which performance box is best for MPG:

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Hi all, I have one of those trucks that gets poor fuel mileasge, like 7 MPG while towing 20,000 lb GCWR, see signature. Of all the fuel enhancement boxes out there ( JVD, TST, PE EZ, VA "sorry if i missed someone" ) which one will give me the best MPG while towing. I know i will probably get alot of different opions on this but thats what this board is about, to discuss our problems and try to make a judgement from what we read.
Thanks in advance for any info.
Regards, Ron

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1999, 3500, 6x6, slt, auto, 3. 54, Qd cab, ISB cummins, every option but CD player, running boards, tonue cover, front bushwacher fender flares, intense blue, agate interior. 2001 26RKSS Tahoe 5th wheel, 1999 120hp 1800 bayliner.

 

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I guess you've already been down this road, but if not then I'd take your truck in and have cummins look at it. Even if it is on your nickle, they may be able to find a relatively easy fix for the mileage, and even if they don't you'll know 100% that you are starting with a truck that is in good shape.

Now, to answer your question it seems that people around here are reporting better mileage with any mod that helps the engine make more power. It seems like engines that can make more power will need less of the total to do the job. Having said that, the TDR had an article recently that mentioned the effects of timing on diesels and one of the things I remember from it was (within reason) increased timing advance resulted in reduced fuel consumption. I think the VA and PE-EZ are the only ones that can change the timing, but I may be wrong on that.

Just for comparison when my truck had about 6k on it I pulled about 8-10k lbs. My pulling mileage was 10. 1 You have more truck than I do, and are pulling more weight, but I ran mine pretty hard and got ~10, so you make the call.

Hope this helps,
Mike

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'99 QC 2500 SLT Driftwood 2wd SB 24v Auto 3. 55 LSD ISSPRO pyrometer

 

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Originally posted by mikel:
I guess you've already been down this road, but if not then I'd take your truck in and have cummins look at it. Even if it is on your nickle, they may be able to find a relatively easy fix for the mileage, and even if they don't you'll know 100% that you are starting with a truck that is in good shape.

Now, to answer your question it seems that people around here are reporting better mileage with any mod that helps the engine make more power. It seems like engines that can make more power will need less of the total to do the job. Having said that, the TDR had an article recently that mentioned the effects of timing on diesels and one of the things I remember from it was (within reason) increased timing advance resulted in reduced fuel consumption. I think the VA and PE-EZ are the only ones that can change the timing, but I may be wrong on that.

Just for comparison when my truck had about 6k on it I pulled about 8-10k lbs. My pulling mileage was 10. 1 You have more truck than I do, and are pulling more weight, but I ran mine pretty hard and got ~10, so you make the call.

Hope this helps,
Mike

I've got a 94 3500 dually and just returned from a 1000 mile trip to south Alabama. Going down pulling my 30' fifth wheel, I averaged 15. 3mpg. On the trip home,not pulling the fifth wheel I averaged 22mpg on cruise at 70mph. The only things I've done to the truck were to put in a #5 TST plate,advanced the starwheel 15 notches and removed the cat.

 

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Ron, I think that you will find that most all of the boxes available will give some increase in mpg, although small. I agree with mikel about having it looked at first. I get 13-14 pulling 10,000 with just the TST box. I haven't pulled more than 8000 long enough with the added VA and injectors to check mileage.

Ultimately, the decision is yours. some boxes have more adjustability than others. Some leave no indication of installation if warranty is a concern. (Tip: most dealers are giving owners crap about anything on their trucks. )

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98. 5 3500 QC 4x4, Driftwood/Mist Grey, 5 spd, 3. 54, 19. 5 Alcoa's, Ranchhand bumpers, DeeZee toolbox, "Scotty Air", TST PowerMax2, VA, 275's, Autometer Gauges, Centerforce clutch, Upgraded fuel lines (JRE and Aeroquip), MagHytec Diff Cover, PacBrake, Cowl Induction Hood

 

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Take it to Cummins. have them do a tune up (adj valves, check timing etc. My 1st engine got 16mpg mixed mt. 5 mpg towing 18000gvw. DC said nothing wrong . when new short block installed all components were reused (xcept block ) inj pump, head, cam, valves, injectors, turbo etc. Cummins set it up correctly and now I get 18+ mixed mt and during first 5k miles on new block on vacation towing 18000gvw averaged 11 mpg for 5k miles at or above speed limits. you figure it out!!!!!!! Cummins can not reflash ecm so it was not a programing issue, strictly mechanical !!!!!!!!!
VA did not help mileage on first block. Now it is adequatly bombed and same mileage.

