Hey guys, just wondering if any of you had any insight into this new issue of mine. The truck has been good all summer, averaging high 17's to mid 18's for mileage on my daily commute. Over the past 3 fill ups it has gone down to 14.6 now. Quite a large jump I would think. I know that now I am into the winter fuel, being below 0 lately, but this is one heck of a drop. Nothing different at all from the first tank till present in driving style or the route. All my tanks are hand calculated as well. Any ideas or simmilar issues?

Thanks kindly.

 

I saw about a 2mpg loss when the winter fuel hit the stations. That's what happened last year, plus last year the ULSD also came into play. When was the last time you changed your fuel filter? You could have gotten some crappy fuel that has plugged your filter? If you have a 4x4 and have been using the 4x more due to weather, that will cost you a little mpg's too. The cold and warmup time will also kill your mpg's, at least that's what I have seen a couple times.

CD

 

It has been noted by some that better mileage is seen driving in 4wd in snow conditions as opposed to pushing the front end through in 2wd.

Being in the best climate in the world though I cannot verify this for myself.

 

I agree 100% with CD in NM. The cold temps and winter fuel will lower your fuel mileage. I can drop down to as low as 12 in the wintertime but in the summer I get my normal 17-19 mpg. It's just a fact of life we all live with by owning a diesel engine where it gets below zero in the wintertime.

 

I dont get it... its cold here in Boston and at 65 mph my 03 quad cab dually with auto and 411 gears gets 22 mpg consistently. At 80 mph it gets about 18.
all with its worthless junk factory injectors.

 

mytoyz.

Since he has a 2006 model year, and 3 of us with 2006 models are discussing this fuel mileage issue with similar findings, it may be that there are some real differences between what/how your 2003 truck does in the winter vrs the 2006. I personally believe that the 3rd injector event alone is behind most of the fuel consumption increase/mileage decrease. Then, pushing a few more ponies will also increase fuel consumption. Lots of other differences, but those are the most obvious.

CD

 

Mines been dropping also. Approx. 1 to 1 1/2 MPG in the last two fill up's.
From 16.75 to 17.5 MPG. Down to 15.75 to 16 MPG.
Winter fuel ? Four Wheel usage ? A combo of the two ? Whatever the cause at $3.50 a gallon I don't like it.

 

same here with my 06 I am down to 12 to 13 around town 17 highway , summer I get 16 to 17 town 20 to 21 highway

 

Thanks for the replies! I was thinking along the same lines as you guys, just normal for winter, but being my first winter with the truck, I wanted to know if you had the same experience. Seems to me also that since the third injection in these trucks, the milage has gone down. In the summer the most I can get is 20 on the highway, mind you that is with all the hills around here as well. Thats Canadian MPG as well. Wish that it woldnt drop so much though, gets kind of expensive to feed the animal....

 

Did you change the fuel filter? Might help...

 

mstordahl,

The two things that have helped my fuel mileage this winter is, #1. proper use of my winter front. #2. I'm buying fuel from a place that sells arctic diesel that is 100% #2 and not the normal mixed 70% #2 and 30% #1 fuel that most sell around my area. It also helps that the arctic fuel has a high 45 cetane and good detergents mixed in.

 

ive seen a big drop in mpgs too since its been cold,im in the okanagan bc,i know shes idling more and quads guys tell me that the fueling tables change when its cold out,i drive almost 20km to work and even pluged in somtimes she doesnt get to full operating temp by the time im there,i also had about 700 lbs of fire wood in the back for weight,so i cant expect much,my dad babies his and his mpgs have droped too,like said before its the nature of theese things i guess,

 

What exactly do you mean by proper use of your winter front? I have the stainless grill inserts that are solid, and have them all in now. The engine fan does not come on at all. The truck stays nice and warm though! I just did a full service on the truck, it only has 15000km on it now, so I know it might have a bit more breaking in to do yet.

PS-Duallydave, where abouts are you in vernon? Im in Kamloops.

 

im just east of vernon in lavington{coldstream}i have the stainless fronts on too and i have some cardboard in between the intercooler,still takes a long time to warm up,i dont know if we have the ulsd here yet,its not labeled on any of the pumps i use[only use one haha}i wish we could get arctic diesel here,i work up north and the fuel they have there is awsome,its called p-50.they use it for heating fuel for their houses too.i think the only thing for these trucks is the espar heater,thier pricey but they sound like they work well,or do what they do up north, crank up the idle and let her run all nite and day, you always have a warm truck.

 

winter fuel...