freeway. After that trip, I still drove to and from work for most of a week. Just keep in mind that this is with a 12 valve with 3:54s and a 5 speed. I see no way that any third gen is going to get 26.

 

[Crunch]

I chuckle at all your responses. It just kills me. I don't lie and I don't exxagerate. If I can't back up my mileage with the numbers and simple mathematics, I keep my mouth shut.

I'm with you. I have kept a log of every truck event since I bought it new in 2003. Since then I have pushed 8722. 168 gallons of fuel through the truck over 149602. 9 miles and have a fuel economy of 17. 1520315 MPG over the life of the truck for all types of driving. Over the last 3 months I have run 7 long hauls and tows averaging about 2400 miles each. With 3,000lbs in the bed (outbound only) and traveling fairly consistently at 68 MPH I was getting 18 MPG, 19. 5+ on the empty return trip. When pulling a 12,000lb. loaded trailer I was getting 14 MPG at 70 MPH, and 15-15. 5 MPG at 67 MPH. On the empty return trips (about 5,000 lbs. ) I was getting about 17. 5 MPG at the lower speeds. I was born with a lead-foot bone in my body, but have learned there is a big difference in fuel economy between 65 MPH, 70 MPH and 70+ MPH. 1700-1800 RPMs seem to be the sweet spot. My high MPG was close to 28 MPG over 200 miles, and 24 MPG over 500 miles. All the numbers are hand calculated, which makes the 17. 1520315 MPG very accurate in my opinion. Totally stock and my cost per mile has dropped to $. 4306044869, including everything except insurance, registration and inspections, and not including money my truck has generated. Drivers side front wheel bearing and APPS are the two big repairs the truck has needed, and the bearing didn't seem to affect fuel economy.

 

[Turbo_Bob]

I'm with you. I have kept a log of every truck event since I bought it new in 2003. Since then I have pushed 8722. 168 gallons of fuel through the truck over 149602. 9 miles and have a fuel economy of 17. 1520315 MPG over the life of the truck for all types of driving. Over the last 3 months I have run 7 long hauls and tows averaging about 2400 miles each. With 3,000lbs in the bed (outbound only) and traveling fairly consistently at 68 MPH I was getting 18 MPG, 19. 5+ on the empty return trip. When pulling a 12,000lb. loaded trailer I was getting 14 MPG at 70 MPH, and 15-15. 5 MPG at 67 MPH. On the empty return trips (about 5,000 lbs. ) I was getting about 17. 5 MPG at the lower speeds. I was born with a lead-foot bone in my body, but have learned there is a big difference in fuel economy between 65 MPH, 70 MPH and 70+ MPH. 1700-1800 RPMs seem to be the sweet spot. My high MPG was close to 28 MPG over 200 miles, and 24 MPG over 500 miles. All the numbers are hand calculated, which makes the 17. 1520315 MPG very accurate in my opinion. Totally stock and my cost per mile has dropped to $. 4306044869, including everything except insurance, registration and inspections, and not including money my truck has generated.

I do the same thing as you do, log everything from the start since new.

I just passed the 150,000 mile mark last week. My log shows 7,779. 75 gallons of diesel fuel, 150,000 miles, the total average is 19. 28 MPG.

My solo driving results at 65 MPH nets between 22 to 24 MPG.

Towing my 11,000 lb. toyhauler at 55 to 62 MPH nets 11. 9 MPG.



MPG is helped by driving below 65 MPH, drive the posted speed limit, stock wheels and tires, 6-speed trans, 3. 73 R&P, two wheel drive, stock ride height, TAG turbo air guide, open exhaust, two stroke oil in the fuel as an additive.

 

[Crunch]

My solo driving results at 65 MPH nets between 22 to 24 MPG.



Towing my 11,000 lb. toyhauler at 55 to 62 MPH nets 11. 9 MPG.

I agree for an empty, unhitched truck. I've found that with 12,000lbs. the transmission seems to downshift too often at 65MPH as I climb otherwise minimal hills. I haven't tried dropping the speed to 55 MPH, but that might help. I also use cruise control most of the time, which might affect the way it shifts on hills when pulling a trailer.

MPG is helped by driving below 65 MPH, drive the posted speed limit, stock wheels and tires, 6-speed trans, 3. 73 R&P, two wheel drive, stock ride height, TAG turbo air guide, open exhaust, two stroke oil in the fuel as an additive.

You mentioned some other variables that I left out. I also use the original stock tires, and have replaced them with the exact same tire. Empty I have limited my speed to just under 70 MPH, even when the speed limit is 75 (this is, for me the hardest part of trying to maximize fuel economy). I have the same architecture as you do, but run a factory muffler and exhaust. And while I don't add two cycle oil, I do add 16oz of Power Service in the silver jug (and occasionally Howes) every other fill up, or when it drop below half a tank. I definitely see a correlation between using it and fuel economy. A while back I read something here about the possibility of enriching the fuel with sulfur with cutting oil, which has a high sulfur content. Never tried it, but since you are adding oil to your fuel, you might consider it.

