I Noticed The Gas Mileage Thread and...

[Darkness]

I thought I would add my two cents. If you think your gas mileage is bad you should own any older or newer Dodge Truck. I had an 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab SLT 4x4 with the Sport Package and 20" wheels and 3.92 gears. It had the 5.7L HEMI Magnum and it got 9-11 mpg in the City and 15-16 mpg on the highway if I kept it at 65 mph or less. This was with a Tru-Flow Drop In Filter and tested with three different muffler combinations and over 10k on the truck running Mobil 1 Synthetic 5W30 Oil and 5 spd automatic driving like grandpa. Just thought I would let you all know. Please no flaming or political talk in this thread. I also have had other trucks and they too only around the same average. Same driving style. Thanks.

[HAZZARDJOHN]

I know what you mean, My ford Ranger gets 15-17 mpg stock. and that's a compact truck! It has 4:10 gears to allow it to be able to tow something though. I have gotten it up to 20-22 mpg with a few mods though. I am running synthetic Gear oil in the transfer case, tranny (5spd manual) and the rear end. I have a Bamachip tuner that has three settings for 87 octane 90 octane an 93 octane (best gas mileage). I have a perfomance intake also. what made the biggest differance and pushed me over 20 was as cheap simple mod. I bought a E-fan Kit from Jusnes Modified. Apparantly the stock fan on that truck must pull a lot of power to turn.


~HJ

[1970440RT]

     At least you have a Hemi and get 16 mpg.  My '97 4x4, 1500 quad cab w/ a 318 & 5 speed is lucky to get that. AND IT IS A FORKIN' DOG.  

     My father just bought his dream truck: an '06 2500 4 door long bed w/ a Cummins & 6 speed.  Factory settings it has over 600 ft/lb at about 16 mpg hwy.  A month ago he bought a reprogrammer and now has 750 ft/lb at 23 mpg hwy.  The truck now gives me the same feeling in the pit of my stomach as when I mash the throttle on my 440 Chally.  I was very impressed with the Cummins.

[694spdRT]

I was getting 10-12mpg with my '01 V10 Quad Cab 4 x 4 with a 5 speed and 3.54 gears. My '98 360 1500 4 x 4 would do about 13mpg. Dad's 04 Hemi Quad 4 x 4 with 3.92's was getting about the same as your truck. There are not many trucks that will get much better. Even our 2wd V6 Chevy W/T will only pull 19-20mpg. He had a '99 Ram 360 Quad that got 21-22 on the highway but, that thing was just freaky as no other one has ever came close.

I bought the Cummins in November and drove home from the dealership getting 21 mpg on the highway.   I have a Bully Dog Triple Dog programmer in it now and the mileage has went down some but, I can't keep my foot out of it so it is my own fault.   

[ramit]

I thought I would add my two cents. If you think your gas mileage is bad you should own any older or newer Dodge Truck. I had an 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad Cab SLT 4x4 with the Sport Package and 20" wheels and 3.92 gears. It had the 5.7L HEMI Magnum and it got 9-11 mpg in the City and 15-16 mpg on the highway if I kept it at 65 mph or less. This was with a Tru-Flow Drop In Filter and tested with three different muffler combinations and over 10k on the truck running Mobil 1 Synthetic 5W30 Oil and 5 spd automatic driving like grandpa. Just thought I would let you all know. Please no flaming or political talk in this thread. I also have had other trucks and they too only around the same average. Same driving style. Thanks.

I feel your pain!  I have a 2003 ram with the same setup as yours and have 10,000 miles on it.   I have to drive like a grandpa (which is no fun in a hemi)  to get 16 on the highway out of it.  I am wondering if an airaid setup will help with the gas mileage.

