2002 Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Diesel fuel economy
hbo...@gte.net
Cummins Turbo Diesel (not the HO), 5 speed manual, 4x4, long bed, quad
cab. It has the 3.54 (or 3.55 depending on who's info you want to
believe, but who cares for just 0.01 difference?), limited slip rear
end.
Now, before buying this, since it is my first diesel and first 4x4 I
wanted to know what kind of MPG to expect. I have read that fuel
economy and power will increase during break-in, and that break-in can
take from 5,000 to 20,000 miles depending on how you drive the pickup
(www.cummins.com I think it is).
I got a dealership to loan me a 4x2 (NOT 4x4), SWB, pickup with the
same specs as the one I bought. I drove it for a day, over 300
something miles, and got right at 20 MPG. Please note that this
pickup had over 6,000 miles on it (remember my comments about
increased MPG and power during break-in).
I loved the power, the MPG, etc. I ordered mine. I got it.
Now, mine is 4x4, so I expected some lower MPG. I have gotten so far
(at less than 3,000 miles) a high of 17.5 MPG (hiway driving at 70+
MPH), and a low of in the 15's...but that was the first number I got.
Last tank was 17.2 MPG with daily commutes of 20 miles to and from
work (40 miles round trip) with some daily periods, both ways, of
stop-n-go driving.
All MPG figures were done starting the tripmeter on a full tank of
diesel, and I've now learned that, since the filler neck is wide open,
unlike gasoline vehicles that have a plate with a small hole in it in
the neck, I can easily fill the tank until I see standing diesel in
the filler neck, so I'm sure I'm starting with a completely full tank
every time. Then I divide the tripmeter miles with the number of
gallons, to at least one decimal place, no rounding on whole gallons,
to come up with the MPG, which I round to one decimal place.
So, there you go. Some info that would have helped me when I was
looking to buy this pickup. Oh, just for referrence, I had a 1998
Dodge Ram 1500 4x2...360, auto, extended cab, SWB....it get's about 15
MPG...hiway... (but, I did have 245/75 tires instead of the factory
225/75 tires) So, my new truck can carry more, has more cargo space,
4x4, more power, and gets BETTER MPG!! Thank God!! woohoo!
Oh, and it has a kick ass sound (the diesel)...and turbo-whine...if
you don't like the engine noise and turbo-whine...then maybe you don't
really need to drive a pickup...I think Hyundai has a car for you.
--HC
"Yes, I know the project requirements. Yes, I understand. What am I
looking for? The keys to the getaway vehicle." --HC
codemaan
trips w/o stop and go driving AND you keep it under 70mph (such as 60mph)
and you are running empty. That is, after it has a few miles under its belt
and broke in. Knock 1+mpg off if you want to go down the boulevard at
70+mph. Add ~2mpg (if) it was a 2x4 rather than a 4x4. Decrease 1 mpg for
*winter blend* diesel in the winter (you will get the mpg back in the
summer) . If you live in cold climate and idle the motor (a bit) to warm
up, then your mileage will be lower by some amount. Haul around a 1,000
pounds or so for winter ballast, then decrease your mileage by ~1mpg.
These are questimates based upon my experience, but this will give you an
idea.
"hboothe...@gte.net" <hbo...@gte.net> wrote in message
news:f9dcae5e.02020...@posting.google.com...
Wayne T. Whitelaw
different, but I consistently get around 18 MPG, unless towing the
Airstream, then its down to 13 MPG. With 136,000 miles on the clock, the
mileage figures remain relatively constant.
--
____________________________________________________________________
Wayne T. Whitelaw
"hboothe...@gte.net" <hbo...@gte.net> wrote in message
news:f9dcae5e.02020...@posting.google.com...
Jacob Suter
Then again, if Hyundai brought some of their lightish-duty (1 tonish) trucks
here I'd seriously consider them for their fuel economy (I've heard 30 mpg
running on this pisswater diesel we have here in the USA)
JS
"hboothe...@gte.net" <hbo...@gte.net> wrote in message
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