joe189man

hey all
i just got my 2006 cummins that is in my sig.
i want to keep this truck till the EPA says that i personally am causing the hole in the ozone
so what should i do to it to maximize my fuel mileage and create slight increases in power
long term this is a daily driver type of rig not a race car or off road machine it will be my grocery go getter if i ever get married
once the engine is broken in (it has 24K on the clock) i plan on getting a box similar to the edge attitude or simmilar - smarty
i am getting around 16-17 mpg right now stock
what is possible for these trucks
i got over 20 with my 02 and a mileage chip
i am hoping for around 21-22
am i dreaming
right now i am planning on a AFE stage 2 pro dry
CFM
and either mbrp or silver line turbo back exhaust
probably larger tires too either 33's or 35's with a leveling kit if requried
thanks in advance

snoyes

21-22 MPG out of a 2006 4x4 is going to be tough. You can probably get there, but it is not as easy with the newer trucks. By and large most 4x4 06s are not breaking into the 20+ long term average...

TonyB

While not a 4x4, my QC LB DRW 2x averages 14.5 around town (mixed), and ~18.5 freeway. It should be reasonably close to your 4x, at least in terms of weight, so the comparison should be close.

Tony

Got Juice?

19.2 USMPG 50-50 mixed.
Straight highway (trying to drive for it) 23.66 US is my best avg.

2006 QCLB 4x4 G56
Mods:
SP62/14
Stock intake
Blade Runner
Stock Exhaust
SMARTY.

joe189man

so your telling me there's a chance...

ADDT2TRQUE

on the freeway I saw 20.6 MPG with my smarty on level 9 and since I was in the mountains there was the occasional rolling coal....

glocklove

I get 17 mpg around town just a little over 18k on the OD, you can see my sig, no programer yet. However I do not drag race the thing from light to light. I run the RPM's around 1700-2000 when taking off from the light. I have not had the rig on the hiwy in awhile so I can't give you hiwy #'s. BTW mpg is figured by hand calc.

JohnInNH

Free Spin hubs will give you a real boost in MPG on the highway. (2 mpg)

That and a Smarty and you should be good to go.

I get 20-21 on the flats at 70 MPH

JDiepstra

I would say that is pretty much a dream. I am lucky to get 500 miles out of a tank but that is with the 4.10 gears.

snoyes

Of course most are going to give you their best 1 tank average. Long term will be hard to maintain 21-22 MPG average. If you are looking for a consistent 21-22 MPG average, gear vendors unit, tall, skinny tires maxed on pressure, manual hubs, lower the truck, keep your speed down, drive like there is an egg under the go pedal, etc. I have not seen a much if any fuel mileage increases with programmers. My best 1 tank was probably 19, but a 40 Knot tail wind all highway is unrealistic all the time.

Lurch519

A guy at work has a 2006 4x4 shortbed 2500 and he swears that he is getting 22 + hand calculated on a totally stock truck. I had my doubts, but he is not a braggart and a pretty stand-up guy. Mixed city and highway driving. He used to be an owner/operator and says he's really easy on the throttle.

Seeder

My 06 with my Jr and intake can get 24mpg at 55mph on the #3 setting hand calculated. I had a 150 mi trip down a county road, no stops, no wind and 80* outside. Commander showed no higher than 2psi of boost, this was with my 305/55/20 tires. Anything over 55 and it will drop to 19-21 but I never get under 19 when driving "normal" on the freeway.

Speed is the key and keep the boost down, 55 is 0-2 psi and 75 is 8-10, so there is a big difference. The #3 setting on Jr is better for 60 and lower and 60 and higher the #2 setting is the best on my truck.

-Seeder

Joe Reitman

My truck has gotten 21.1 and 21.2 last 2 tanks and doing better on overhead by .5 mpg with Opti Lube Summer Blend in this tank (just over 500 mi on this tank so far).

I drive like a grampa, usually well under 2k, keep it between 50-63. The tailgate spoiler and high tire pressure help. Ordered a Rokktech to advance timing 2*, will report if it helps.

Hintz

33 or 35s on an auto truck will do nothing but hurt MPGs, the best way to gain MPG; Smarty, Free-spin hubs, and GV over/under drive

megacabdad

I've read 1800 RPM is where the motors produce the best fuel mileage. Seeing about 18 MPG on the highway, 14 mixed, 11 all stop and go.