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is 13 mpg acceptable?

4K views 45 replies 15 participants last post by  losfinch 
#1 ·
hey guys,

this is the first tank that i've hand calculated. i know its not a true average yet until i get 3-4 average tanks.

anyways, my truck is a '00 350 4x4 ccsb with a 6.5" lift and 285's on stock wheels. stock motor with no tune, stock intake and stock exhaust w/muffler.

keeping in mind winter diesel and longer idling times...does 13 mpg sound fair. this includes NO or VERY limited highway driving and my drive to work includes about a 12-13 mile stretch of 55 mph. also, i've driven it very easy...maybe even too easy.

this was 303 miles to the tank and i put back in 23 gallons.

thanks!
 
#3 ·
My truck idles almost an hour a day about 6 days a week and I'm getting about the same MPG. It's not acceptable, but it's realistic I think. Lol!
 
#5 ·
wow you are killing me. I got 2000 305 tires leveling kit and ts chip and only getting about 11.3 in town. Now im worried any ides???
 
#7 ·
ok thanks.

hey, u guys may know this. i never plugged in my other 7.3's but i just started plugging this one in. it sits in an unheated garage. with that being said, i used to let it warm up atleast 10 minutes in the morning and its around 25 degrees right now at night in southern lower michigan.

after having it plugged in, am i safer to just let it warm up just about 2 minutes or so before i leave for work?
 
#8 ·
Well what's the tempurature of the truck lol! When I was able to plug mine in it would sit outside (also from MI) and if it was plugged in overnight it would get warm (Normal range on coolant temp gauge). It depends on how long it's plugged in really.
 
#9 ·
sorry it has a K$N tntake and four inch exhaust i just checked tire pressure a week ago all filled to about 3 punds under max. Than is with barely any idle time i have it plugged in almost everywhere i stop. I just baught this truck a few months ago well right about the hieght of the deisel price bcause of fuel economy, not impressed at all. Hate to say it but all the dodge guys i know are getting way better
 
#12 ·
You have a 6.5" lift and only 285 tires?

Sorry - 13 mpg - average I suppose.

I have 305's and 2.5" lift (didnt need lift to fit tires) - and average 14-18 around town - but I'm easy on the go pedal.
 
#14 ·
yep...it had 36x14.50 pj's on it with 16x12 mickey thompson classic II's when i got it. i wont run a 12" wheel for everyday driving so i pulled them off. actually, they are for sale.

we'll see what happens the next few tanks. sometimes i think i drive it too easy.
 
#13 ·
my next question would be running 315 sorry i said 305 and no speedo correction how much differnce will that make???
 
#15 ·
funny u should ask that. i think there is a formula to compensate from the stock 265 (31's) that came on it if thats what u had but i dont know what that is.

just today, i took my gps out to get a feel of what the 285's were turning compared to the stockers which again i think were 265's in that year. at 70 mph, the speedo was only 2 mph off. at 55 it was almost dead on.

then i set my trip to zero. after driving about 12 miles or so, the gps indicated i drove something like 12.4. i had to do it quickly today and did not have alot of time to put into it but mine is not off that much.

most of my other trucks have had 35's like yours. you could do the same thing. once u get a 15 to 20 mile average i suppose you could kinda do some math and see exactly how many miles u could add to your tank to get a true average. you should definitely be getting more that what you show with those tires.
 
#16 ·
i just went on a 100 mile one way trip and got 19.56 mpg!!! and that was with heavy Houston traffic after that i was runnin 80 the whole way my truck is leveled runnin 285's also keep in mind i have one of the heaviest powerstrokes made a cc/lb with ranch hands weighing in around 10,000 lbs. BUT i do have a standard which is a bonus
 
#17 ·
its funny...i never had a 94-97 stroke but it seems like i see some of those getting the best mileage. i need to do some mods to bring mine up when i get some cash.
 
#18 ·
forgot to mention but its in my sig, i got free flowing with big a$$ filter and 4'' straight pipe with TW's on eco :thumb:
 
#20 ·
yep i need to get to that for mine. like most guys i dont drive one of these for the best mpg but we always try to get the best out of them.
 
