Will the 2009 Cummins get better mileage?

[RECHRGD]

I love my 2004 Cummins quad cab 4x4, but the cost of diesel is getting to me.  I only use it when I NEED a truck and to tow the Charger to far away events.  I remember hearing from some source that the '09's are going to have many improvements over the earlier models, but don't remember if better mileage was part of the deal.  I've never gotten the good mileage that I hear others talking about for these trucks.  Maybe being a 4x4 has a lot to do with it.  I also think it may be geared higher than I need, but don't know how to find out what gears it has in it.  It's an automatic tranny.  I know the new Hemi is a powerhouse also, but I love the torque of the Cummins when towing.  Anybody got any inside info on the '09's?  Thanks, Bob

[B5 Charger]

I've got an '07 with the new 6.7L Cummins.  It gets around 15-16 in town if I'm nice to it & mid 20's on the highway.  When towing it drops back into the teens again.

[RECHRGD]

I've got an '07 with the new 6.7L Cummins. It gets around 15-16 in town if I'm nice to it & mid 20's on the highway. When towing it drops back into the teens again.

Thanks B5!  Is yours a 4x4 w/auto?  Do you know what rear gear ratio it has?  I'm lucky to get 17/18 on the highway with no load and 12/13 pulling the car trailer.  Bpb

[B5 Charger]

I'm not sure what the rear gear is and yes it's a 4X4 (short bed quad cab 3500).  I'll see if I can find out the gear ratio for you.  I utilize the highway a lot to get aroud town so that could be affecting my in town numbers.  I pull a camper and it stays in the teens but it has a six speed automatic tranny.  I don't know if that makes a difference.  All Dodge HD trucks came standard with a factory exhaust brake too which is nice.

[RECHRGD]

I'm not sure what the rear gear is and yes it's a 4X4 (short bed quad cab 3500). I'll see if I can find out the gear ratio for you. I utilize the highway a lot to get aroud town so that could be affecting my in town numbers. I pull a camper and it stays in the teens but it has a six speed automatic tranny. I don't know if that makes a difference. All Dodge HD trucks came standard with a factory exhaust brake too which is nice.

Thanks!  I'll see if I can find out what rear I have too.  I think that's my main problem, (too high a rear gear) as I can get close to 19/20 unloaded if I'm only going 55mph or so.  Once I'm at highway speed (70/75) it drops like a rock.  Mine is the same as yours except it's a 2500.   Bob

[B5 Charger]

From what I can find it's a 3.73 out back.  You should have the 5.9L Cummins in your '04 whereas I have the 6.7L.  Powerwise I think they are about the same with all the new emissions stuff my 6.7L has on it.  In other words more horsepower + more power robbing emissions stuff = about the same power as a 5.9L.   

[RECHRGD]

From what I can find it's a 3.73 out back. You should have the 5.9L Cummins in your '04 whereas I have the 6.7L. Powerwise I think they are about the same with all the new emissions stuff my 6.7L has on it. In other words more horsepower + more power robbing emissions stuff = about the same power as a 5.9L.

Thanks B5, I can't imagine that I'm any steeper that the 3.73, but I'll see what I can find out.   You right, mine is the 5.9.  Smaller engine, less emissions stuff and worse mileage.  Just not right.      Bob

[B5 Charger]

Here's a link to the 6.7L on the Dodge website in case your interested.

http://www.dodge.com/en/2008/ram_3500/capability/engines/

[RECHRGD]

Here's a link to the 6.7L on the Dodge website in case your interested.

http://www.dodge.com/en/2008/ram_3500/capability/engines/

THANKS!!

[69charger2002]

my 5.9 gets 22 mpg real world on the interstate.. and 16-17 around town. i even get 13 mpg towing a 6000# 3 car hauler loaded with 3 Big block chargers!.. mine is 2wd here.. 4x4 here is just for prestige status. serves no purpose here... my hemi 05 ram dually gets 12.5 mpg EMPTY on the highway lol.. diesel still outweighs benefits of cheaper gas, at least somewhat right now.. before it was a no brainer to use diesel over gas when it was cheaper.. now it's $.70 higher a gallon but still more cost effecient
trav

[andy74]

standard rear was 3.73,optional was a4.10

[RECHRGD]

standard rear was 3.73,optional was a4.10

Andy, is there some id somewhere on the truck that will tell me what ratio it is?  If it's 4.10 I'll trade it in tomorrow!!  Thanks Bob

[andy74]

look in the glove box and or console,and pm me the code before and after dsa,that will be the axle ratio code,dsa is anti spin,i have my old ordering books at home and ill look them up tonight

[RECHRGD]

Thanks Andy!  The sticker in the glove box actually says it's got 3.73's.  Still seems pretty high for a truck with that much torque.  Do the new (larger) Cummins get better mileage?  Bob

[Todd Wilson]

A lot of guys with the 5.9 say you get it over 70mph and it starts to drink fuel in a big way. 69-70 is fine  71+ and you pay for it.


