WOW.....The price of Diesel is way to high.....!!!!!!

According to the "overhead computer", is averaging 18.4 MPG, the truck is one week old, commuting aprox. 44 miles round trip in city traffic, (will really improve with time...????) This week I drove a total of 470 miles since I got it from the dealership (Feb/25) with a full tank, that will be 470/34 = 13.82 MPG Is that correct....???

Wife is starting to believe that it was a bad move buying the truck...even with the 0% A.P.R. that we got. I told her that with time Diesels are a better investment and on the long run are cheaper to operate, but she wants more "real-life" facts..!!!

 

City driving is part of the mileage problem. My city mpg runs in the 13 range but my fuel is blended 60% no. 2, 40% no. 1, and I warm the truck up for about ten minutes before driving.

My highway mileage is considerably better with straight no.2 fuel.
I use Amsoil series 3k in mine with extended drain intervals to save on maintenance costs. It also gave me a 5% increase in fuel economy, 18.5 mpg to 19.8. I slowed my cruise speed to 65 mph and now get 21 mpg. I also use a washable 2 stage foam air filter.

 

Welcome to our oil burning world!
Now, let's take a deep breath...hold it....let it out slowly. One more time....deep breath...hold it.........................let it out. Alright we're a little calmer now.
Yes, your mileage will improve. No it will not improve in the first ten days. Like any motor that is being broken in, they generate a lot of extra heat, hence worse mileage. The difference here is the diesel motors can take 20-30,000 miles to break in instead of your 1,000 mile gasoline engine. Yes, you will eventually get up there around 18 mpg all around, not to worry Grasshopper!
PS if the wife doesn't get better about the patience, and the mileage doesn't improve, get rid of the wife, it'll save you money and years of happiness, TRUCKS DON'T TALK BACK!!
Cheers
Mike
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PPS my first tank was 14.02 mpg

 

Just got a 2006 3500 Quad, 4x4, SWB, Auto, 3.73 gears and with my 1st tank mixed city/hwy got 15.65 (computer showed 14.1) filled it again today with 657 miles on it with the computer showing 15.15 and a hand calculation coming in at 17.16 hwy. Expectations when bought was 16-19 out of the showroom and from the others contacted on the forums they had a reall concensis that getting 20-30K on the truck makes a large difference.

 

Dont worry Rob, Ive said it before and I'll say it again. these engines are like a fine wine, they get better with age.

my first tank was hand calculated at 12mpg. now that I have 27K on her I can see 18-20.

 

Great...!!!

Thanks for all the encouraging words...!!!! I'm still debating about selling the Miata, is a great a commuter but driving the truck feels much better......!!!!!

This's my first "big" vehicle, the Xterra was not really big compared to the 2500, I love how high is the truck when stoped next to other trucks/SUV's...!!! Is really a head turner and today in the morning saw another 2500 but with huge tires and a lift "job".....!!! Kinda those Monster Trucks.....!!!!!

Some pics of the truck at the following links:


(here you can see the Miata parked behind the truck bed)

http://www.photodump.com/viewer/zapata/t1.html

http://www.photodump.com/viewer/zapata/t2.html

http://www.photodump.com/viewer/zapata/t3.html

 

nice.

I will agree with ya that the truck does sit up high. mine is a 4x4, no lift, and even with me being 6-3 I have to do a little hop to get into mine.

 

Very nice! Enjoy it!!
Mike

 

Question for Drew, I heard that you can get Injectors from Dodge that will increase your mileage and also boost the HP up like 100+ horse power without voiding any warranty? Have you heard anything about that? I got the info from another CTD owner whom said his buddie had his done, but it cost like $1200? Any info would be aprreciated. Also thanks for the mixture advice of Power Service and Mcguires, have also seen a 2-3 mpg increase using your concoction!

 

you can get different injectors straight from Cummins that will give you about 20-30 horse. the nice thing is even if Dodge takes the engine apart they cannot tell these apart from the ones that come stock

realy, injectors are a good way to to go for power when you dont want to mess with the ecm. the difference between the stock injectors and others is all in the spray pattern and the atomization of the fuel. Generaly the nozzles are smaller and more of them. I think the stockers have 8 holes, where as the aftermarket parts have 10-12 depending on what stage you get.

now while you can get upwards of 100 extra horse with new injectors, you need to get the ecm re-programmed to be able to use injectors of that size. stage I's are about as big as you can go without haveing to get the ECM re-done. However, the stock injectors are pretty good and have proven to be able to support upwards of 600 horse, but the one thing I look at is the cost per horse when doing upgrades. Granted the injectors are mechanical parts and will last longer, but the cost is so high you would be better off getting a TST and a new turbo.