I have a 2WD 6 speed manual completely stock with original exhaust. I get 19 mpg everywhere. City, highway, whatever. It's always 19 mpg. 15 mpg towing a car on a 18 foot flat bed at 70 mph.

What kind of mileage gains are possible with the DP tuner?

 

Just with the tuner, probably not much. You will need at a minimum, to open up that intake, and I would get at least an EGT gauge, bare minimum. Especially if you are towing. How are you calculating your mileage?

 

Tank by tank, miles over gallons filled. Usually calculated on 400 mile intervals.

I also took a 5200 mile trip at one time and summed the entire miles and gallons used to reduce error. Worked out the same. I don't have any fancy electronics to keep track of mileage.

I have worn tires that are improving mileage slightly. Once I install new tires this spring I'm sure it will drop a little. I also drive like a grandma and that helps a lot when using a manual transmission. This is why I'm wondering if a tuner will actually do much for me.

 

I used to get around wat u get now, since then I bought my DP ive lost about 5...so idk

IM NOT SAYING DONT GET ONE....but im saying it COULD go the other way.

My truck dosnt like the DP...but loved my TS chip...

 

I only wish I got your mileage. I get 15 towing, 17 city, and on a good day 19+ on the highway. You can see the mods (moderate) I have on my signature.

I haven't noticed any jump in mileage gains with my DP, but it certainly makes for a quicker truck!

Richard

 

If thats what your getting, and your comfortable with the power level, I wouldnt change a thing. If youd like a more responsive motor, Id look into new programming, and the intake, exhaust said above. However, if your comfortable with the power of your truck now, I really, really would not change a thing. 19mpg is great, and seldomly achieved in the psd world. Atleast IMO. I average 15-17 summer, and 13-15 winter.

 

I second your statement, Might want to save your money!

 

with opening up the exhaust and a tuner your milage shouldn't suffer any and it will really wake the engine up
there is one on this forum with 2WD auto that is getting 23 mpg with DP but trucks and drivers differ
Even at the same milage I wouldn't want to be without my DP

 

I also have a 2wd 6 speed and I get about 18 mpg on the highway with the cruise set between 70-75. I have a dp, exhaust, and 6637 on mine. I normally run in the 80e tune and I make frequent trips across the country (Denver to New Orleans) and the mileage is pretty steady for the whole trip. I actually lost 1 mpg with the dp tuner on my truck, my superchips was getting my 19 mpg on the same drive. Around town I get about 16 in Denver and I am not quite sure in New Orleans since I tow or fool around way to much.

 

Wow.... not the answers I was expecting. I was thinking that a tuner is a slam dunk in the mileage department. Looks like the 7.3L is a bit touchy to tune. Keep the discussion rolling. I'm listening.

I am probably more of a mixed city/highway scenario, rather than true city. But my city mileage numbers are definitely the result of driving style. When I first bought the truck I got 16 mpg. Over the next four tanks of fuel I progressively learned how to better use the manual transmission until I could consistently get 19.x mpg. Been doing it for two years now. I rarely drive any congested roads with bumper to bumper traffic. There's no way I could pull off those figures in down town Chicago, for example.

 

If I drive like Grandpa I'd get 20+. But I don't, so I get 15-17 mixed driving, and with a heavy foot.

 

I guess it would be a question of what kind of tuner your looking at. The Super Chips i had increased line pressure in the trans to firm up the shifts as to where the DP Tuner and T. Wildman chips increase trans line pressures and fueling among other things. Exhaust and intake are a good idea as stated above. Others will chime in if i,m correct on this matter.

 

I have a manual transmission.

 

What you're seeing here is the truth instead of hype. A tuner is designed to provide more power. If you're wanting to get better MPG's, you would need to find a tuner that takes away power.

An intake and exhaust will help with the airflow, but the best thing you can do is shift at or before 2,000 rpm's, and keep your top speed down on the freeway. I can get just over 22 mpg if I keep the top speed around 62 mph.

 

I'm getting 57.7 MPG right now. But I really don't care what the MPG is, because I bought this truck to pull what I need to pull. If I wanted MPG, I would drive a VW bug. Yes, get all you can out of your truck, but these trucks are made for a reason. Thats why you don't see (expected MPG on these trucks) in the window sticker.