thought just came to me after reading Moparmans thread... if you want a comparison of mileage 1 speed vs another I could do it in the ram and let you know... you guy's would owe me a beer though since it'd cost me about $20 bux more over the commuter car ...

if you guys want it, I'll do it... let me know. and let me know what speed you'd like. remember I've done all my mpg testing at approx 63 mph for 2/3 of the trip, then 55 there after...

 

I think Steve should test it starting at 5mpg all the way up in 5mph increments.

 

[sm=icon_rofl.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif][sm=icon_rofl.gif]

 

I removed my programmer, gained 1.5mpg!!! The programmer was adding more fuel then what was required. (truck no longer has that ugly rough idle nor does it have that lope!! no more puffs of black/white smoke on a cold start either!) That trail of "black death"is justa waste of fuel. The programmer did nothing in terms of improving mpg nor did it help my driving skills. Smoking ricers and ferds was fun but at $4.50+/gal for fuel it gets expensive!! So, for shiets and giggles, I pull my 10k lbTT at a conservative 60-65mph, getting 13-14.5mpg. Even with my 35" tires and 3.73 gears. Took a page outta the OTR guys book, "no jack rabbit starts"slow steady curise to high way speed, then curise control for the most part.Sure the ferds and duras may pass me on the highway, but I pass em at the fueling stations laughing!! Passed a few duras on hills as they were parked trying to cool off, pulling those tripple axel toyhualers. Not enough ferds around these parts that actually haul anyting, to find broke down.

Mayfair, that stop and go stuff is gonna kill mileage, nothing you can do will increase it, other then swapping a 4tb in place of the 5.9. Any idea what the mods did for straight highway mileage? These things like to be worked, 1700 to 2100rpm range keeps the cummins smiling.Just a suggestion hook onto yer RV and pull it daily to work and back, mileage may come up, if not aleast your woring that engine and having carbon build up! Course everyone think you have a larger then normal "hot dog stand" and you'll have everyone chasing you around for an "Oscar Myer" (sp)! ... hmmm extra income...

[8D]

( yes I had my speedo re-calibrated, got it done for free as I had to explain to service guy how to do it...manager thanked me and said "no charge" )

 

I feel for you Mayfair. I too live in stop and go traffic (like many of us here) and that kills me. I actually decided to go into work 30 minutes later so traffic would be lighter. I would love to take 4th gear on my truck and make it taller/shorter (which ever gives more speed vs. rpm) like I did in my car tranny. I went form getting 29ish @ 80mph to 35+ at same speed by lowering the rpm 10%. I just need to fix the power steering on it now and I'll be driving it to/from work and keeping the truck for towing the boat.

Now the truck daily driven gets about 16mpg- stop/go. Highway with cruise set at 70 it gets about 19.

 

I assume we are. How would I know? I sure as heck can't get a straight answer ( or even ENGLISH ) from these guys.

 

Guess I'm lucky that where I buy my diesel they post a sign on the pump (and on the main price sign 30 ft off the ground) to let you know what fuel your buying. For winter fuel they post it as Arctic diesel when we go to back summer diesel the sign changes to Gold Diesel. Also the people inside who take your money even know what fuel they are selling, one of the nice things about living in the farm belt.

 

Naah, not here, at least not that I've noticed. I'll look for a sign next time I fill up, hopefully in 2 weeks.

I go to Jersey to get my fuel because it's about 30 cents cheaper a gallon than Philly. Over there, they pump it for you, and the people pumping it look exactly like the people I posted above and they don't speak a lick of english. When you pull up to the pump, they just give you a thumbs up, and that indicates "fill up?" When your reciept comes out, it's followed by a grunt or a groan as they hand it to you. It's sad ...

 

Or maybe we should stop letting stupid people buy vehicles that only get 8mpg......or better yet...we should fine and shutdown companies who continue to do so despite this countries need to build better fuel efficient vehicles....

Before anyone gets all pissy, I'm simply taking a different viewpoint from this ridiculous one.....I'm not bashing anyone who buys a truck or SUV...


Here's the problem with this comment...vehicles (cars at the very least) are wind tunnel tested and road tested for MPG at 55-80mph to determine the type of fuel economy they can get.....and yes, some vehicles DO perform better at higher speeds then slower speeds. For example, the famed Prius hybrid got beat by a diesel BMW in a recent road test on a highway. Why? Because hybrids are simply 4cylinder cars on a highway.....they only have an advantage in stop and go traffic. The BMW diesel didnt have this problem, and was able to perform quite well.

Also, you have to consider that this is primarilya truck discussion, so to include all vehicles is a joke. My car gets roughly 29-32mpg, depending on how heavy I am on the foot highway, and about 25 in city. Not bad at all for a supercharged V6 on premium. However, your discussing on average a 8000lb pickup truck. You cant even begin to compare the two...especially when one's built aerodynamically and the other is built like a brick wall.

The sad irony is that most of you probably wouldnt have bought such a heavy truck had you been able to get a more fuel efficient mid-size truck like a Dakota with a diesel motor in it. Even a 300hp diesel would be more then plenty of power to get a Dakota in the upper 20's in fuel economy if done right.

 

Splat thats funny bout your prog, on the gasser side our programmers say you can get better mpg but you have to run prem vs reg so you wind up paying the same.

A lot of times on long trips I'll just draft by an 18 wheeler thats going around 70 ish. This does make an impact, ive seen about a 150 rpm decrease when I'm behind the rig.
Haven't done it recently, I know most truckers are dropping to 60-65 for gas, don't know if I'll have the patience for that.