Just wondering is all since everyone selling their Dodge says they get 24 mpg even if it's an auto.

 

My friend has a 2003 Dodge Cummins 2500 4x4 and he consistently gets 16 MPH. I'm pretty skeptical of claims of a 8000 lb truck getting better than 20 MPG in anything other than than the most optimal conditions.

 

I thought so just sounds pretty good though, when I had my 94 F350 7.3 Turbo crew cab 2x4 dually 5spd I got 18 mpg.

 

in the old job, we had a 94 dodge, and 2 88 fords.
the dodge got 10 mpg, loaded or empty. the fords got 22 mpg empty, and 14-16 loaded.
and all 3 had 5 speeds.

with the new company, we have one dodge and over 50 ford diesels. the dodge with the utility body averages 14 mpg
the fords average 14-16 mpg, except for the 08 trucks. they only average 10 mpg.

 

Well that's good to hear then so basically sticking to Ford is still a good idea then. Thank you all for your input and knowledge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I've heard that a Cummins with a stick and 3.55 gears will do 20-21 mpg highway.

My brother has an '02 with a six speed, I don't know the gears, but he has a tuner, intake and exhaust on it and says he gets 19 mpg highway (at 70-75 MPH, I believe)

Sure would be happy if mine did that well, but with the 4.10's I doubt it.

 

At what speed? I have no idea what My trucks could make at say 55mph or 60mph But I can tell You that at 80mph from here to Texas My 97 F250 7.3 2WD E4OD 3.55gear's would make 18mpg and one time made 23mpg!! My 86 F250 6.9 C6 with GV 4.10gear's same trip will make 16mpg My 00 F250 7.3 E4OD 3.70gear's makes 18mpg
I need to make a trip some where at 55mph so I can make big mpg clams ;-)

 

We have a member here that has a cummins. I'll let him speak for that.

My truck is not stock anymore and with 3.08 gears and E4OD transmission, there are times that I have peaked at 24.9 MPG @ 70 MPH empty(must have been a slight tailwind).

The thread called "Hypermilers thread" documents my results over a few months. Basically Its mostly tested at 70 MPH, and the results are 15 MPG towing and 20 empty. If I'm gentle with the truck, I can persuade another 2 MPG consistenly out of it. I think a gently driven cummins could yield similar results, especually if you could control your foot and maintain 55 MPH. I don't have that kind of self control yet.

As the other guy mentioned, I too have not tested the truck at lower speeds. Traffic often tries to flow at 80 MPH up here too.

 

do you really expect them to tell you the truth??

and if their comapart is so fantabulous, why are they selling it in the first place??

 

I get that here too, but I ain't worried - I'm bigger than most of them, and usually have the stronger bumper as well (class IV tow), so the only ones that actually bother me sometimes are the 18-wheelers, but they even when pissed off at my slow driving still ain't dumb enough to actually get physical. So yeah, I cruise at 55mph, I get 20+ mpg, and I'm lovin it With the 4.10 gears bobtailing at 70mph on a 200-mile trip last week I got 19 mpg, and that involved some hills too.

 

My 92 CTD runs around 23 highway, with a 55-60 mph cruise. Best I did out of my 6.9 was 21, and it has a T19 behind it.
Even the Dodge guys swear that the first gens are the ones that get the mileage. Anyone I know that has a later truck doesn't break 20, and the electronic engines are worse, basically, as the HP ratings go up, the mileage goes down.

 

I still say if you average out 10 tanks of fuel, drive either manufacturers truck exactly the same way in the same terrain, with the same gearing, the MPG will be very close to the same on both engines.

It takes X amount of fuel to move 8000 pounds at 60 MPH, the name on the front and the name on the valve cover don't make as much difference as some would lead you to believe.

 

I definitely get about 2 mpg. better out of my Dodge/Cummins. Both 5-spds, 3:54s-Dodge, 3:55s- Ford. they wiegh about the same too. I think the smaller displacement makes the difference. 359 C.I.D. vs. 444/445 C.I.D.
One determining factor is that I have straight pipes on my Ford and I LIKE to hear it run. That all by itself could be 2 mpg.

I think there are LIARS that own every brand of truck. I look at trucks for sale all of the time and appearantly there are GM, Dodge and Ford trucks out there getting 30 mpg towing 10,000 lbs. up-hill, both ways, in the snow, in 4wd., with the parking brake on-- every day.

I think everyone that has a truck for sale is afraid to put down their real mpg. figures because they will look crappy compared to the competition. I have a truck for sale and whenever someone askes about fuel mileage I have to ask them if they want the real figure or the one everyone else has given them so my tuck doesn't look bad.

I CAN tell you if I was going to get in a fuel mileage race (hey they're doing them now) I'd take a my Cummins.
I went to the coast with my family this weekend and I'm glad I took my Ford, it fits us all and rides better. Plus the straight-pipes impressed my kids going through the tunnels.

 

Trying to find a good used 4x4 7.3 or even 5.9 ext cab diesel with a 5spd is hard to find. I've only looked in the autotrader, craigslist for them, a little in the classifieds. Really would be my second diesel truck, and wanted to know what type of mpg and maintenance costs would be. I know the power stroke is a bit more in cost due to a lot of sensors etc..
How long mileage wise does the injection pump usually last? The truck I'm looking at and hoping is still there only has 120k on it. 90F350 4x4 dually 5spd 4x4 for all of 3,800

Thank you all for your knowledge

 

IP and injectors are "wear" items supposed to be serviced at 100-120k IIRC, tho that don't mean they can't last longer.