Gas Mileage

[Talbot29]

I keep hearing great stories of the super mileage those manly man diesel PU trucks get. I'm thinking of getting rid of my 2500 Suburban with the 454 and the 4.11 rear and going for a diesel powered 1/2 or 3/4 ton PU truck. My Suburban gets 10 mpg without the tow and around 8 when towing around 8500 lbs. Since the MoCos don't publish the mileage on their diesel trucks, I was wondering if anyone would let us know what their actual mileage is.

Tell us your make/model/motor and mileage - towing and not towing.

This might end up being interesting...

[GALAZIO]

I'll try to help ya out...

2000 Ford F-250 4x4 7.3L Powerstroke. I'm running 35" tires on 17" wheels, lifted 5". I have done full intake, exhaust, Bank's system. Let's say, it will run...

According to the onboard computer, I AVERAGE 17mpg. This includes city & highway. When I pull my boat, it depends on my speed, but I still get 13-15mpg (65-75mph). With diesels, the magic number is 2000rpm's...go over it, and watch your mileage turn to crap. Stay under it, it will run for ever.

At 1700rpm's under no load, I am running approx 68-70mph and getting 21mpg on the highway.

[Bay Fishin]

Galazio- How does your 250 get such good mileage. My dads is a 2005 250 gets like 16 under no tow

[flatbottom]

2004 dodge 4x4. 4.11's straight 6 stock. long bed. weight 8000 lbs aerodynamic as a brick. Pulling boat 5500 lbs @ 55 15mpg

Not pulling boat @ 55 22mpg

These are (95) mpg

City stop lights reduce mpg considerably

[blackwell50]

I have a 1999 2500 Dodge ram with the Cummins.I get 25.7 mpg on the highway at 65 mph at 70 I get 22.3,you start to hear a little turbo at 70,at 75 I get 20.9 and at 80 19.9.Towing a 31 contender I get 16.5 and towing my racecar trailer I get 14 even.I am the first person to bash a product but I love my cummins powered dodge.

[GALAZIO]

Galazio- How does your 250 get such good mileage. My dads is a 2005 250 gets like 16 under no tow

First of all, some of the 2005 had the 6.0L (which Ford is not putting in there trucks next year...it just didn't workout for them for a number of reasons). Also, gear ratio might make a difference as well as where you live (hills, city, etc). The performance mods actually helped mileage a little, especially when you open them up & let them breathe. Also, I do not "baby" it...I drive it like a sports car, so I could get better mileage if I wanted to. Keep in mind, a 3.73 gear with larger tires will give you a little more "legs" at highways speeds (it takes the ratio down)... sure it also sacrafices a little acceleration...but that is the least of my worries (since it will melt the $320 apiece tires if you jump in it). If you have a 4.10 or similar, your highway mileage will not be near what I or others are getting...but I'm sure it will pull. But what diesel doesn't? Tell your Dad to keep it UNDER 2000rpm on the next highway trip and see what he gets.

[reel-emotion]

I'VE GOT A 95 F350 POWER STROKE (2) WHEEL DRIVE DRIVE LIKE YOU HAVE A BRAIN IT GETS AVG. 18 MPG. ALSO HAVE A 2000 F250 SUPER DUTY (4) WHEEL DRIVE BEST I CAN DO IS 15 TO 17 MPG TOWING BOAT DROP BACK TO MAYBE 10 TO 12

[Glenn W]