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2K, 2500,Laramie,Quad,4x4,3:54LSD,auto,reese 15k 5th slider, EISLEY BULL BAR,WESTIN NERFS, TA's,9000's, DD1's,PE-EZ & elbow, ISSPRO pyro & boost, JARDINE 4", DTT VB,TC and COOLER, PAC BRAKE, MAG HYTECH TP, onboard.
pullee #1 26' Arctic Fox 5th
#2 22' car hauler w/ 76 Pinto 392cid or 68 Cyclone GT Cobra Jet FB
NRA,VFW,SASS

 

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Ron, your milage is way off the mark. Seems to me like maybe you should get a mile highway marker test at 60 miles per hour and see if your odometer is running corectly. If that checks out then take a look at the exhaust system. A lot of folks have removed restrictions like cats and are now using straight pipes. The sound will be some what increased but not that load that you would go back to mufflers. The tubro chops the sound to the point that when you really push the engine it will make a woosh sound. Milage will go up. Mine increased 2. 5mpg. Thats a cheap fix of under 50 bucks. The next area is to remove the boot between the air filter box and the fender checking the minder on the air box for its reaction. My minder changed 10 inches so I put mine in the trash can. Again milage will go up not down. My milage loaded 11 to 12 mpg empty around 17mpg. I suspect you've got a cat problem. Good luck hopes this helps.

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Stephen's 1995 Dodge Cumming Automatic 3500 in Sanger CA. Pulling 35 Foot 9600 lbs 5th wheel. BD fuel plate 230HP,Air Filter Boot Removed, Gutted Cat, Vibrating Mirrors, Sreaming Tubro
stephenawarkentin@yahoo.com

 

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Thanks for the replies, i should have mentioned that i did take my truck to cummins and had it dynoed (171 HP which DC says is within speces) and checked out by cummins they could not find anything wrong with the truck. I put in DD I's and improved my 0-60 times from 15. 5 sec to 13. 5 sec, nice power improvement but no MPG improvement, then i put in PS boost module and elbow and get 29lb ft boost but 0-60 stayed the same it did lower my EGT's. I then took my truck back to have the ECM reflashed at a different dealership, i now have to put my foot in the pedal a little more to get the same power but at wide open throttle there is more power, i'am at 12. 86 0-60 time but still no MPG increase. I guess i made good power increases with everything i did and will not be able to tow until spring to see if my towing MPG has gone up but my every day drive has not improved. It's not because of winter blend because i use #2 year around with winter anti-gel additive and i keep track of my fuel with every fill up and calculate it my hand. The next thing on my list is to remove the resonater and muffler to see if i can free up some more MPG,( i suspect i might have a back pressure problem since it takes along time for my EGT's to come down while idleing). I should mention i have 21,000 miles on my truck.

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1999, 3500, 6x6, slt, auto, 3. 54, Qd cab, ISB cummins, every option but CD player, running boards, tonue cover, front bushwacher fender flares, intense blue, agate interior. 2001 26RKSS Tahoe 5th wheel, 1999 120hp 1800 bayliner.

 

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I've recently done mileage comparisons between the VA and EZ boxes, with and without 275's, towing and empty.
The VA did not effect mileage unloaded. It did increase mileage towing by 12% over no box. It does not advance timing - not much, anyway.
The EZ reduced my mileage exactly 10% compared to the VA when unloaded. Loaded, it produces 12% increase over no box. It does advance the timing which is obvious due to the increased engine noise - like running cold all the time.
By the seat-of-the-pants meter, the EZ makes much better power than the VA, and both are miles ahead of no box. Actual 0-60 times are pretty close around 10 sec.


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Charlie
98. 5 2500QC 2WD Auto, DTT valve body,TC & coller, EZBox & elbow, 275's, PacBrake, Firestone airbags & Monroe Reflex shocks

 

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HI all, bringing this back to the top as i read in other forums people are asking the same question on MPG
Regards, Ron

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1999, 3500, 6x6, slt, auto, 3. 54, Qd cab, ISB cummins, every option but CD player, running boards, tonue cover, front bushwacher fender flares, intense blue, agate interior. 2001 26RKSS Tahoe 5th wheel, 1999 120hp 1800 bayliner.

