Posted 2006-03-29 8:02 PM (#39742) Subject: MPGs -- for Diesels
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 333
I thought when I got my GMC Duramax clubcab 2500HD, I would be getting good mileage. On a trip, I can coax 20 mpg out, but around town, I dont' think I get more than 14 mpg -- hauling, well, I am looking at 12-13 mpg. I haul a 1994 BP Trailet New Yorker, weighs about 3400lbs empty.
Does the Ford Superduty with the 6.0 liter engine do any better?
Posted 2006-03-29 8:32 PM (#39745 - in reply to #39742) Subject: RE: MPGs -- for Diesels
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366 Location: Albany, Oregon
I don't own a jimmy...but I don't see anything alarming about your milage...is the truck new? they tend to do a bit better after you get some miles on it. I have had 3 Dodges and they maybe got a tad bit better on the overall average but the newer ones are getting wacked on MPG with the emission issues. My "03" you could squeak out 23 mpg on a perfect day empty...14ish towing a 8,000lb goosneck. I would say you are doing OK.....I'm sure there will be some Duramax owners to chime in on there MPG's.
Posted 2006-03-29 9:23 PM (#39748 - in reply to #39742) Subject: RE: MPGs -- for Diesels
Member
Posts: 31 Location: new richmond, wi
They drop these same light duty diesels in school buses or medium duty trucks and get 11-12 mpg and the fleet managers love 'em. I think your 14 mpg while hauling is doing just fine.
Posted 2006-03-29 10:06 PM (#39754 - in reply to #39742) Subject: RE: MPGs -- for Diesels
Veteran
Posts: 164 Location: Delaware
97 Dodge 2500 2X4 diesel with 373 rear. Pull a 18' GN horsetrailer with a combined weight of 12500#. I get 17-19 mpg pulling over the hills of VA and 22 mpg empty on trips. No modifications. The guy who had this truck before me bought a crew 4X4 with 4.10(?) rear. He told me it was his biggest mistake. His gas mileage sucked. But NEW truck not broken in.
Posted 2006-03-29 11:15 PM (#39757 - in reply to #39742) Subject: RE: MPGs -- for Diesels
Member
Posts: 31 Location: nevada
We tow a 4horse sooner lq trailer our last truck was a 2003 ford 6.0l 4x4 daully the mileage was 9 to 10 now we have a 2005 chevy 4x4 dually and are getting 12 to 14 with out all the problems the ford had!!
Posted 2006-03-30 7:11 AM (#39764 - in reply to #39742) Subject: RE: MPGs -- for Diesels
Expert
Posts: 2689
I don't see anything to worry about in the OP's mileage numbers. It might get a bit better with mileage, though I suspect that it gets (more) better with driver adjustment to the nature of driving diesels (-:
I took end of the day readings for trip miles and gallons on a coast to coast trip last month. For highway driving it is more about grades and headwinds than weight, though I did get weighed in New Mexico at 15,520#.
Example, the day that I climbed up to Flagstaff AZ was 10.7 MPG (649 miles from Amarillo), but dropping down the other side to the Pacific was 14.25 (559 miles to LA).
I usually have the display on INST ECON, which helps me back off when it goes to single digits - and I really do SMILE when I see 99.
I agree that 2,000 RPM is just about the kneee of the curve.
On STEEP grades when it downshifts the INST ECON goes way down, but I can get it back up by just "allowing the loaded truck to be - a loaded truck" ease off the loud pedal to 2,000 RPM and up goes the inst econ with negligible effect on journey time.
Posted 2006-03-30 12:26 PM (#39788 - in reply to #39742) Subject: RE: MPGs -- for Diesels
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 560 Location: Mena, AR
I had my front end aligned and the tire balance (2004 chevy dually) and
saw my towing & non-towing milage go up about 2.5 mpg. I'm now getting 17-20 on the flat not towing, and 14-15 towing a bumper pull, and 13-14 towing my LQ. I didn't have any unusal wear on my tires, I was just trying to save my tires for as long as possible.
I noticed that the tires on my LQ trailer had never been balanced. They don't have weights on them. That's my next thing to do as soon as I can find a tire place I can get the LQ into the parking lot.
I'm still waiting for that hybrid diesel dually that gets 40 mpg. :-)
Posted 2006-03-30 1:06 PM (#39790 - in reply to #39742) Subject: RE: MPGs -- for Diesels
Regular
Posts: 56 Location: Oregon
Hey Reg - I sure wish you would talk to my husband. He thinks pulling a hill is a race and taking off from the red light, well can you say floor it? My dad always taught me to keep the rpm under 2000 and I would increase my mileage. I can get 21 mpg out of our 2003 4WD 7.1L Diesel empty, the best DH can do is 16.Cheersc
Posted 2006-03-30 3:22 PM (#39794 - in reply to #39742) Subject: RE: MPGs -- for Diesels
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 333
Oh, Original Poster here, I forgot to say it was a 4X4 so now I think I am not doing too bad on mileage talking to you all. Appreciate all the good conversation.