 

[Turbo_Bob]

I've found that with 12,000lbs. the transmission seems to downshift too often at 65MPH as I climb otherwise minimal hills. I haven't tried dropping the speed to 55 MPH, but that might help. I also use cruise control most of the time, which might affect the way it shifts on hills when pulling a trailer.



You mentioned some other variables that I left out. I also use the original stock tires, and have replaced them with the exact same tire. Empty I have limited my speed to just under 70 MPH, even when the speed limit is 75 (this is, for me the hardest part of trying to maximize fuel economy). I have the same architecture as you do, but run a factory muffler and exhaust. And while I don't add two cycle oil, I do add 16oz of Power Service in the silver jug (and occasionally Howes) every other fill up, or when it drop below half a tank. I definitely see a correlation between using it and fuel economy. A while back I read something here about the possibility of enriching the fuel with sulfur with cutting oil, which has a high sulfur content. Never tried it, but since you are adding oil to your fuel, you might consider it.

Towing slower will make it worse, you would have less H/P and volumetric efficiently at a lower RPM. The trans will downshift to compensate, thus can wear it out if the trans is consistently down and up shifting. One thing to do is anticipate the grade, turn off overdrive, this will bring up RPM to help pull the load.



I have a 6-speed stick, so when I have that 11K in tow going up a steep grade I will downshift to 5th and maintain 55mph.



To show you what torque and H/P can do, my nephew has the new 6. 7 Ram with the 6 speed automatic trans. He pulled my trailer with his truck, on the same grade, it was a night and day difference. 11K is no sweat for that powerhouse. The trans did make one downshift to 5th OD, and still pulled the grade at 70 mph. But this comes at a cost with MPG, more boost, more power, pulls heavier loads at a faster speed.

The question one needs to ask, how much weight in tow and how fast up a grade do you want to go ?

Our trucks work good with 10K to 12K, but if your going to pull 14K to 16K you need the 6. 7 Cummins. Otherwise I would need to be in 4th gear and you in 3rd gear auto chugging up a grade.



Removing the muffler helped the MPG by 1, installing the TAG helped MPG by 1, adding the two stroke oil helped MPG by . 6



Refinery switchover from diesel to ULSD, removing the sulfur from diesel, but that also gave us a negative of less cetane, which reduces the BTU's of the fuel. Less torque and MPG of the new fuel. My own calculations was -2 MPG loss for the new fuel. All of my hard earned MPG achievements were taken away. The only other thing I could do was drive slower, from 70 down to 65, and I got back that 2 MPG. Just imagine driving slow with the old school diesel, I think I could get 26 MPG?



As far as adding thread cutting oil, I don't think it is that simple. By adding sulfur will that bring back a higher cetane level?



I use the two stroke oil to help with lubricity of the injectors, two fuel pumps, top cylinder life. And the side benefit was a . 6 mpg increase.

 

[Bigiron]

I'm with all of you in the mileage stories. If someone asks me now I ask them first and if it's out of this world numbers I just double my actual numbers and seem to be in their world and get the " That's pretty good. " response. I actually get 18-20 if driving for mileage and between 11-13 pulling my gooseneck loaded.

 

[meanmatt]

I'm suprised that this is so common . Another good one that has happened to me is when I pull into the fuel station with a cold engine and my exhaust brake is still in warm up mode making its hissing sound. I get asked does it stay on all the time like that . I tried to explain its operation ,but just got a glazed over look . Now I just yes it is on all the time . There have been a few guys claiming 30mpg in my town too. My answer is usually wow thats pretty good ,and just leave it at that . No questions on how , no response on what mine is. After that just turns to have a nice day and they go back to there side of the fuel island.

Seems to me about twice a year, spring and fall . The temps ,wind ,and traffic is perfect conditions to get some really good fuel economy. I had an empty trip last spring was pushing on 26 mpg ,but return I had a trailer so back down to the low teens for the return trip home. Most of the time my average sits right at 17. 5

I'm happy with what I get ,my previos truck was a 10mpg special no matter what I did .

 

[Grizzly]

The best way to increase your fuel mileage is to lie about it.



That's what my Brother-in-law does with his 08 SuperDuty, 6. 4 Furd. He also did that with his 2000 Furd V10 gasser. He claimed he got 17 mpg pulling his 29' 5th wheel at 75 mph.



I'm like Harvey, I just say I don't know.



george

 

[amsoilman]

I've got a Son-in-law who really likes to tell the BIG ones! He drives an 08' Toyota Tundra with the 5. 7L engine. This past week-end he pulled his 10ft trailer with two Suzuki Quadrunners, and claimed he got between 17-18 MPG traveling 80 MPH on the freeway, a total of 230 miles! All I could say was... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... . WOW!



Some just like to EXAGERATE!