 

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From what I saw at BD Dyno days (and I watched carefully, see my sig), I feel strongly your truck should dyno at 195-197 Hp(two stock trucks with autos - 195 and 197 hp). That's 25 more than you got on the dyno. IMHO there is something wrong with your truck. The absolute worst mountainous, towing mileage for my truck (stock, before mods) was 12, usually closer to 13.
Good luck. Joe

BTW, my 275s and PS addition gave me 1. 5 mpg increase if I drive carefully. With my foot in it that goes away #ad


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White 1999, 3500 QuadCab, 6x6, 275 injectors and Practical Solutions Module w/elbow, Automatic, Diamond Plate Running Boards and Flaps, Pac Brake, Missing Muffler, Grover Air Horns.
"SHAKE, RATTLE, AND ROLL"

[This message has been edited by Papa Joe (edited 11-17-2000). ]

 

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Hi, very interesting post by jnutter, still trying to figure that one out. Papa Joe, I feel the same as you but you cannot get that through DC's thick German Head, " I'am German myself". Still have 1 and a half years of warrenty left and will continue to be a bur under their saddle until this is resolved, I heard from a good source that if you are haveing problems with your vehicle since new and that if the problem is never corrected then that part of the warrenty never ends, hopefully I never have to challenge that.
Regards, Ron

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1999, 3500, 6x6, slt, auto, 3. 54, Qd cab, ISB cummins, every option but CD player, running boards, tonue cover, front bushwacher fender flares, intense blue, agate interior. DD stage 1, PS boost module and elbow. towing 2001 26RKSS Tahoe 5th wheel, 1999 120hp 1800 bayliner,
as of 11-17 2000 21,500 miles.

 

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Originally posted by Charliep:
I've recently done mileage comparisons between the VA and EZ boxes, with and without 275's, towing and empty.
The VA did not effect mileage unloaded. It did increase mileage towing by 12% over no box. It does not advance timing - not much, anyway.
The EZ reduced my mileage exactly 10% compared to the VA when unloaded. Loaded, it produces 12% increase over no box. It does advance the timing which is obvious due to the increased engine noise - like running cold all the time.
By the seat-of-the-pants meter, the EZ makes much better power than the VA, and both are miles ahead of no box. Actual 0-60 times are pretty close around 10 sec.

Charlie am I understanding you correctly that if a persons number one goal is mpg that the VA is best but if litle more power than the VA with a little mpg loss unloaded then the EZ is the choice?

Jerry

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1999, 2500 QC 4X4, Driftwood,Auto, Stock, Cab High Shell, Tow Package, Camper Package.

 

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I just removed my VA CPC that had been installed since February of this year. Since the addition of my VA, my combined mileage ("city"/rural mileage) had decreased by at least 2 mpg, most likely due to use of the additional power (why have it and not use it #ad
). HOWEVER, my highway mileage hadn't seemed to slip any.

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'98. 5 2500 QC 4x4 Sport, Glasstite Vision II, 285 BFG A/Ts on M/T Challengers, Warn 4X Boards, Mopar fender flares & tow hooks, NW Custom s/s-rubber mud flaps, Mag-Hytec diff. cover & trans. pan, Edelbrock IAS shocks, Reese Titan V hitch, VDO Vision gauges, Dynamat, '00 Sport grille and headlights/PIAA Super White bulbs, PIAA Dual Sport 900 aux. lights, BD exh. brake and TorqLoc, Amsoil Dual Remote Bypass, Optima Yellow Tops, Bosch 275s, 10 level BD/TST X Power/PM3 (not installed yet), Aeroquip AQP braided s/s fuel hoses, Banks High Ram intake manifold (not installed yet... ya I know, I'll have to eat my words) and 14 cm2 turbine housing/Big Head wastegate actuator, ATS 3-piece exh. man. , Banks 4" dia. s/s exh. sys. , BD V10/Cummins hybrid TC & valve body, BD trans. front pump & PressureLoc, Air Bulldog induction hood (with NACA ducts), plus MANY other trick modifications

Recycle Bin: Prime-Loc fuel filter relocation kit (JUNK!), VA CPC (upgraded to 10 level PM3), '00 Dodge/Cummins valve cover (changed my mind... stay tuned)

[This message has been edited by John (edited 11-18-2000). ]

 

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Why haven't i heard anything about JVD, TST, or Blue Box. In JVD's web sight they claim some people make 3 MPG or better towing, doesn't anybody run with the JVD. I posted this thread to get real world experience not advertizeing hype.
Regards, Ron


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1999, 3500, 6x6, slt, auto, 3. 54, Qd cab, ISB cummins, every option but CD player, running boards, tonue cover, front bushwacher fender flares, intense blue, agate interior. DD stage 1, PS boost module and elbow. towing 2001 26RKSS Tahoe 5th wheel, 1999 120hp 1800 bayliner,
as of 11-17 2000 21,500 miles.

 

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14,000+5er--13+- withEZ 14+ after2000 miles alb. to daytona---no mts.

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99-2500-auto-exbk-mswitch-14000+5er-DTTvalve body--dunrite converter-275inj. -ezpe