#19 ·
i know it sux, ok at the dealership when you buy a used rig do they change fuel filter and so on. Also i heard a friend say somthing about draining a water seperator. is there such a thing?
make a difference?
where is it?
 
#21 ·
if it is at a reputable big 3 dealership i think the oil should atleast be changed other than that they may do a safety inspection.

i believe the seperator is on top of the motor. u have to pull the black plastic cover to get to it. there is a yellow drain lever on the back. i haven't done this yet but need to so i cant offer u more. i think u can just drain it and or put in a new seperator.
 
#22 ·
above post: no need to take cover off that says turbo diesel powerstroke w/e on it. its hinged so it just swings open and it exposes the fuel bowl and the yellow lever is on the side just flip it. but you should only have to drain it if you get the "water in fuel" light.

now traxshin these mods really arent that expensive.
filter- 6637 napa filter $37 superdutys can also do the free zoodad mod (search it)
exhaust- muffler shop can bend you up a cheap system if not shoot gus a pm at farmboys diesel for a budget full system
TW chip- all about timing i bought mine used on here from another member for $200 flat
 
#26 ·
hey man thats cool i appreciate it.

yep, i've read the threads on the diy intake and the zoodad mod.

question for u though about the tw chip...does this require pulling the pcm and taking it apart? i wouldn't mind a custom chip but is there one i can get that i can just flash the pcm through the diagnostic port under the dash?
 
#23 ·
how much fuel will i lose? do i need to do anything to get it running afterwords?
 
#24 ·
should it be running???
 
#25 ·
from what little i know...it should not be running and the recommendation is to put a pan underneath to catch the fuel / water. but drain it how u see fit.

i assume there is a drain line (so i've heard) that dump somewhere underneath the engine compartment.
 
#27 ·
To drain the water from the fuel filter assembly you will need to look on the backside of the fuel filter for the yellow lever. Rotate it until it points towards the cab. Do this with the engine shut off and expect it to make a mess on the ground and the front axle. Then turn it back forward to the original position. There is nothing special to do afterwards except to turn the key to the accessory position and wait for the "wait to start" light to go off. This won't help your mpg but should be done monthly.

The dealer most likely did not change the filter. Why would he? This could improve your mpg and should be done every 10,000 miles.

I get 14 mpg on my daily 8 mile commute with no block heater use. Oh and I only let it idle long enough for the glow pugs to shut off. My aftermarket voltmeter indicates when this happens but we're talking a minute or so and then easy driving until warm.

I have 305/70/16 tires and just a 4" exhaust. I can get 21 on a long drive at 60 mph.
 
#33 ·
here ya go...i just got the reply and ran out and backed her outta the garage. it was getting dark and was just starting to rain.
 
#32 ·
To answer another OP's question, when you drain the fuel bowl through the yellow lever pet**** deal the most you will get is one beer bottle full or 12 oz. before the bowl is empty. If you leave the truck running or the fuel pump powered up then the fuel will blast all over the place and you could get the whole fuel tank to pump out.

I agree, 15 miles at 55 is long enough to really bring up the mpg. Much of that commute will be at an efficient operating temperature.
 
#36 ·
ok...this will work let me see what i can throw in here.

i know we all love big pics!!!







here's one w/the 36" pj's on it when i bought it...


 
#37 ·
by the way thanks for the responses and info on the chips...definitely learning more than i knew.

and...the 36x14.50 pj's on 16x12 m/t classic ii's are for sale. prob 50% on the tread if i had to guess. they come with two open centers and two closed ones and a complete set of lugs w/a gorilla lock for each one.

asking $1,000.00

gotta run now we have band practice at my house. it's definitely my favorite night of the week. i'll check back later if im not too hammered!!!
 
#38 ·
that truck looks familiar.Where abouts in Mi are you from?
 
#44 ·
ahh ok .I was going down to the #1 exit every day for a while so maybe I seen it on the highway.
 
#45 ·
well i recently bought this one from the west side of the state but i think maybe the truck was atleast an hour north of where you are
 
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