I've had an oil burner for about a year now ( replaced a Suburban). First of all, regardless of MPG, or manufacturer there is no comparison between gasoline and desiel engines. For towing the torque of the oil burners is like night and day to gassers. 've been an active reader on the net about the big 3 diesels and here is what I have learned:
First, I have an 04 GMC Duramax. I get 21 mph hiway (non tow) and about 17 mpg in town. Towing my 26' Glacier bay I get between 9.5- 10.mpg at 60-65 mph. The 2,000 Rpm is the key as stated earlier ( and not driving like a bat out of hell). I actually got 23 mpg on a highway trip where I confined to 55-60 mph.
Starting in mid '04 the manfactures started adding pollution control (cat converters) which all seemed to reduce fuel economy.
For GM there are now 4 generations of Duramax-- LB7 is 01-04 (mine), LLY is 04.5-05, 06 is LBZ, and 07 is ????
By far, the best MPG's come from the older LB7's, but the newer LBZ's have gobbs of power and are quiter than the LB7's .
The Dodge Cummins are flatly an awesome engine. A little less high Tech than the Duramax (not a bad thing at all) and less stock power. Some guys get some incredible MPGs with the older ones, and reports of these engines lasting 500k+ without an overhaul are not uncommon. The older Cummins are the noisest of the big 3 manf. and don't let HP fool you, its all about torque, and the Cummins is one fine engine. Only problem is what's wrapped around the Fine Cummins engine IMO (but there are pleanty of Dodge fans).
The Ford 6.0 Pwr Stroke seems to have been bit of a dissappointment compared to the older 7.3 (or was it 7.1 ?) liter Power Stroke. Still, it's a pulling engine but MPG's seem to be pretty low, all in all.
It seems all three manf have plusses and minuses--- the consensus seems to be the best PU would be a cummins with a GM Allison Trans, Ford or Dodge front end, Ford roomyness and GM interior.
You will never pay for the cost differential between a gas and diesel considering the $6k+ differential upfront cost and the $0.30 - $0.50 "premium" on diesel fuel (man that pisses me off), but if you do tow there is no comparison in performance.
For one, I will not go back to gasoline for my tow vehicles (subject to change this opinion after I have a major repair bill, however).

[blackwell50]

I've had an oil burner for about a year now ( replaced a Suburban). First of all, regardless of MPG, or manufacturer there is no comparison between gasoline and desiel engines. For towing the torque of the oil burners is like night and day to gassers. 've been an active reader on the net about the big 3 diesels and here is what I have learned:
First, I have an 04 GMC Duramax. I get 21 mph hiway (non tow) and about 17 mpg in town. Towing my 26' Glacier bay I get between 9.5- 10.mpg at 60-65 mph. The 2,000 Rpm is the key as stated earlier ( and not driving like a bat out of hell). I actually got 23 mpg on a highway trip where I confined to 55-60 mph.
Starting in mid '04 the manfactures started adding pollution control (cat converters) which all seemed to reduce fuel economy.
For GM there are now 4 generations of Duramax-- LB7 is 01-04 (mine), LLY is 04.5-05, 06 is LBZ, and 07 is ????
By far, the best MPG's come from the older LB7's, but the newer LBZ's have gobbs of power and are quiter than the LB7's .
The Dodge Cummins are flatly an awesome engine. A little less high Tech than the Duramax (not a bad thing at all) and less stock power. Some guys get some incredible MPGs with the older ones, and reports of these engines lasting 500k+ without an overhaul are not uncommon. The older Cummins are the noisest of the big 3 manf. and don't let HP fool you, its all about torque, and the Cummins is one fine engine. Only problem is what's wrapped around the Fine Cummins engine IMO (but there are pleanty of Dodge fans).
The Ford 6.0 Pwr Stroke seems to have been bit of a dissappointment compared to the older 7.3 (or was it 7.1 ?) liter Power Stroke. Still, it's a pulling engine but MPG's seem to be pretty low, all in all.
It seems all three manf have plusses and minuses--- the consensus seems to be the best PU would be a cummins with a GM Allison Trans, Ford or Dodge front end, Ford roomyness and GM interior.
You will never pay for the cost differential between a gas and diesel considering the $6k+ differential upfront cost and the $0.30 - $0.50 "premium" on diesel fuel (man that pisses me off), but if you do tow there is no comparison in performance.
For one, I will not go back to gasoline for my tow vehicles (subject to change this opinion after I have a major repair bill, however).

I love my dodge but I'm a little worried about my tranny.Think I will put a five speed in it soon.

[dirtyj]

I have an 04 excursion w/ 305's, tow package, 6.0 powerstroke. 65-70 mph no tow, I get 16-17 mpg, towing 13.5-15.

I have heard the horror stories of the 6.0, but mine runs like a raped ape - 40k miles in 10 months with no problems.