diesel mileage

[RobertN]

What kind of mileage are you getting with your diesel?

I have a '01 Dodge longbed xcab 4x4 Cummins with auto and 4.11 gearing. I average between 13.5 and 16 depending on if I am babying it or not while running empty. If I really baby it on the flatlands, I get 16-17. The truck just turned 25,000 miles. It has stock tires; in fact the truck is bone stock. I do live in the foothills, so I'm not always on level ground.

When I got it, I had hoped for 18-20ish while babying it. I do not know if that was realistic, or wishful thinking.

What kind of mileage do you get with you Diesel pickup?

 

[njrqs]

Robert

Can't even try to compare our Imperial gallons and my different truck, but I can offer this.......

My smaller diesel 2.8L 4 cyl with a turbo is working flat out to keep my truck at 100km/hr. Compare this to a bigger diesel or petrol and they may not be working as hard.

So I don't get real good economy out of mine. If I babied it, maybe it would be much better, but I want to keep up with the traffic.

Hence I have just ordered a newy with the V6 petrol motor.

Cheers

 

[Anonymous Poster]

94 Dodge Cummins -
Standard cab 5 speed 4x4 3.53, 105k miles, gets 20-21 constantly even when my foots in it or not! /w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif

Towing I get 16-17 towing 7k, trailer, tractor, loader, rotary cutter.

Then again my muff and cat ran away together /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif

No mods, bone stock too..... str piped... ahhh music to my ears! /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif/w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif

 

[Kodiak]

I think the trouble lies in your 411 gearing. Low gears require more engine revs to turn the axle enough revs to reach required speeds. More engine revs = more fuel. Solution A higher gear ratio such as 3.73s or such. Change ring and pinion gears(both axles), or invest in a gear splitter for the tranny.

 

[TedLynn]

Kodiak diagnosed you mileage problems. My experiecne is 15-17 everyday driving and 19-20 interstate at 65MPH. Important to keep RPM's at or under 2000 for mileage. Put 35,000 on my 01 Powerstroke before trading it on an 02 Duramax (now has 11,000). I believe both had/has 3.73 gearing. I don't really notice any difference in mileage, but the Silverado sure drives better. Ted

 

[DrDan]

I'm getting 17 to 18 unloaded and 13 pulling a 7' X 16' enclosed utility trailer with about 7500 GVW. Running a 94 Ford F-350 with IDI 7.3 liter turbo charged, 3" hi flow exhaust, intercooler, turbo upgrades to larger exit port, Interceptor shift point controller. Pyro, tranny temp, boost gauges in pillar mount. Love it! Runs really well. I have Amsoil everywhere and I believe my diff's are 3.53 I think them 4.11 are too low for good milage.

DrDan

 

[jyoutz]

My truck: 99 Dodge Ram 2500, stock Cummins 24 valve turbo diesel, 4 x 4, quad cab, long bed, 5 speed manual tranny, 3.55 gear ratio. On interstate driving, I get 19 MPG with the cruise set at 80 MPH (empty). For 2 lane HWY driving with grades, I get about 17-18 MPG. For heavy loaded trailers, I get about 14-16 MPH. And for round town driving, I get about 14-17 MPG. The auto tranny and the 4.11 gears are probably the reason for your poor fuel mileage (my guess).

 

[Worksmart]

'95 Cheby 3500(1 ton) dually, ext. cab, 2wd, 6.5l turbo diesel, 4spd auto, 4.10, 45,000 miles.........average 15mpg. Chuck

 

[AMP762]

If you want a higher gear ratio go with taller tires,gota change um anyway

 

[cowboydoc]

2002 Ford dually 350 crewcab 4.10 gears powerstroke. Varies extremely with the mph. At 55 I can get 19-21. At 65 I get 16-18. At 75 I get about 14. At 85 I get 12. Towing 16k trailer I get around 10-12 again depending on the speed I travel.

 

[RobertN]

I had thought of taller tires. But, I do not want the truck to sit any taller. My wife injured her knee, with long last eeffects. It is hard anough to climb into now, even with the side step. Any more height would compund the effort.

Also, I had a camper(little bit older one, wouldn't fit the new bed.). I would like to get another one. My old Ford sat a tiny bit taller than this truck. It was kinda scary lifting the camper so high in the air to get it on the truck. I was maxing out the jacks as it was. Any higher, and I would have to put blocks under the jacks to get the thing up high enough.

I'm just kinda stuck... Not bad stuck, since that TC with that gearing is a real stump puller. It's still better than the mileage I got with the 351 in the old Ford.

 

[RonL]

RobertN

My 99 VW TDI diesel Bug gave me 48 MPG. However, the vehicle was constantly in the shop. The windows never functioned properly, the tracks were replaced. The air conditioner failed, was replaced. The injectors failed, were replaced. Traded it in at 29,000 miles. My original intention was to keep the vehicle as cheap transportation until it fell apart. With its history I felt this was immenent and got rid of it. So much for German engineering and quality.

RonL

 

[Terrell]

My 95' 4X4 Ext Cab Long Bed w/4.11 5 speed gets around 20 per without a load. Have 71200 on her now. Big D keeps on purring..............