I have about 500 miles on my truck now and the overhead reading is showing 14.4mpg. Is this close to what I should be getting this early in the game?? When/at what mileage should I see an improvement??

Thanks

 

do a search on mpg and you'll get a lot of hits. What I've learned since I joined 3 weeks ago is that winter blend #2 diesel will reduce your mileage but it looks like Hemet's in the sun belt so this probably doesn't apply. Many claim that mileage increases as the truck breaks in (like around 10K) but others claim not so. Another thing is that you need to calculate your mileage as the overhead is not always accurate. I'm on my 2nd tank. On my first I got 15.9 on overhead and 15.88 calced. This is with 70% city, Rest slow mountain w/ a little highway. Note that I have a manual.

 

500 miles I bet your on your second tank of fuel , it should sloooooowly start to come up.... a lot of it is how ya run the truck, if ya keep your foot out of it and let it shift without pinnin the redline each gear can make a big diff.

 

Just for reference, on my '05 the first tank gave me ~17+ MPG. It's actually never been that high again on a whole tank, but I attribute that to driving conditions. I will be doing a 100% highway trip tomorrow and will be curious to see what the mileage is, hopefully at least 18. I will be breaking the 8000 mile mark this weekend!

 

Yeah, I think alot of these folks that somehow figure 19 and 20 mpg around town make newbies to diesel like myself expect the same . Mine has 6000 miles and overhead shows 15.4 around town after flash. I've towed my boat back and forth to Nevada and Phoenix since purchase so it's as broken in as it gets. I love only filling up every three weeks and making it 400 miles from CA to Phoenix on one tank but that's because of the 40 gal capacity, not good mileage. If you want to be at peace I'd say get used to 15 around town and 18 highway no matter how you drive it.

signed, let's cut the crap!

 

billyrae,

you may be getting better mpg if you're estimating based on 40 gallons instead of the 35 gallons that is actually what the capacity is???? My '05 has 35 gallon capacity, I would think your is the same??

 

Try fillin the neck, you might just het more gas in.

 

If I remeber right, the SWB is 34 gallons and the LWB is 36 gallons. Most I've ever been able to get in my tank is not quite 31 gallons topping it off to the brim. The fuel gauge was pegged for quite awhile. I thought I was going to run out of fuel, but it turns out I had 3 or 4 gallons left. I'm guessing DCX does this to keep most folks from running out of fuel in an effort to minimize premature wear on the fuel system.

 

Yes. I had this on my '02 1500 as well. 26 gal. tank, running it down to darn near empty and filling it up I could only get 21 gallons in. I think I read somewhere that confirmed this as well. Can't remember where though.

 

The manual states that there is 8% left in your tank when your distance to empty indicates 0 miles. There is also some reserve once the needle is in the red, I think it's another 2%, the manual says this as well. So when you thought you were on empty you had 3.7 gallons left if you have a 37 gallon tank. Plus if you fill it to the neck, you have more than 37 gallons to begin with. I know my window sticker indicated 37 gal tank but think you're right the manual says lonb box = 36

 

I;ve run mine 86 miles past 0 on the DTE and it still only took 33.6 gallons if your putting in 40 gallons your being cheated at the pump by the way been in flordia for the past two weeks 75mph 19.2 mpg avg for the trip.

 

wow, good for you

 

Mine is a 2003 but this is what I had initially:

1st tank 16.42 mpg
2nd 16.28
3rd 13.71 (towing 5,000 lbs. over several mtn. passes) only 1,085 mi. on truck
4th 14.46 (towing 5,000 lbs. no mtn. passes)
5th 17.97
6th 16.5
7th 19.44 (Chehalis WA to Post Falls ID open hwy road trip/lots of cruise control)
8th 21.57(Post Falls ID to Coram Montana on the two lanes/cruise set most of the way) w/ 3,388 mi. on truck


To this date I average 17.5-18.5 mpg on short trips to town and back. Truck doesn't have a chance to come up to full operating temp.

The best I have seen is 22-23 mpg. Three hours with cruise set 55-60 mph unloaded along hwy 101 Hood Canal

 

I'm averaging about 17.5 mpg mixed city and 70mph highway unloaded. The '05 I ordered is scheduled to arrive any day now. I sure hope it gets about the same mpg. I'm gonna be bummed if it ends up getting 14...

 

I have 4500 miles on mine and the best i've got is 13.8mpg. I hope it gets better.