Cummins fuel economy
From : wanker012
Q: i have a 2003 3500 4x4 diesel and am getting very poor fuel economy. 18 mpg unloaded and 11 mpg towing a 5000lbs trailer. both for highway travel. i have had it in to the dealer twice and they have said there is nothing more they can do. they have checked the sensors and the program in the computer and everything seems ok. it doesnt seem to have overly black exhaust either. at one point they suggested a cold air intake system which i installed with no improvement. has anyone had similar trouble what fuel economy are you seeing. .
Replies:
From : mike simmons
sorry i forgot to mention that it has 373 axles and that these mileage readings are without using a heavy foot. the truck also has 36000 km. my father-in-law has a 99 cummins and claims 20-22 mpg with his 28ft trailer. mine is a 23 foot. i was expecting better economy than i am getting something in the 20mpg loaded range. 20 mpg loaded is very unrealistic! me thinks your father-in-law is bullshitting you ^ mike .
From : mac davis
on thu 26 aug 2004 005727 gmt wanker012 mwynker@shaw.ca wrote sorry i forgot to mention that it has 373 axles and that these mileage readings are without using a heavy foot. the truck also has 36000 km. my father-in-law has a 99 cummins and claims 20-22 mpg with his 28ft trailer. mine is a 23 foot. i was expecting better economy than i am getting something in the 20mpg loaded range. id be impressed with it getting 20 - 22 mpg empty!! mac .
From : redneck tookover hell
perhaps some banks add-ons will make an improvement. must figure on keeping the truck forever to pay for the improvements lets see if i spend $1500 for banks stuff how long will it take to break even with diesel at $2.00 gal if it improves 1 mpg politics the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich. .
From : sascheffey
i can say that i am disappointed in my 2004 2500 ho. i get 14.4 mpg empty and 10.2 with my slide in camper. before buying the truck i read on this group many stating 18-22 mpg on theirs. nothing wrong with the truck according to the dealer. perhaps some banks add-ons will make an improvement. -schef .
From : jerry
tbone wrote why dont you take it to cummins then and tell them your problem. he said he did ...... i have had it in to the dealer twice and they have said there is nothing more they can do. seems clear to me. jerry .
From : jerry
wanker012 wrote sorry i forgot to mention that it has 373 axles and that these mileage readings are without using a heavy foot. the truck also has 36000 km. my father-in-law has a 99 cummins and claims 20-22 mpg with his 28ft trailer. mine is a 23 foot. i was expecting better economy than i am getting something in the 20mpg loaded range. i have a 99 cummins 4x4 auto and i get 18-19 unloaded. sounds like you get what you should with your set up. what were you expecting oh father-in-laws have been known to speak with forked tongues. jerry .
From : jerry
jerry wrote tbone wrote why dont you take it to cummins then and tell them your problem. he said he did ...... i have had it in to the dealer twice and they have said there is nothing more they can do. seems clear to me. jerry never mind ......... didnt pay attention where you said cummins which is not the dealer. anyway it doesnt sound to me that he has a problem at all. jerry .
From : big al
perhaps some banks add-ons will make an improvement. must figure on keeping the truck forever to pay for the improvements lets see if i spend $1500 for banks stuff how long will it take to break even with diesel at $2.00 gal if it improves 1 mpg or you can add all the jc whitney mileage improvers. but then you would have to drain the tank every 500 miles or so to keep it from overflowing. some oil additives work so well i got 12 more miles per gallon with it sitting in the seat on the way home from the store. the bad part was after i put it in my engine it would spin for about an hour after i shut it off. damned slick stiff. al .
From : bob doe
all your questions can be answered here;http//www.turbodieselregister.com/ .
From : jigger
when i picked up my truck 04 3500 4x2 cummins with 3.73 gears i would reset the meter with each tank and i hit 22 mpgs once... i average 13.8 now towing and city combined and i have just 12000 kms on it. perhaps some banks add-ons will make an improvement. .
From : tom
mike simmons wrote 20 mpg loaded is very unrealistic! me thinks your father-in-law is bullshitting you ^ or his odometer is off. .
From : bob doe
need help with my 97 ram 1500. the high beams stay on and dont turn off even if the truck is off . had to remove my fuse to turn off the lights thanks .