Posted 2006-03-30 3:30 PM (#39795 - in reply to #39742) Subject: RE: MPGs -- for Diesels
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 565 Location: Michigan
Clow is right on their post. A pedal to the medal driver makes more trips to fuel station. My husband tells me I drive like a grandma but from a mom's standpoint and a past accident, I drive cautious and dont' race around town. Hwy driving with my '04 Dmax I get 20-21mpg and around town roughly 17-18mpg. Works for me, no complaints about my mpgs.
Posted 2006-03-30 4:26 PM (#39799 - in reply to #39742) Subject: RE: MPGs -- for Diesels
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 346
I have had four duramax pickups and all of them got 9 to 11 pulling anything. 9 would be heavy and driving over 70. The best I had one get while unloaded and haulin butt was 20. All interstate driving. Around town they all got around 15 to 17. Dont expect any of them to get over 11 or 12 while loaded and driving over 70.
Posted 2006-03-30 8:11 PM (#39805 - in reply to #39742) Subject: RE: MPGs -- for Diesels
Expert
Posts: 1723 Location: michigan
Our Ford F250 PS with 4:10 axle has gotten about 12-13 with or without the trailer. I like the truck alot but now, unless I am using it for the trailer or need the payload, it sits on the yard. I have learned to love the little car to spin around town, I can find close up parking spotsd and cost about 30 bucks to fill....
Posted 2006-03-30 8:32 PM (#39808 - in reply to #39795) Subject: RE: MPGs -- for Diesels
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by MIfarmbabe on 2006-03-30 4:30 PM
Clow is right on their post. A pedal to the medal driver makes more trips to fuel station. My husband tells me I drive like a grandma but from a mom's standpoint and a past accident, I drive cautious and dont' race around town. Hwy driving with my '04 Dmax I get 20-21mpg and around town roughly 17-18mpg. Works for me, no complaints about my mpgs.
OK, so I'm another one that drives like a Gramma - so WHAT ?
Who would I be trying to impress by burning rubber, the horses ? prepubescent kids ?
I really think the horses appreciate slow take offs AND the extra distance that it leaves for a steadier slow down at the next red light.
ON GAS - ON BRAKES - ON GAS - ON BRAKES - - HARD on one or the other at all times - maybe when I was 20, but not now.
Posted 2006-03-30 9:03 PM (#39810 - in reply to #39742) Subject: RE: MPGs -- for Diesels
Member
Posts: 48 Location: Just moved to Montana!
I bought a used '97 F-250 Powerstroke diesel about 9 months ago. This model was the last year that Ford used 2 gas tanks. I calculated the MPG, first noting the gallons filled in each tank, then the total miles driven till next fill up. In fact, I calculated this several times... would you believe I was getting 30 mpg!!! I was so excited, I was bragging to all my friends. Some scratched their heads but all agreed this must be a really great truck.
Now I was never good at math and joke that I am math phobic. Imagine my disappointment AND embarassment to realize I needed to divide my total MPG by 2 for each tank. I was actually getting 15mpg!
Posted 2006-03-30 10:31 PM (#39815 - in reply to #39742) Subject: RE: MPGs -- for Diesels
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
I had a 2003 F350 with 6.0L and now I have a 2006 F350. Both trucks were about the same. Single Rear wheels, 4x4 automatic. MPG was about the same for both of them. My new one is just getting to where I can tow with it. So I've been watching the mpg pretty close. A trip last week, Empty SLC to St George at 75mph = 18mpg. A trip today SLC to Vernal and back towing a 5000 lb dump trailer over @ 13.2mpg and Loaded 12,000lbs coming home @ 12.6mpg. Around town I expect 14 mpg. When I hook up the LQ I expect 11-12, It's the same 12,000lbs as the dump trailer today, just more wind resistance. All of this is driving up and down the mountains here in Utah. Todays drive went from 4200 foot elevation to over 8200 and back to 4400, Then reverse the route.
2000 rpm is the magic number, stay below it and your mpg will improve.
Posted 2006-03-31 7:35 AM (#39828 - in reply to #39815) Subject: RE: MPGs -- for Diesels
Expert
Posts: 1719 Location: PA
You hit the nail on the head. There are so many variables for mph.gear ratio, 4x4, hills or flat, city or highway, truck age and maintenance, how heavy footed you are, how heavy brake footed you are, auto vs. manual, trailer type (wedge nosed or flat), trailer weight, yada yada.To me, if I am hauling a good weight and get around 11mph, I am content. My Suburbans used to get 6mph hauling a much lighter trailer!
MPGs -- for Diesels
11 mph. It would take me all day to get to where I'm going