3.0 v6
Junior User
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Northern MN
That's the exact same truck I have, and I also have a soft tonneau cover. Now, I'm getting 16-18 with the cold weather (-7 degrees this morning). During the summer, I get 19-22. I drive about 14 miles one way to work, mostly highway at 55-65.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: Central, MA
The 3.0 is not overpowered, but is a durable cast iron motor. What it loses to the 4.0 in power it makes up in reliability and with cost effective maintenance.
Right now I'm getting over 21mpg on my 320-mile weekly commute. Last week I burned only about 15-gallons of 87 octane. I'm not expecting 21mpg this week. I did alot of idling in traffic and had to use 4wd a few times during today's snow storm. I drive under the 65mph speed limit and do a lot of coasting too.
During the summer months, I've topped 23mpg often and even averaged over 24mpg one week.
The key thing might be to drive slower and watch the tire pressure. These vehilces are heavy and also push a lot of air.
Senior User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Cheswick, Pa.
Flexfuel Dave, I have exactly what you have but in 4x2. The best I ever did was just under 21 in lots of highway driving. My tires are always well inflated and I'm gentle on the gas pedal. Shouldn't your 4x4 use more than the 4x2? It sounds like it doesn't make that much difference. Is the heater a big reason for worse mileage in the cold?
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: Central, MA
The extra weight of the 4wd stuff should cost gas mileage, but the way people drive and the terrain might be the big difference.
Do you have the 4.10 gears out back?
My mileage jumped up about 10% after I slowed down on the highway and began coasting more often. I do my best to just take it slow. Driving 70+ like the others does little for elapse time on a 30-mile trip.
A few things kill winter gas mileage.
With EFI, cold weather forces the cold idle circuit to stay on longer until the right coolant temperature gets there.
Think about how much time you can spend letting the engine idle. In winter you can run into more traffic jams. You are also getting 0-mpg as you might let the defroster soften that windshield full of ice or frost too.
The next time around I'm going to be torn between the 4.0 or another 3.0 motor. They no longer make the 3.0, but i never buy new vehicles anyway!
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