Dodge Cummins MPG: 4X4 vs 2X4

[Swampbeast]

So! Anyone here got any hard data on the difference in MPG between a 4X4 and a 2X4 Dodge Ram 2500, 3/4 ton, Cummins HO diesel, four door? Thats the next truck I am going to be getting, (I would get a Ford, but I am gonna wait until they get the bugs worked out of the new 6.0 stroker) and I am wondering whether to get a 4X4 or a 2X4.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated from you Dodge boys

:cool:

[Randy J]

No hard data Swampbeast, but from what I've read over on Turbo Diesel Register (http://www.turbodieselregister.com) , I would say about 24 or 25 for the 2X4, and about 20 for the 4X4, give or take a little on either one. I would go for the 4X4 though, as better resale value, even in Texas where 4X4 really isn't needed! Glad to see you're seeing the light and going Dodge/Cummins;) .

Randy

[swing blade]

Randy J

I too am looking at getting the new dodge ram 2500 HO diesel four door, but when i test drove it the overhead computer showed much less than you said. I was running at 40-50 or so with it and it was saying 16.0 mpg. when i got on the highway it only went to 18 mpg. this my be right, and i know you said +/- a bit, but is that the best i can hope for??? I know its not made for economy, but its also my daily driver so I need it to be somewhat good. Also I was wondering if a Banks turbo kit would change the numbers much??

thanks

Swing blade

[Evan528]

my 03 standard output deisel ram 3500 4x4 crew cab gets 9 pulling my 16ft trailer and about 14 without the trailer. Im a little disapointed.

[jsr2741]

Swing blade, that computer isn't that accurate and you need to drive a couple tanks of fuel through your truck before you can really get a feel for the mileage.

The more miles I put on mine the better it seems to do. Pulling my 16' trailer and city driving I'm getting 19 mpg. On trips I'm getting 21 mpg.

Evan, you might want to call your dealer. Sounds like somethings not right. You shouldn't be getting gas engine mileage with that truck no matter if you've got the standard engine or the HO.

[Randy J]

JSR is right about that computer, those things are notoriously inaccurate. Also, it will take a while for the engine to break in. You won't see your best mileage until 20,000 miles, or more even, depending on how much you pull with the truck. Although Evan, your's does sound way low. The best thing you can do for that engine is to hook up to the heaviest load you can find, and pull it as much as you can, as early as possible. That'll break the engine in sooner. I didn't reach my best mileage until about 60,000 miles in my '98.

Randy

[Swampbeast]

Evan, take that thing in. Its sick. I know for certain no diesel should be running that low. Thats pretty bad.
Swingblade, yeah, you never get your best fuel mileage until the truck is worn in a bit. Brand new diesels are never as fast, or as fuel effecient as the ones that are broken in. Thats really the only reason my old truck can still beat the brand new trucks that still have paper license plates! ;)

Thanks Randy, I will go with the 4X4 then. And no, I have NOT seen the light! Just the Ford Stroker is not doing well right now, thats all. :( I am still a Ford man!

:cool:

[Nozzleman]

I have a 2003 Dodge 2500 reg cab 4X4 with the High Output Cummins and the auto transmission and I have been averaging around 13-13.5 mpg's per tank of fuel. This includes towing my landscape trailer and regular around town driving. I have never checked it just pulling the trailer and I do hardly any highway driving. The truck only has about 2500 miles on it

As someone else stated the Cummins takes awhile to fully break itself in especially if you aren't towing "heavy". This can be anywhere from 10-20,000 miles.

You can't compare the newer 24 valve engines to the old 12 valve engines. My understanding is the 12 valvers were the best on fuel economy.

Also, you need to consider that even though the new engines are computer controlled and somewhat more efficient they generate alot more power which in turn equals more fuel. For example. 1996 12 valve Cummins/auto was making somewhere around 180-200hp and 450-460 pound feet of torque. Now my 2003 Cummins is rated at 305hp and 555 pound feet torque. The bottom line is that kind of power difference is generated by using more fuel.

I do understand that Evan 528 has the standard output which is 250hp and 460 pound feet of torque so this theory may not apply to his truck.

BTW Evan 528 I briefly had a 2003 SO and I was getting around 15mpg around town and 20mpg on the highway and that was with 4.10 gears.

[jsr2741]

Swampbeast, while I know your an avid Ford man, I think you made the right decision. My buddy just bought a new 6.0, I told him about the trouble they are experiencing. He called his nephew-in-law in California who's a big wheel with Ford and he told my friend that he had a 50/50 chance of that motor going down on him.

From what I understand the 6.0 has been out a couple years in I.H.'s bigger trucks and they haven't had any problems but that particular motor is only making 235 Hp.

I think you'll be plesantly surprised by the upgraded Cuimmins. While it may not out run the Ford and Chevy, I think the longevity of the motor over a period of time while under a load and its towing capacity will make up for what you lose in outright speed. Besides if you like to tinker the Cummins is the best to tinker with.