[Darkness]

The Cummins is an impressive engine. Too bad Diesel is now more expensive than 87 or 89 Octane. Anyways, I was just merely pointing the facts. Anyways, I do have a freaky truck myself. I now have an 04 Dodge Ram 1500 Regular Cab 4x4 I'm gonna try to give to my dad soon or sale it to him really but, one time coming from Minnesota with my cruise on 61 mph I actually averaged 20 mpg or a little over. This was in a 4.7L V8 truck with an exhaust, drop-in, 245 tires, long bed and 3.55 gears. I was impressed with it.

[Chryco Psycho]

My Cummins has been Awesome , mid 20s for miilage all the time & 930 dyno proven ft lbs at the tires & the odometer reads over 300,000 miles

[Telvis]

I get about 16 mpg in mine. That's with a combination of highway and city driving. It's actually better than I got with the 99 V6 Ram I use to have. I only got about 12 mpg in it and it had noooooooooo power.

[SeattleCharger]

     At least you have a Hemi and get 16 mpg.  My '97 4x4, 1500 quad cab w/ a 318 & 5 speed is lucky to get that. AND IT IS A FORKIN' DOG.  

     My father just bought his dream truck: an '06 2500 4 door long bed w/ a Cummins & 6 speed.  Factory settings it has over 600 ft/lb at about 16 mpg hwy.  A month ago he bought a reprogrammer and now has 750 ft/lb at 23 mpg hwy.  The truck now gives me the same feeling in the pit of my stomach as when I mash the throttle on my 440 Chally.  I was very impressed with the Cummins.

My friend bought that same truck except with the auto trans. and the 100 hp chip and special air intake.   I drove it home for him from Idaho to here, got about 14 mpg on the freeway averaging about 70 mph.  The dealer said the milage would go up some after the truck broke in?  to about nineteen maybe.  Don't know why that is.    Nice truck. 

[Darkness]

With the Cummins I hear some many variations in mileage but, that also depends on configuration.

[1970440RT]

As far as the Cummins go, I can't figure it out.  Add 150 + ft/lb and the mileage gets better?!?!  If I didn't see it and feel it for myself, I'd never believe it.  I have no idea why they wouldn't come from the factory already programmed for this unless it has something to do with emissions.  I was going to get a Hemi 2500 as replacement for my current '97 1500, driving that Cummins has changed my mind.

[RD]

I am going to get shot for this, but the truck I use to do long-hauling is a 97 powerstroke ford.  At 65 I get 22 mpg and with two tanks it sure is nice on the long hauls.

[67_Dodge_Charger]

I added a super chip to my 94 Chevy 4x4 as well as a throttle body spacer and a K&N Air Kit.  I am supposed to get better gas mileage and more torque.  I won't know about the gas mileage different until after this weather passes. 

-Robert

[694spdRT]

I am going to get shot for this, but the truck I use to do long-hauling is a 97 powerstroke ford.  At 65 I get 22 mpg and with two tanks it sure is nice on the long hauls.

That is good mileage for a loaded Powerstroke. Almost everyone with a Ford diesel has told me 12-15mpg.

[HAZZARDJOHN]

I am going to get shot for this, but the truck I use to do long-hauling is a 97 powerstroke ford.  At 65 I get 22 mpg and with two tanks it sure is nice on the long hauls.

That is good mileage for a loaded Powerstroke. Almost everyone with a Ford diesel has told me 12-15mpg.

I don't know where you hear that from, My Dad has a Bone stock 2004 F-350 King ranch 4X4 with the optional 4:10 gears and a 6.0 powerstroke. He gets from 18-22 and the 18 is hauling a loaded 5th wheel horse trailer. I love that truck and it is fast as hell for stock. My Dad is the president of a Hunting dog club and we all have horses to use in the field trials, and the majority of the Pro's have powerstrokes and I have never heard of one of them saying they got less tha sixteen miles to the gallon. Maybe it is just Circumstantial, but that has been my experiance. 