 

[SOLER]

I could tell whoever wants to believe me that I can get 21 MPG in my truck. That's what the overhead says. It will only say that if I baby it around. But if I drive "normally" (and I mean my normal LOL) it'll say 14. But, hand calculated, no matter how I drive it, I get 14. No matter what. So, I can tell the truth, or BS a BSer LOL!!!



However, where I live, the speed limit on the Highway to and from work is 45 mph. If I drive back and forth to work and nowhere else, never going over 55 and no stop and go, I'll actually get a little over 20 mpg. But that is really unrealistic driving. The overhead says 32 mpg.



SOLER

 

[huwenfut]

I got the 26mpg story from my nephew the other day. I caught him by asking him how many miles he gets per tank. 26mpg x 30 gallons = 780 miles. He couldn't answer that one as he says he rarely gets even 600 miles before he has to fill up. The miles per tank never lies. By the way I get between 19 and 20 here in Hawaii with no interstates and rarely cruising faster than 55-60.

 

[Crunch]

I got the 26mpg story from my nephew the other day. I caught him by asking him how many miles he gets per tank. 26mpg x 30 gallons = 780 miles. He couldn't answer that one as he says he rarely gets even 600 miles before he has to fill up. The miles per tank never lies. By the way I get between 19 and 20 here in Hawaii with no interstates and rarely cruising faster than 55-60.

Bingo! That's the key. And the more tanks you fill, the more accurate your mileage will be. That's why I have kept a hand calculated record of miles driven and every fluid I have put into the tank. Unless I am towing, I almost always get 600+ miles to the tank. Last night I created a spreadsheet that covers 28 hauls (cargo in bed) and tows (always a bumper pull trailer) with loads between 2500lbs. and 12,000lbs. Tens of thousands of miles. Over those 28 excursions I have averaged 16. 43 MPG on the outbound side, and 17. 46 MPG on the inbound side with an overall average of 16. 92 MPG. $9,109. 47 in fuel costs (including that dark period a few years ago when I was paying more than $4. 00/gallon) and 2,827. 569 gallons of fuel. Still 17+ MPG for all driving combined over the life of the truck. I have a friend who has the same year, same style except for being a 4WD and he's lucky to get 16 MPG on the highway, but he still drives above the 2000RPM threshold. The highways have taken their toll however, as I am on my third windshield and have noticed where abrasive particulates have slightly scuffed up the clear plastic on my head lights, and I have taken my share of small rock dings that have chipped the paint in several places.

 

[Turbo_Bob]

I got the 26mpg story from my nephew the other day. I caught him by asking him how many miles he gets per tank. 26mpg x 30 gallons = 780 miles. He couldn't answer that one as he says he rarely gets even 600 miles before he has to fill up. The miles per tank never lies.

BINGO X2



Before my fuel tank vent mod (34 gal cap) I would consistently get on my trip meter 700+ miles between fill ups.

Now with the vent tank mod (37. 5 gal cap) I get 800+ miles on my trip meter between fill ups.



Matter of fact the last two fill ups were 24. 2 MPG, due to the summer grade fuel blend. Winter months I get 22. x MPG, average the two and you get a yearly 23 MPG. Of course all of this is SOLO, no towing, and speed kept below 65 MPH, 1,950 RPM's.

 

[SOLER]

I can actually get almost 42 gallons in mine. I did the vent mod several years ago. Ran it as low as I dared, then dropped the tank. Still had almost 4 gallons in it. Did the vent mod, put tank back in, filled it up with a little over 38 gallons. When on long trips and running it low I routinely put 38-41 gallons in it to fill it up. I'm never able to get over 600 miles though, of course these long trips are ALWAYS towing something. That's what this truck is for.

 

[Crunch]

BINGO X2



Before my fuel tank vent mod (34 gal cap) I would consistently get on my trip meter 700+ miles between fill ups.

Now with the vent tank mod (37. 5 gal cap) I get 800+ miles on my trip meter between fill ups.

I'm halfway through a light haul (1500 lbs. in the bed). I left North Texas on the way to Tennessee and filled up in Prescott, Arkansas (Love's at the 46 mile marker) and hand calculated 20 MPG, keeping it at 67 MPH. From there I drove to Memphis, looped to the south and went through Mississippi just below the Tennessee line, swung up through Decatur, Alabama, Huntsville, Alabama and ended up in Tennessee just above the Alabama line. Just over 500 miles and I still had almost 3/8 of a tank. Hand calculated the fuel economy to 22 MPG, which I consider stellar. Had the cruise control set to 67 MPH the whole way. The console read 24. x until I hit Mississippi, then dropped into the 23. x range, but it always reads a bit high. Didn't do anything different for this trip except change the air filter, which was an experiment in itself that might put me in the idiot category. For the first time I decided to go by what the filter minder said, but I wussed out at 60,000 miles when it still had about . 25" to go before hitting the red. The filter itself had little to no debris on it, but had turned a dark gray/black on the pre-filter and a dingy color on the main filter. Other than that it looked fine. Doubt I'll ever try this again and will go back to the 20,000 mile interval, despite all the times I've heard that it is important to follow what the minder says.