Todd

[694spdRT]

A lot of guys with the 5.9 say you get it over 70mph and it starts to drink fuel in a big way. 69-70 is fine  71+ and you pay for it.


Todd

With my '05 Cummins I will get 20-22mpg at 60-65mph. If I run at 70-75mph it drops to 18-19mpg.

Pulling a loaded 24' box trailer I will get 14mpg typically.

I seriously doubt the new 6.7 will do any better than the old 5.9's. 

[hemigeno]

I seriously doubt the new 6.7 will do any better than the old 5.9's. 

I can tell ya for one, that the new 6.7 does nowhere near as good as the old 5.9's.  My new ride (3500MegaCab SRW, 4x4, 6.7/auto) gets 18mpg on the interstate at 70mph if it's downhill with a tailwind.  Normally, it's 16-17 on the highway, 13-14 around town.  The '01 5.9/6speed that I handed down to another employee still gets 21-22mpg if you watch what you're doing, and 18-19mpg on the interstate all day long with no load.  I love the additional power the 6.7 has, but it's a tradeoff since that power has to come from somewhere. 

[RECHRGD]

I was surfing the net this morning and found an article stated that the 2010 HD Cummins will have more low end torque along with 30% better fuel mileage!!  Now I can't the damn article.  If I find it I'll post a link.  If that's really true, it looks like 2010 is the year get.  Bob

[andy74]

i sold a lot of the 6.7s and didnt have a lot of happy people from that-so much bad feed back that chrysler disregrded the surrvey for those owners toward the salespeople and salesmanagers scores-im not sure what the big issue was,but everyone i ever talked with wished they had bought a 5.9

[68RT4ME]

A lot of guys with the 5.9 say you get it over 70mph and it starts to drink fuel in a big way. 69-70 is fine  71+ and you pay for it.


Todd

With my '05 Cummins I will get 20-22mpg at 60-65mph. If I run at 70-75mph it drops to 18-19mpg.

Pulling a loaded 24' box trailer I will get 14mpg typically.

I seriously doubt the new 6.7 will do any better than the old 5.9's. 

  I'm getting about the same numbers with my '06. It's a 5.9 with a six spd manual trans and 3.73s

[Todd Wilson]

Dont forget some of the older 12valve and 24valves had the 3.54 rear end. That will certainly help in the MPG department too.


I know everyone is trying to squeek all the MPG they can out of their diesel due to high prices  but all your MPG thats been posted are really nice numbers.   Try doing what you are doing with a gas engine and see how well your MPG is!





Todd

[694spdRT]

A lot of guys with the 5.9 say you get it over 70mph and it starts to drink fuel in a big way. 69-70 is fine  71+ and you pay for it.


Todd

With my '05 Cummins I will get 20-22mpg at 60-65mph. If I run at 70-75mph it drops to 18-19mpg.

Pulling a loaded 24' box trailer I will get 14mpg typically.

I seriously doubt the new 6.7 will do any better than the old 5.9's. 

  I'm getting about the same numbers with my '06. It's a 5.9 with a six spd manual trans and 3.73s

That is my drivetrain combo as well.

[694spdRT]

Dont forget some of the older 12valve and 24valves had the 3.54 rear end. That will certainly help in the MPG department too.


I know everyone is trying to squeek all the MPG they can out of their diesel due to high prices  but all your MPG thats been posted are really nice numbers.   Try doing what you are doing with a gas engine and see how well your MPG is!





Todd

The early 89-90 3 speed automatic Cummins trucks even had 3.08 gears. I have always wondered what a 5 speed overdrive with those rear gears would get for fuel mileage. 

[Duey]

Weren't the old 12-valves some of the most economical ISB's out there?

[694spdRT]

Weren't the old 12-valves some of the most economical ISB's out there?

Yes and they were also pretty simple and trouble free.