cad14man

Hello,

I am getting ready to take my truck in tomorrow morning to have the ECM updated, because I am tired of getting 15 mpg in the city and 16 mpg on the highway.

I know people have had worse MPG problems in 600 engines. but having a 305/555 engine I have been hopeing to get at least 19 ~ 21 MPG (19 city 21 highway or better) (engine and truck are oem stock) (truck was built on 9/15/03 and I took delivery of it on 10/14/03)

I have tired different fuel stations, different driving style (light foot / lead foot) different fuel treatments (power service etc) nothing seems to make a difference.

I thought the cold winter in Michigan was causing the MPG problem but now that summer is here nothing has changed.

Yes I have changed Oil/ Fuel / Air filters according to service manual (every 7500 miles) I now have 15,500 on the truck.

so to get to the point......if you had a TSB applied and your MPG went up, did your power (seat of pants etc) go down or did it increase or stay the same after the TSB was applied

Sorry to ramable on; please feel free to reply with opinions, comments, or concerns.

cad14man

Bueller? Bueller?

bulabula

No change after my flash. I was in Det a few weeks ago getting 18mpg, so it ain't the weather. Heck, I was getting 17+ tugging my little brothers Rivera on a tow dolly - he was impressed, and I was driving it like I had an egg under foot that time and not drag racing everyone.

I'd try and modify your driving habits yet again - thats the biggest factor in my fuel mileage quest. All that other stuff seemed to be like snake oil.

Jmac

Can't reply, my service man won't even consider flashing my truck.

I'm getting 16 at 70mph and much worse as speed is increased and worse in the city.

Jamie

nonford

Is there a TSB flash for the 04 555's? Thought it was just on the powerful cat coverted 600's. I have 285's on my truck and going to work everyday, my overhead reads 16.5, hand calculated 16.4. I have 1800 miles on my 555 4X4. I think that will be the best I get. On a trip for 3 hours, straight 65, I got 17.8. Better than the gasser I had, and I think that these numbers will be there for the life of this truck. I here people say it gets better with milage. But my experience with gassers is when I drove it off the lot, that was the averages I always lived with. This being my first diesel, I would be pleasently surprised if it is true that milage improves with age. Only time will tell.

bulabula

nonford, early 3rd gen stick shift trucks had the CO2 cruise control safety recall ECM reflash notification. Mine never had any of the CC anomalies, and I'm adverse to fixing something that isn't broke; but since it was a safety recall I had it done.

nonford

Thanks bulabula. Yeah, I thought I missed something, I knew that have a fairly new 600 flash, which I heard good results happening. Noticed retired Navy, Air Force here. Thanks for the response..

cad14man

well I had a two TSB's applied this morning. 004-03 and 004-04 and its too early tell by hand calc'ing it yet. but the OHC jumped up from 15.5 to 20.3! on the 38 mile trip from dealer to work. I hope it stays this way!

Also they did not use a DBRIII to update my truck they used a new scanning tool put out by STAR called "STAR SCAN" which is supposed be newer and better then the DBRIII and update parts of the ECM that only need updating....vs. doing a complete re-flash of the entire ECM.

not sure if I believe them because I can tell the service writer did not know very much about diesels and the technician they had "does not ever speak to customers" so I dont know if he knew whats up or not....I seen the technician and he was an older guy so maybe he does know whats up.....but the service writer didnt.

Big Bob

The Ghost Rider had the ECM flashed at the dealer on 6/01/04. Mileage has been in the cellar ever since. I use to get about 15 with all around driving, now I'm at 12.5 MPG! Dealer says that there is nothing they can do about it!

The Ghost Rider is a 305 HP and 555 TQ, DRW. It has the 48RE tranny, 4x4, Total of 95 gals of fuel with auxillary tank, and with the accessories I have added, it weighs 8860 with me in it and half full of fuel.

Anyone have any suggestion on what I can do to get better mileage? Yes, I have been driving with a light foot!

Journier

stop driving it while not in overdrive heh

Jmac

what are the numbers of these TSBs being mentioned?

Big Bob

The one they applied to the Ghost Rider on 6/01/04 was:

TSB 18-003-004

It is for:

01. Poor A/C Performance
02. Slow Fuel Gauge Response
03. Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC's) P0341 (which I had) and P1757

P0341 code is:
Camshaft Position Sensor Performance/Rationality

I talked with my Service Tech about the poor mileage. He put my VIN number into the computer and said there are no other TBS's that apply to my VIN number for performance or mileage. Says there is nothing he can do.

Sittenbull2

I gotta 03 model at 65 mph. and empty I get about 16 to 16.5 mpg. Light pedal also. I have some friends that have a 2 wheel dr. dually with a 6 speed he gets 19 mpg. all day long. Some say 4x4 hits it hard for no mileage and then dual wheels also hit it for even worst mileage. I wish I knew what to do, then there are times i get 15 mpg. mixed, driving empty. I get about 9 to 12 mpg pulling around 8 to 10,000 lbs.

Dave65

Driving habits definately do make a difference,my wife drives it and she run a tank out going to the grocery store,she has two speeds wide open and stopped,I on the other hand get around 16 in town.

stevenknapp

Driving habits definately do make a difference,my wife drives it and she run a tank out going to the grocery store,she has two speeds wide open and stopped,I on the other hand get around 16 in town.

My wife is nice on the gas, but hard on the brakes. Keeps her foot in the throttle until the last second. I coast more and get 2-3MPG more out of our Explorer. IMHO not wasting energy in the brakes is as key as not burning fuel speeding back up again.