The Boss Hog

Assume zero fuel used at idle: 2838 / (243 - 22) = 12.8 mpg

Doesn't sound to me like idling is the problem.

The Boss Hog

stevenknapp

The service manger said my idle time is killing me and the D600 uses a lot more fuel at idle than previous engines.

According to those stats...take out the idle fuel...

2838mi/221gal = ~13mpg. Not much better.

jigdog

i started seeing a real improve in my mileage at about 40k. i just reset the apps and it went up 1 mpg.

md11jetdriver

Be patient folks...

Mines an '03 with 11,000 miles and milage is steadily increasing (20.5 unloaded).


I work as a ASE heavy truck tecnician for a large company. We have hundreds of diesels from small 4cyl to large twin turbo v8's. We dont even begin to look at MPG stabilization issues til between 10,000 - 15,000 miles.

Dealer checked it out OK so I would keep the RPM's in the sweet spot and check it again after 10,000 more miles.

mountain_dog

This business of high fuel consumption at idle has me a bit confused. My experince with a previous diesel engine was the lower the rpm's the lower the fuel consumption.

Could it be the 04.5 600 emissions system at work? The third fuel squirt or whatever it is called going to the CAT? If that is the case then we will just have to live with it until someone comes up with a solution. Maybe the new EDGE chip will help.

I am very new to all this when it comes to the CTD and have no first hand experience since my truck has yet to be delivered. After I have put a couple of thousand miles on the clock I will be able to contribute my two cents.

fountain1fan

i get 17 to 18 in town unloaded 22 +on the hwy but at 55 it sucks . my 3g likes it at 70 to 75 after that it drops like a rock . love my dodge . i've got 3.73 6 speed ho all of this is unloaded

Joe N.

I just completed a 1200 mile trip and now have about 3200 miles on my truck. On the trip this week out of 3 tanks of fuel the best was 16.4 hand calculated. That was driving between 65 and 70 and unloaded. I normally average around mid 15s on the highway. The overhead show upper 10s around town. I will tow my 8K trailer about 600 miles in a couple of weeks and will have an idea then about loaded mileage. The 16.4 on the last tank is encouraging and hopefully it will continue to improve.

One of the reasons I bought a diesel was to get better fuel mileage and I am dissapointed with the mileage but I still love my truck. It has awesome power and it is really amazing how it accelerates when passing other vehicles though I usually set the cruise control around 68 and let everyone pass me. I have no regrets. I had a chance to buy a 555 almost exactly like the truck I bought but I just couldn't stand not having the 600.

weehawl

Hey Slider like I tell my wife a little patience goes a long way. I own a 2001 Dodge cummins extended cab with HO turbo and standard 6-speed. It just rolled 160,000 miles and is still going strong. It is all still stock with no extras. I pull custom horse trailers from coast to coast and Mexico to Canada,so it gets a full workout. Mind you these trailers are no light load and sometimes I double up with a dolly. This puts the GVW at max and sometimes over. My MPG runs around 12 fully loaded and 18 empty. Have only had to replace lift pump once and slave cylinder once, so $300.00 over 160,000 miles less regular maintenance is something im not going to sneeze at. Just hang in there and enjoy your new DODGE and all will work out.

Keep Trucking
weehawl

stevenknapp

This business of high fuel consumption at idle has me a bit confused. My experince with a previous diesel engine was the lower the rpm's the lower the fuel consumption

Ya, I'd be confused too. The gist of it is that it seems to be BS.

From the stats he posted you can subtract the fuel burned at idle, and you still end up with 13MPG. In other words, even if he NEVER idled the truck his MPG would still be low.

I think one important thing to remember as we wait for our 600's is that not all the 555 folks got good mileage, same for all the other CTDs. There have been some real high MPGs, and some real low MPGs for em all.

AaronT

Slider, the 37% idle time looks suspect. Something must be wrong somewhere in the system and it may be causing system adjustments that may be incorrect. Or, do you really idle 37% of the time?

Hounddog

From watching the mpg gauge on mine and a friends I suspect that is the case.Friend and I had this discussion a while back and the idle time at stops,red lights,traffic kill MPG in a hurry.My friend brought this to my attention with his months ago and after watching it closely it seems to be the case.Were stopped a LOT more then realized!

Casey Balvert

Weatherbyman is right on. Mileage depends on a lot of factors. On these rigs the two biggest are the driver and the speed. Anything over 2200 RPM will kill fuel economy. Check this website for some interesting info. http://www.cummins.com/na/pdf/en/pro..._Whitepape.pdf

When I run the truck at under 2200 RPM pulling my 16,000 pound fiver I average 11 mpg. I start pushing it and I get 8 mpg. With what you are towing, the 3.73 axles would have been a better choice for the speeds you want to travel. My suggestion is to slow down and make like there is an egg between your foot and the go pedal if you are looking for better economy. FWIW

Casey

nailzsn

Just completed 1400+ mile trip pulling around 8000# 5ver. Trip through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, into Arkansas & back. All mileage hand calculated, but computer was generally slightly under actual. Best was 13.5 and worst was 11.9 pulling at 65-68 mph (except in Ill with legal speed being 55, pulled at 60-62). Most fillups calculated around 12.5. After pulling lighter trailer with my old 99 cummins, I am extremely happy with this. I could have pulled at any speed if I wanted to pay more at the pump. Only took it out of overdrive for a few miles on some hills in Missouri.

My brother-in-law was pulling around 7000# with his 99 Ford PS. He could have pushed me on some of the hills and on take off, but I was not stepping on it to much - to conserve fuel. We only traveled together for around 300 miles & he generally kept his speed around 55-60. The difference - he was getting about 10 mpg.

I am very pleased since I only have 8200 miles on it and I expect mileage should improve.

ed paul

just got back from 1400 mile trip pulling a 20ft enclosed car hauler( 6 1/2 ft ceiling) with a harley and a side car in it,, got 12 and 1/2 mpg doing 68 mph, interestingly enough,,got 13.4 miles per gallon with it fully laoded with a house hold going up and down big hills through nashville at 70 mph,,could be because the weight brought the front of the trailer down alittle for less wind resistanse,,when i left on the trip i had 750 miles on the truck;;;;;couldn"t keep the speed down to 50, as the first leg of the trip was on ill. toll ways and always in a 65 mph speed zone,,i did manage to keep the speed down to 54 mph,,and that was tough with all the traffic ( did not feel safe at all), gonna take it out on the breeze way empty today and see what I"m getting for mileage, then change the oil again ( changed it at 650 miles) at 2400 miles ,,,just to get that breakin crud out of the engine,,,,,a word of advice!when ur running at freeway speeds,,it"s a good idea to let the engine idle a few minutes so the turbo can cool off before turning it off

ed paul

oh yeah! got a 2004.5 4x4 quad, auto, black sport, 3500 ( it's not a dually) 373 rear end