Disappointing mileage

[omercer]

I am very disappointed in the mileage. I'm seriously considering trading my 05 Duramax in for the new Ford when they come out next year. I have 22k miles and mostly at 75mph on the hiway. The dash readout says 13.9 ave mpg. That's pretty close. The best single trip was 15.9 mpg. Most of my driving is at ~ 5000ft elevation in Northern Nevada. I got the 15.9mpg in California close to sea level. Do you think that indicates something? Please explain to me why there is such a wide range of mpg. It doesn't make sense to me that there can be an 8mpg range for the same vehicle even taking into account different driving styles.

[mdadgar]

Originally posted by omercer:
I am very disappointed in the mileage. I'm seriously considering trading my 05 Duramax in for the new Ford when they come out next year. I have 22k miles and mostly at 75mph on the hiway. The dash readout says 13.9 ave mpg. That's pretty close. The best single trip was 15.9 mpg. Most of my driving is at ~ 5000ft elevation in Northern Nevada. I got the 15.9mpg in California close to sea level. Do you think that indicates something? Please explain to me why there is such a wide range of mpg. It doesn't make sense to me that there can be an 8mpg range for the same vehicle even taking into account different driving styles. <shrug>

That's basically exactly what my '02 gets.

- Mark

[DmaxMaverick]

Slower speeds (CA vs. NV) and lower elevation can very easily increase your mileage 2+.

What truck do you have? 2wd, 4wd, SRW, DRW, auto, stick, length, weight, cargo? Accessories? All of these can make a big difference with mileage. Driving habits seems to have the biggest effect.

[markrinker]

I am averaging nearly that - pulling a 25' trailer that weighs 4K empty.

Others have reported mileage problems. There is something we are overlooking here. Thats too low.

[Rick Malone]

I know 8 to 10 people that own a 2005 ford p/s and 1 with a 2006 and all of then wish there trk would get 19 to 19.9 on the hwy and avg.16+. like my GMC does, mine droped to 12.5 avg. after my first oil change at 2000 miles took the trk. in and it had a bad injector now its better than before, have the dealer look at it its free,

[richp]

Has anyone else experienced a noticeable drop in fuel economy after having all 8 injectors replaced? I can document a 1-2 MPG decrease (both unloaded and towing my fiver), along with a surge at idle, both of which the dealer is still working on.

Any thoughts?

Rich Phillips
Member #27

[Hookem2004]

I have a 2003 and I just took two trips back to Wyoming from California. And pulling a cargo trailer at 75-80 mph, I averaged around 13mpg. But when driving around on the highway without the trailer at 70 mph, I've been average 20mpg. That's calculated not by the DIC which seems to be off by a few gallons. I've got 44,000 and the milage seems to be improving. I'm also running the Van Aaken, but I'm not sure if that helps the milage or not.

I think if you can get 13mpg at 75 miles and hour, is great. Look at the size if the rigs and how much wind resistance they have.

[Diesel Crat]

02 gets 14-15 if there's a lot of heavy accelerating. 18-20mpg under normal driving. Even get 18 on L4 if driven reasonably. 13-14 if not. ;)

[nlp]

I have a 2002 CrewCab 4x4 D/A with 62,000 and 2131 hrs.
I get 19.5 mpg hwy if I keep it at 65mph.
Mileage drops to 17.5 if I drive 75 mph.
I get 16.0 if all city driving.

Mixed driving for me usually yields 16.5-17.5 mpg.

[Dave]

My milage out of my 05 has been dismal at best. It gets 14.8 mpg unloaded interstate at 70 mph. It got 9.6 mpg at 70 mpg pulling a 4000 pound wedge low profile trailer on a 3003 mile round trip. It get 8 mpg pulling my 12000 pound RV.

For comparison my 01 got 17.5 mpg at 70 mph interstate. It got 12 mpg pulling the same 12000 pound RV.

Both trucks are 3500 crew cab doolly with the duramax allison. Differeance is LB7 to the LLY.

[JD Diesel]

On my trip to oregon last june with my 5er I averaged 11.5 onthe flats and 10 in the hills I am real happy with that. I only got 8 with my 454 sub 33ft tralier :mad: . never had it wieghted. gross combimed weight on my 5er and truck was 21980pds. Almost forgot average speed was 63 to 65 :D JD

[Roy W]

My bone stock 2005 four wheel drive with a topper averages 16.5 to 17 mpg combination driving, 18.5 unloaded at 75 mph on the interstate, and 11 mpg pulling my 9200 lb travel trailer on the interstate at 70 mph. These are all actual calculations, as I don't have a DIC.

[JD Diesel]

The only thing that I thinks that really sucks is the small fuel tank gets a little scary at times. seen some one that makes a 56 gal tank for this truck. :eek: JD