Test drove a Dodge Ram 2500 Cummins Today

[Lt CHEG]

While I agree that the way the electronic mpg calculators calculate fuel mileage is probably not the ideal setup, I've had pretty good luck with them in my vehicles. Actually the Dodge Durango that is assigned to me as a take home vehicle from work has one of the more accurate displays. I've never been off by more than .3 to .5 mpg on the electronic mpg display vs. what I calculated by hand. That being said I believe what you guys are saying, I'm just relaying why I put some value in the electronic display reading during the test drive.

I wish there was a better way for me to figure out the fuel economy of a truck on a test drive. I wouldn't even mind putting in a couple or three gallons of fuel if they would start the test drive with a full tank, let me take it for a spin and then calculate then fill it up and calculate the economy the old fashioned way. For me fuel economy is one of the most important factors that I use in evaluating a vehicle. And although I enjoy surfing forums for information and have received great advice and information, I find that fuel mileage is one of those things that I just couldn't base a purchasing decision on, based solely upon what other people are saying.

I guess at this point I'm not going to consider any diesel engine that doesn't deliver at least 20-22 mpg on the highway when it's unloaded at 70 mph. I get 18+ on pure highway driving with my current truck when it's not towing and my 5.3 V8 has enough power to pull anything that I want to tow and has performed well towing loads at the limit (in fact a couple hundred pounds in excess) of its rated towing capacity. I don't tow heavy often enough to offset the 8.5 mpg that I get towing 10,000 pounds if I don't get better than 20 mpg highway when I'm not towing which is most of the time. That calculation doesn't even factor in the fact that diesel is more expensive.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I think you will have a hard time finding anything that currently gives 22mpg. The 06 and 07 stuff can come close. They just had these engines figured out when the Gubment made them jack with them in 08.

Maybe that new Ford will be up to all the hype.

Big problem with mpg claims is my version of city driving is different than a guy who lives or works in Philly. Also, diesel fuel in the US is crap. There is no set Cetane ratings, Kind of like Octane ratings. What that means is one supplier in one area could be selling fuel with a rating of 46 while the next county over it could have a rating of 51.

As for the dash readings I have found them to be fairly accurate in all the vehicles I have owned from GM, Ford, Nissan, and Dodge. When I say accurate I mean +/-.5 mpg but usually within .2 mpg. Close enough for me.

Chris

 

[schmism]

Not knowing exactly how the on-board computer calculates fuel mileage, ... the old fashioned gas station calculations using odometer mileage and gallons pumped into the tank.

from the electronic MPG gauges in all 3 of the BMW's ive owned (including the current 2) all were within 1 MPG when checked with gallons pumped and miles driven.

My friend who has a ford expidition says his is the same way (again checked mulitipul times against pumped/miles driven)

IN short i think the electronic versions are accurate enough to give you a very real idea of what the vehicle is going to produce in terms of MPG on a reasonable test drive.

 

[Dmace]

I wish there was a better way for me to figure out the fuel economy of a truck on a test drive. I wouldn't even mind putting in a couple or three gallons of fuel if they would start the test drive with a full tank, let me take it for a spin and then calculate then fill it up and calculate the economy the old fashioned way.

Back in 2004 when I was looking for a truck I did exactly that. I told the salesman that I wanted them to fill the tank so I could put at least 100 miles on and calculate the average fuel mileage since I wanted a RAM Hemi and everyone said they were bad on gas. He gave me a slip to the local gas station, I filled up and put on 120 miles then went back to that gas station and filled up again with my own money. It took 7.3 gallons calculating to about 16.5mpg with about 70% highway and 30% city stop and go. Every "go" was full throttle too, it was addicting. :laughing:

I was happy so I bought it that day, 6 years and 100k miles ago.
I still Love my RAM! :thumbsup:

 

[Willl]

Salesman let you put 100 miles on a test drive ?

