Is this right for a 2004 Cummins diesel?

[Guy400]

Just moved my brother from Ohio to North Carolina this weekend and we used a 2004 Dodge diesel with a 28' race car trailer. Unloaded we averaged 12mpg and then loaded we averaged 9mpg. Seems sort of low for a diesel. You folks pulling race trailers seeing similar gas mileage out of your diesel trucks?

[MOFO]

I would say thats a little low... I thought the "new" CTD was getting better MPG than the older versions.

I know my buddy with a Duramax pulled his 38ft 5th wheel (camper) loaded with everything and he would get around 11-12mpg. With no load (no camper), he would see 18-20mpg highway.

[Guy400]

When I say "unloaded" I mean the trailer was empty. 12mpg with an empty 28' enclosed trailer still seems a little on the low side for a Cummins. My dad was considering a Dodge diesel before this weekend.

[Rip_Tear]

Was it an auto? If so I can see it. What size was it?

[Guy400]

3500 4x2 with the auto.

[Giz400ex]

That seems a little weird for a 4x2 also!!!!! Thats a dually though, right??

[Guy400]

Nope, single wheel with slightly less than 10k on the odometer.

[ZSK]

I've always heard and experienced diesel getting better fuel economy with time. Very heavy duty components are used and take a while to break in. The saying 60,000 miles and just getting broke in, stands pretty true in my opinion. Our ford 7.3 gets 21 on the highway with road tires, 19 with little more aggressive, keeping your foot out of the turbo of course and 15 pulling the 28ft travel trailer, 14 with the pickup camper on it. With that few of miles you should see better fuel economy coming on.

[MOFO]

Yep, I agree.... that motor is not broken in yet. I know my buddy with the Duramax didnt see his best MPG until he broke 20-25k.

[honda350r]

I own a 99 stroke and I get 17 mpg empty and 10 pulling !


My buddy has a 04 Dodge and it gets about 9 pulling his toy hauler!


I think most people lie about the mileage they get! I think it makes them feel better about spending over 5 grand on the engine option!

I really don't care if I only get 10 or less mpg! What counts to me is the time saved getting from point A to point B ! Time is money and diesel trucks haul the mail big time !!!

You can't get the HP out of a gas truck because the fuel sucks and detonation will get you no where !

[bulkdriverlp]

seems too low dad has a 1ton single gets 23 hwy by its self.;)

[brif]

Most seem to get worse milage with the 04.5' cummins 600 diesel over the 555(03-04) version. If the truck had 4.10 gears in the rear that would also affect the milage as well as the miles on the engine. From the milage you're seeing I'd guess and say it's a cummins 600 with 4.10 gears. It'll get better with time, but with this combo I wouldn't expect to see 20mpg unloaded(no trailer) with this combo.

[MP250r]

i got a 97' Dodge cummins dually, 4x4, extended cab. Its got straight exhaust, BD calibration plate, a custom K&N intake and a boost orphis. I get 20mpg with no load and regular driving. It pulls a work trailer daily that weights around 6,000 pounds and gets about 12 mpg. The truck has almost 130,000 miles on it. I havent had a bit of trouble out of it except for the tranny that went out at 120k miles. Diesel is the only way to go when you tow alot. The new diesels make alot more power than the older ones like mine.

[stiffy]

We have a 2001 2500 4x4 short bed quad cab Cummins automatic and we get about 14-15 mpg pulling our 32ft fifth wheel toyhauler with bikes and water. But as we get up to speed it's more like 5 mpg. We have a 5" lift with 36x14.50x16 parnelli jones dirt grip tires, Stage II injectors, Edge Comp Box ( not turned on when hauling), Banks 4" exhaust from the turbo back, and banks HUGE power Elbow, AFE Stage II air filter, and our buddy with edge also did some kind of copper thingy on our turbo and we get 40 lbs of boost now. It's a fun truck when it isn't being worked.

[MNTNMAN]

40 lbs of boost now. [/B]

Your head gasket must last a whole 5 minutes.

There is a TSB out and the dealer has a reflash for the ECM for low fuel milage. It's under warranty, use it. You paid for it. But an auto and 4:10 gears running high RPM is gonna suck down a bunch of fuel anyway with a load.

[stiffy]

Well our friend Kenny is partners with Edge and he's the one who did it it can go to 40lbs but he wouldn't recomend it daily it goes to like 30 then 35 if ya really get on it. He showed us a turbo that had to much boost it spun the guts right out of it. I think a bigger turbo or twin turbo is next on the list. Diesels are so much fun:D

[Bretmd94]

I would say it isnt broken in yet at all. Those cummings last forever. Even though my personal opinion is that all dodges are POS's =Þ, the Cummins Turbo is the choise for me for Deisels. (its not a dodge motor) All you have to worry about is the rest of the truck.

[MNTNMAN]

twin turbo is next on the list.

I want twins too.

My '02 last dynoed at 415 RWHP. Its the 6 speed with Edge Comp, DD III's, PDR HX40 Turbo, South Bend Clutch, 5" exhaust, AFE Mega Cannon. I just got a new set of EDM Mach 3 injectors, but haven't had a chance to swap them in yet. There not susposed to smoke nearly as much as the DD injectors. I am thinking they might get me up to around 430-440 RWHP.

[MOFO]

Originally posted by MNTNMAN
I want twins too.

My '02 last dynoed at 415 RWHP. Its the 6 speed with Edge Comp, DD III's, PDR HX40 Turbo, South Bend Clutch, 5" exhaust, AFE Mega Cannon. I just got a new set of EDM Mach 3 injectors, but haven't had a chance to swap them in yet. There not susposed to smoke nearly as much as the DD injectors. I am thinking they might get me up to around 430-440 RWHP.

How much torque are ya puttin out? :cool:

[brian-250]

yea, its pretty common that cummins suck gas mileage.:(



my dads 7.3 gets 13 empty and 9 pulling a 15000lb camper.:eek2: :p

but the cummins will pull ANYTHING you put behind them.:macho

I know Jeffs 350Ford sucks the got dam gas when pulling the race trailer....:mad: I think i actually did see the gas gauge move toward empty coming thru the mountains coming back from Ruasch Creek...:mad:

[MNTNMAN]

Originally posted by MOFO
How much torque are ya puttin out? :cool:

I kind of remember 805 or 815 ft/lbs. I've got the dyno slip around somewere but I can't find it. But dyno numbers are all kind of suggestive anyway. Every one will give different numbers. Alot of it depends on the dyno operator and if the setup is correct.

Just be happy that mods for quads are alot cheaper than trucks.

[MOFO]

Originally posted by MNTNMAN
I kind of remember 805 or 815 ft/lbs. I've got the dyno slip around somewere but I can't find it. But dyno numbers are all kind of suggestive anyway. Every one will give different numbers. Alot of it depends on the dyno operator and if the setup is correct.

Just be happy that mods for quads are alot cheaper than trucks.


nah, I didnt need an exact number...I understand how dynos can be different..either way your at or above 800 ft/lbs... very impressive!