Diesel,,,how many MPG does your get?
 

Been thinking about getting a diesel pick up! What kinda fuel mileage do they REALY get? test drove 2002 Dodge dually last week and the overhead console mileage said 14MPG average, drove a 2004 Ford dually Sat. it said 10MPG! Everyone brags about there diesel getting awsome mileage What does your get towing and not towing? Does it make a big difference in the winter months or not (meaning worse mileage)?

Well winter months go down because they put anti-gelling stuff in the diesel and that doesn't help the mileage.

I have heard they always do better and my friends do get better MPG. I have a buddy with a 03' PSD and bigger turbo and other goodies getting 18ish but he is in the pedal most of the time. Also, a buddy with a 12V and it gets around 24ish but drives like a Gma.

05 duramax here. Banks 6 gun tuner, cold air intake, dual exhaust, etc...

If i baby it and keep my foot out of it, I can up to 20 and 21 on the highway. If i don't pay attention to what I'm doing and race ricers from stop lights and lay black rubber at every intersecton... then i average about 15 overall...

Last month of the 5.9 cummins in a lifted megacab at 14 mpg towing 11,000 lb. barn and 16-17 around town empty. Mileage seems better when it is hot outside for me.

2001 LB7 Dmax average empty 15/17 cty/hwy in the winter
16/19.5 summer

Towing seems to knock it down to about 12/15

I get about 16 max in 99 powerstroke. I just drive normal I hear lots of people get around 20 but I never have Towing makes little difference.

Me too.

2000 7.3 PowerStroke, bone stock, 115k.

13-14 city.

15-16 highway.

Robert

what about auto.trannys? Dodge scares me to death, and what about the Fords? chevy Dirtymax with a allision trans is the awsome combo for sure, but i cant afford a dirtymax those things are rediculious!

The dodge trannys need help to survive. The ford 4r100 is a decent trans that needs a bit but I hear the 5r110 is a very tough trans.

what I need to know is what year they are good and year they are not! Because newer stuff is out of the question, 2000 to 2005 seem to be my price range!

If you go powerstroke I would stick with the 7.3 turbo diesel or the 6.0 only in the year of 2004.My buddy has a 05' 6.0 powerstroke and its been in and out of the shop numerous times since he bought it new. everytime he takes it in it is for the same few problems.Like the egr valve and the ball joints went out at 15000 miles.As for dodge no matter what you get make sure its a stick and watch out for rust.
Personally I would stick with a Powerstroke if I were to buy a diesel thats just my .02.

What are you wanting to do with the truck? If you're wanting to go out and add a bunch of power to them, stay away from the 6.0L Powerstroke, especially in an 03 or 04. They don't have the best reputation for being kind to power adders. A lot of guys blow head gaskets and their oil pumps aren't good. If you're wanting a truck just to drive, they're not bad and as a truck, they have a better fit and finish than a Dodge or Chevy.

If you're wanting to squeeze every ounce of power out of one, go with a Cummins. They are very friendly to mods and are pretty much bullet proof. You'll sacrifice in the comfort department with one, but you can't go wrong with the engine.

As for mileage, I have an 06 F250 and if I'm babying it out on the highway, I can get around 18. If I'm driving every day, I get around 16 and when I tow, I get around 12-14. Mine is fully loaded with leather, power sunroof, towing package, heated seats, etc, etc and I love it. It runs and drives like a dream. I just know that I can't do too much to it in terms of power adders.

2000 CC DRW 4x4 6 speed turned up some and getting about 16 when i take it easy. When i bought mine, i couldnt afford a duramax... really wanted one, didnt want a dodge bc they tend to rust out (if you must get a dodge i suggest the 94 to 98.5 models 12v with the nv4500 5 speed stay away from autos unless you plan on getting it built) My stroke does everything i need it to do and was very affordable for being 20 and just out of college.

2001 Dodge Auto, 14-15 towing, 16-17 around town, as good as 21 on highway empty running 65. Mileage would probably get better running 55 highway. My auto has 126,000 on it and is holding up. I would love an aftermarket tranny built to keep the rpms in the actual power area though.
I have been running and edge juice with attitude for the last 40k, but I only run on the first setting. I think the trannys fail much faster when the power is turned up. Also my gearing is 3.55.

I have been considering selling mine lately, and getting something a little more family friendly, but have a hard time parting with the cummins.

Attachment 2055

Are you wanting a 1 ton, 3/4 ton?
Would you prefer a dmax?
On the fords a 7.3 is very reliable but a bit underpowered by today's standards. That being said I wish I had mine back. The 7.3 ran throught the 02 model year with some in the early 03s. The 7.3 had the 4r100 trans. Cam sensors are common problems with them.
The dodges will need built if you want an auto. The lift pumps are problematic on the 98.5-02 dodges and an occasional injector problem on the 03+ common rails.

Put 2500.00 in the auto dodge and don't look back. The cummins is a very easy motor to maintain. Ford has a nicer interior and chevys ride nice.

going to be towing a 28" to 32" enclosed trailer any where from 8500 to 13,000 lb's (never know what i will be towing)! wont be driving everyday but dont want to limit my self in case I need to drive everyday!

Mike, watch the gear ratio, big difference.
My 02 cummins 5 speed gets 15/16 highway. 11/12 towing with the slide in camper, trailer and buggie.

"Ford has a nicer interior and chevys ride nice."

i have to disagree, the fords to me are like a work truck interior. The chevy's ride the nicest and have the plushest interior in my opinion. My max has the same interior as a Denali... plush.

What ended up being the problem with your chevy on the way home from Harlan?

imo GMC makes the nicest truck hands down (i know, same thing as a chevy but i like the gmc grille better) but you do pay for it for sure. like i said b4, at 20 yrs old, i cant afford a dmax, but i truly do love my psd.

oh now that was a low blow :rolleyes:

i have to say after owning a 99 F250 with a 7.3 and now having a 07 silverado classic with the d max i am very happy with the power and how quiet it is(yes im getting old and i dont like all the noise) but i do wish it had a solid axle in front after all it is a truck and i wouldnt mind if it rode like one. i have the edge programmer,afe intake and full 4" exhaust and its a beast and still got 16mpg pulling paters barn with my stuff in it to michigan. it never comes out without something hooked to it so i dont have any regular driving mpgs. i do think dodge has the best mpg right out of the box though. my dad has an 02 cummins with just exhaust and got 21 on the way to florida with just a bed full of stuff.

[QUOTE=Flxratd;32704]oh now that was a low blow :rolleyes:

:D I just like to keep a record of peoples problems with all types of items so that I can evaluate it and determine what works and what does not work that well. I was not trying to be too harsh! :eek:

It was a bare wire on the injection harness. Motor thought it lost 2 injectors, so it went into limp home/shutdown mode. Was a 30 minute fix at the dealer. That was the only problem I have had so far on the max, and the motor/trans is covered to 100k, so that's good.

My powerstroke had diesel getting into the coolant at 85k miles. My dodge... I do miss it, but at that time they didn't make a true 4 door with a back seat that any more than a dwarf cold be comfortable in. So when it got hit, i decided i wanted a true crew cab.

So, after owning all three, I think i will always have a chevy or gmc truck.

2006 Cummins QC SB 4x4 manual
street tune: 427 rwhp and 1043 ft-lbs
empty @ 55 mph: 24 mpg
highway @ 75 mph empty: 17 mpg
highway @ 75 mph with 10000 lb load: 14 mpg

The Dodge autos are the weak link. Rebuilding them to handle towing with stock power levels is about $4k.

I think the Ford's have the nicest interiors as well.