 

[ETpilot]

I sure would like to purchase a new Dodge truck. BUT, I have a 96 Dodge Ram 2500, 2x4, CTD, purchased new, and it is still going strong. I get 21 mpg normal and around 14-17 pullling a trailer around 70 mpg. It has 270,000 miles, still on my first clutch and no major repairs. So, why change. I am looking forward to 500,000 miles.

 

[Dmace]

Salesman let you put 100 miles on a test drive ?

Showing him $1000 in cash for a possible down payment and proof of financing probably helped him realize I was actually looking to purchase and not joy ride. Small towns up here, many dealers are small family owned and have no problem with long test drives. The local Jeep dealer does a 24-hr test drive and tells you to take home the one your interested in. :thumbsup:

 

[cherokeecowboy]

I'll second that on the fuel being lousy! My old 92 Cummins and my 03 both saw mileage go out the window when the ULSD came on. My 03 is a 3500 HD Dually 4x4 with a 6 speed. My average is 17-18 unloaded. While on vacation last month, I got as high as 22 with 20 being the average. This was hand calculated on a 2,600 mile trip from Texas to Maryland and back. I also agree that the quality of fuel varies from place to place as will your mileage.

I wouldn't buy a diesel on fuel mileage alone. It won't offset the cost of the diesel option or upkeep. It will be three gallons of oil instead of five quarts for example. Parts and labor are expensive on these oil burners. I do my own repairs when needed. But parts aren't cheap! Here on the farm, I could get away with a 1/2 ton truck seventy five percent of the time. It's the other twenty five percent that a 1/2 ton truck won't cut it.I'm in it for the long haul with my Cummins. It's been the best running,pulling, and go anywhere truck I've ever owned.

Best of luck to you !:thumbsup:

 

[crazyal]

I talked a guy I worked with into getting a new Ford Super Duty last spring. It was an 08 4wd 3/4 ton crew cab with an 8' bed. He got it for $25k off the sticker price as Ford was selling them very cheap. At first it got about 14.5 mpg but then Ford had a recall for the injectors. After the replacement he's down to 12.5. Part of what got him to buy it was me talking about my Dodge CTD I had. 20 MPG unless towing a heavy load. I kind of feel bad but I don't think any other new truck would be doing much better.

Has anyone looked into aftermarket products, like Banks, to see if MPG can be improved?

 

[Lt CHEG]

Back in 2004 when I was looking for a truck I did exactly that. I told the salesman that I wanted them to fill the tank so I could put at least 100 miles on and calculate the average fuel mileage since I wanted a RAM Hemi and everyone said they were bad on gas. He gave me a slip to the local gas station, I filled up and put on 120 miles then went back to that gas station and filled up again with my own money. It took 7.3 gallons calculating to about 16.5mpg with about 70% highway and 30% city stop and go. Every "go" was full throttle too, it was addicting. :laughing:

I was happy so I bought it that day, 6 years and 100k miles ago.
I still Love my RAM! :thumbsup:

The Ford dealer where I test drove a 2010 Super Duty Diesel in April and the one that I hope to test drive a 2011 Super Duty soon might go for that. My family has known them for years and besides they know what I do for a living so they know I'm trustworthy. I don't know that I'd want to put 100 miles on but maybe 40 to 50. Honestly though with as poor of mileage as I was getting during my roughly 15 mile Super Duty test drive combined with the fact that every review I've heard about the 6.4 Power Stroke's fuel mileage hasn't been great I didn't feel the need to take any more of an extended test drive of the 2010 Super Duty. Honestly I was most surprised that the CTD in the Dodge appeared to be delivering even lower fuel economy as I've heard nothing but good things about the CTD's fuel economy.

As for your Hemi, I drive a Hemi virtually every day myself. I think it's a great engine for what I use it for, in my Durango G-ride. It's fast as anything and get's moving pretty quickly. With that said, the fuel economy is lower than I require. The thing I'll say about the Hemi though is that it doesn't seem to matter how fast you go and how hard you push it, the fuel economy doesn't change much. It revs a little high for my liking for a truck and I imagine that towing anything heavy would only exacerbate that but it is definitely a good engine. I would like to see what it would do coupled with a 6 speed auto.