My buddy has an 04 2500 ram cummins 6spd and he has all the banks equipment and he gets about ten miles to the gallon. He used to get 20, but his is so souped up, even with a diesel it is still the same principle. More a requires more fuel, More power requires more fuel. It just the way it is. All though his Ram will do 0-60 in a little over 5 seconds, with a trail of pure black smoke the whole may. You pay for power, it is the same way if you soup up your charger, The more souped up the less MPG you can expect.


~HJ

[chrisII]

all of this is why i decided to go with dakotas. i got sick of 10mpg and neaded to have something for hauling and townig. the dakota drives more like a car , but can haul like a 1/2 ton full size. the best one i had for mpg was a 318 2wd ext cab, it was slightly better on gas than the v6 i have now, both at 16 to 17 avg. i also have a 318 ext cab 4x4. hav not put enough miles on it to know exact mileage , but i think its only like 12 . i keep the 4x4 for snowy situations and i would be lost without it when we get hit hard like we did yesterday

[PocketThunder]

I am going to get shot for this, but the truck I use to do long-hauling is a 97 powerstroke ford.  At 65 I get 22 mpg and with two tanks it sure is nice on the long hauls.

That is good mileage for a loaded Powerstroke. Almost everyone with a Ford diesel has told me 12-15mpg.

I got 12~13 pulling a 24' enclosed car trailer with my Dads '03 F-250 Diesel.

[SeattleCharger]

     At least you have a Hemi and get 16 mpg.  My '97 4x4, 1500 quad cab w/ a 318 & 5 speed is lucky to get that. AND IT IS A FORKIN' DOG.  

     My father just bought his dream truck: an '06 2500 4 door long bed w/ a Cummins & 6 speed.  Factory settings it has over 600 ft/lb at about 16 mpg hwy.  A month ago he bought a reprogrammer and now has 750 ft/lb at 23 mpg hwy.  The truck now gives me the same feeling in the pit of my stomach as when I mash the throttle on my 440 Chally.  I was very impressed with the Cummins.

My friend bought that same truck except with the auto trans. and the 100 hp chip and special air intake.   I drove it home for him from Idaho to here, got about 14 mpg on the freeway averaging about 70 mph.  The dealer said the milage would go up some after the truck broke in?  to about nineteen maybe.  Don't know why that is.    Nice truck. 

edit change:   my friend bought the one ton, 3500, that would make for the lower mileage prob., but fourteen sounded pretty low, the dealer said this would go up as truck breaks in, don't know what the mpg is at now.   
   Ya, my brothers '99 Cummins 2500 ext. cab auto trans gets nineteen with a chip and 3 inch exhaust.

[694spdRT]

I am going to get shot for this, but the truck I use to do long-hauling is a 97 powerstroke ford.  At 65 I get 22 mpg and with two tanks it sure is nice on the long hauls.

That is good mileage for a loaded Powerstroke. Almost everyone with a Ford diesel has told me 12-15mpg.

I don't know where you hear that from, My Dad has a Bone stock 2004 F-350 King ranch 4X4 with the optional 4:10 gears and a 6.0 powerstroke. He gets from 18-22 and the 18 is hauling a loaded 5th wheel horse trailer. I love that truck and it is fast as hell for stock. My Dad is the president of a Hunting dog club and we all have horses to use in the field trials, and the majority of the Pro's have powerstrokes and I have never heard of one of them saying they got less tha sixteen miles to the gallon. Maybe it is just Circumstantial, but that has been my experiance. 

My buddy has an 04 2500 ram cummins 6spd and he has all the banks equipment and he gets about ten miles to the gallon. He used to get 20, but his is so souped up, even with a diesel it is still the same principle. More a requires more fuel, More power requires more fuel. It just the way it is. All though his Ram will do 0-60 in a little over 5 seconds, with a trail of pure black smoke the whole may. You pay for power, it is the same way if you soup up your charger, The more souped up the less MPG you can expect.