From : mike simmons
i have a 2003 3500 4x4 diesel and am getting very poor fuel economy. 18 mpg unloaded and 11 mpg towing a 5000lbs trailer. both for highway travel. i have had it in to the dealer twice and they have said there is nothing more they can do. they have checked the sensors and the program in the computer and everything seems ok. it doesnt seem to have overly black exhaust either. at one point they suggested a cold air intake system which i installed with no improvement. has anyone had similar trouble what fuel economy are you seeing. what rear axle ratio do you have a lot depends on how heavy your foot is! my 03 ho ctd w/48re and 3.73 gears gets about 20mpg on my daily commute mostly highway and about 11 mpg pulling our 30 travel trailer 8000 lbs. mike .
From : wanker012
sorry i forgot to mention that it has 373 axles and that these mileage readings are without using a heavy foot. the truck also has 36000 km. my father-in-law has a 99 cummins and claims 20-22 mpg with his 28ft trailer. mine is a 23 foot. i was expecting better economy than i am getting something in the 20mpg loaded range. .
From : john a mooney
wanker012 wrote i have a 2003 3500 4x4 diesel and am getting very poor fuel economy. 18 mpg unloaded and 11 mpg towing a 5000lbs trailer. both for highway travel. i have had it in to the dealer twice and they have said there is nothing more they can do. they have checked the sensors and the program in the computer and everything seems ok. it doesnt seem to have overly black exhaust either. at one point they suggested a cold air intake system which i installed with no improvement. has anyone had similar trouble what fuel economy are you seeing. i have a similar rig 6-speed with 410 axles approx. 26k miles and am getting a little over 19 unloaded and between 11 and 15 towing about the same weight as you. the towing mileage varies greatly with the wind speed and direction relative to the direction of travel. considering just what kind of capability that truck has im pleased with the economy. id be ecstatic if diesel was cheaper. .
From : tbone
why dont you take it to cummins then and tell them your problem. -- if at first you dont succeed youre not cut out for skydiving sorry i forgot to mention that it has 373 axles and that these mileage readings are without using a heavy foot. the truck also has 36000 km. my father-in-law has a 99 cummins and claims 20-22 mpg with his 28ft trailer. mine is a 23 foot. i was expecting better economy than i am getting something in the 20mpg loaded range. .
From : big al
sorry i forgot to mention that it has 373 axles and that these mileage readings are without using a heavy foot. the truck also has 36000 km. my father-in-law has a 99 cummins and claims 20-22 mpg with his 28ft trailer. mine is a 23 foot. i was expecting better economy than i am getting something in the 20mpg loaded range. ive noticed my 2004 ho 4x4 six speed 3.73 mileage varies quite a bit depending on how fast i drive it. at 80 mph i get about 16 empty. at 60 it gets about 18.5. its not broke in yet and im thinking it will get better. al .
From : greg surratt
on thu 26 aug 2004 005727 gmt wanker012 mwynker@shaw.ca wrote sorry i forgot to mention that it has 373 axles and that these mileage readings are without using a heavy foot. the truck also has 36000 km. my father-in-law has a 99 cummins and claims 20-22 mpg with his 28ft trailer. mine is a 23 foot. i was expecting better economy than i am getting something in the 20mpg loaded range. kinda tough trying to figure out how to say your fil is slightly exaggerating his mileage figures and still keep the so happy ;- .
From : greg surratt
on thu 26 aug 2004 132801 -0500 tom motel6@yahoo.com wrote mike simmons wrote 20 mpg loaded is very unrealistic! me thinks your father-in-law is bullshitting you ^ or his odometer is off. taking the computerized fuel reading on the down hill side when the 28 foot trailer is pushing the truck .
From : r scott
on sat 28 aug 2004 165431 gmt jigger msimkin@home.com wrote when i picked up my truck 04 3500 4x2 cummins with 3.73 gears i would reset the meter with each tank and i hit 22 mpgs once... i average 13.8 now towing and city combined and i have just 12000 kms on it. perhaps some banks add-ons will make an improvement. 99 4x2 with 3.5s just got back from 2k trip avg between 22 and 24 depending. loved it .