~HJ

I was referring to the mileage of the older 7.3 diesel like RD's truck would have. Everyone has different stories and I have not heard many good reports about the newer 6.0 Powerstroke's durability compared to the older 7.3 engines.  I know 2 cattle haulers that have blew the new 6.0's on the same route where the old 7.3's went 300K. They were die hard Ford guys that now switched to Cummins.  I am sure there are Ford guys that know someone that blew a new Cummins up too so take it for what it is worth.

I know it doesn't make a lot of sense but, the diesel's work a little different than a gas engine. Even when they are turned up you can get decent mileage if you drive normally but, with all the extra power my foot can't stay out if it.    Right now my '05 Cummins is averaging 16.7mpg overall in the wintertime with The Triple Dog set on the performance(100hp) setting. On the open road it will still get 19mpg or better. The one thing I don't like is the standard 3.73 gearset. We never had a problem with 3.54's in all of our other Cummins trucks and I know that has an impact on mileage with my new one. I wouldn't ever want 4.10's for our needs.

[HAZZARDJOHN]

The stock gears on our truck was 3:73's and My Dad has a big honking trailer with a camper in the front and a huge tack room with dog boxes, so when we go through some hilly areas we need the 4:10's. You are probably right, I am a Ford truck Guy, so I only hear the positives, and my friends fuel ecomony with his Dodge isn't a slam against Dodge, His truck is Badass, but he just wanted speed over fuel economy, and he never takes his foot off of the gas. One of our trialing buddies has an 01 Ram 2500 with the 24 valve cummins and it is a real capable truck too. He gets about 14-16. He has a very similar trailer that he hauls. His old V-10 got about 6-8 hauling the same trailer, so unless the price of diesel is double the price of gas he is still ahead of the game. My pops old truck was an 01 7.3 liter powerstroke and we got from 17-20 depending on the load. But like I said it is just circumstantial. My next truck is going to be a power stroke, nothing like having the room the power and the fuel economy, Do they make a better vehicle than a 3/4 ton - 1 ton diesel (of any make)?

~HJ

[Brock Samson]

 Why no politics?...
I get much better MPG as a Democrat then i ever did as a Republican...

sorry.. 

[Darkness]

Why no politics?...
I get much better MPG as a Democrat then i ever did as a Republican...

sorry..   

Hmmm that's interesting Strat. I guess your MPG will vary at what gas station you stop to fill up at. Do you fill up at Taco Bell or Wendy's?  Also your gas mileage may vary if you have the California Emissions Package. 

[RECHRGD]

     At least you have a Hemi and get 16 mpg.  My '97 4x4, 1500 quad cab w/ a 318 & 5 speed is lucky to get that. AND IT IS A FORKIN' DOG.  

     My father just bought his dream truck: an '06 2500 4 door long bed w/ a Cummins & 6 speed.  Factory settings it has over 600 ft/lb at about 16 mpg hwy.  A month ago he bought a reprogrammer and now has 750 ft/lb at 23 mpg hwy.  The truck now gives me the same feeling in the pit of my stomach as when I mash the throttle on my 440 Chally.  I was very impressed with the Cummins.

My friend bought that same truck except with the auto trans. and the 100 hp chip and special air intake. I drove it home for him from Idaho to here, got about 14 mpg on the freeway averaging about 70 mph. The dealer said the milage would go up some after the truck broke in? to about nineteen maybe. Don't know why that is. Nice truck.

What reprogrammer did your Dad buy?  My '04 Cummins has never done better than 19mpg on the highway with an automatic and 30K miles.  More torque and better mileage sounds like a good thing.  Bob

[1970440RT]

It was a superchips reprogrammer.  I'm pretty sure it had 3 settings, tow, performance and high performance.  He currently has it set on regular performance but is itching to try high.  I believe it was around $400.00.  Well worth it so far.

[sixpack70]

With my 2002 Lightning I get 16MPG if its all highway driving. Combined I get 14mpg. In the city its around 13. All of these were 1mpg lower until I dropped the K&N filter panel in. I also drive like a maniac. My wife can get about half a MPG better than I can in the truck.