JM .02 though.

[Swampbeast]

I think that anybody who is so stuck on one particular brand they cant admit when it has a weakness is stupid. Anybody can see the new 6.0 has bugs that need to be worked out, and 50/50 chance just aint gonna cut it for me.
So, its time for a Dodge.
Plus, soon as I get the thing, I am going to place an order to Banks Power Equipment and have them send me a PowerPac! That'll make the Cummins HO pretty darn fast. And really powerful! And more fuel efficient. Its $2700, including instalation, but I think its worth it. (for bragging rights if nothing else....;) )
And then my trusty old F-350 will be put into retirement mode, it will become a weekend warrior type truck, pulling my boat, pulling the jetskis, the horse trailer, etc. It will be used all of maybe 2 times a week instead of the 7 days a week with trailer its been doing. And it will probably still be chugging and pulling my boat around when I die! :D Those old 7.3 liter Powerstrokes were really something.

:cool:

[John DiMartino]

Swampbeast,the 2wd should get 18-21 mpg empty,and the 4x4's get 14-18 normally. Do yourself a big favor,and do not buy anything Banks is selling. Look at other options first, When you want to modify your Dodge,PM me,ill tell you who has the best products for your truck. Banks is to diesels, what Chemlawn is to lawncare.They are a marketing company,IMO. Evan,you need to give a Cummins 20K miles at the minimum to break in.Since your towing,you should be fully seated by then,my 2000 is finally broken in now at 76K.(it never towed until 50K miles).

[Swampbeast]

Banks? Really? Banks isnt good? Wow. Your the first person I have heard say that. What makes you say that?

Didnt Banks just come out with the new Cummins diesel truck that broke the land speed record for a pickup truck? Like, 229 MPH or something like that?

Tell me more :)

:cool:

[John DiMartino]

I didnt say they werent good. They mislead customers,and there products overpriced.As for power,Banks powerpacks provide about the same power gain as a set of good injectors/or a fueling box,but at triple the cost. For all out power,forget banks. Here is a short list of vendors that give you much more bang for the buck,and these companys will tell you up front the implications of modifying your truck,bansk is being sued right now in a class action suit by a TDR member. Here is the thread. I called banks myself a few times(thank god i never bought there sales pitch),and they told me the same thing.They told me my stock wuto would hold up to there powerpack,and exhaust brake. This is an outright lie,the tranny would be toasted in under a week,possibly even days if towing heavy.Then after all that I was told my stock engine trans warranty would remain in effect. All this to make a sale,when they know i wil be unhappy,and they knwo i will be broken down,but by then they have your $$ http://www.turbodieselregister.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=71199.

[John DiMartino]

Here is the best fueling boxes on the market. Combine there boxes with a free flowing exhaust,air filter,and guages and you will have a strong running truck ,you could buy a nice set of tires,or some other goodies with the $$ you save. http://www.edgeproductsinc.com/dodge.html. Diesel dynamics is probably the leader in Dodge performance and has done more testing than most others combined,they have injectors for the 03's already. http://dieseldynamics.com/. Also there is http://www.bullydog.com/, and http://www.piersdiesel.com/, and http://www.tstproducts.com/. Just call diesel dynamics,they will hook you up with a killer setup for a fair price.

[DoubleCutter]

Edge products is a great company with a great product. I am on a first name with those boys in Odgen. Of course Im no Cummins fan, The new style looks good, But forget about getting a decent auto tranny in a new Dodge(whenever that happens). Never mind most testing done shows that the Duramax tows better with 35 ft-lbs less torque. I have a 2002 Duramax tweaked a sconch(edge box etc) And in town towing I get around 14mpg towing a small, at most 2.5 ton load.
As for Banks I think that their claims of HP and TQ are overrated. I dont know what most think, but theirs no way a simple exhaust is going to give me 20 horse and 36 ft-lbs more torque. They do put out top notch products though
Swampbeast, being the wisenhymer I am, Just get a Duramax, Its the easiest solution:D Their are Pros and Cons to every truck out their but I have been more than pleased with my truck No problems so far at 1.5 yrs old and 36,000 miles. Bill
PS man are they alot more quiet now too

[blafleur]

I just went to a Cummins this year and love it. I have a huge regret getting a 2WD though. Living in Tx I didnt think I had a real need for 4WD, but that heavy engine seems to make a difference. I am getting stuck in places I didnt have a problem with my gas guzzler. I have had to be pushed out a couple of times at my mulch/soil supplier.

Getting 21 mph empty, and about twice the mph of my gasser with the trailer.

Bryan

[John DiMartino]

The 03 Cummins Ram is now coming thru with the improved 48RE transmission. Both the HO and standard output.This tranny is plenty strong for 99% of the buyers that will buy this truck.it is used behind the HO Cummins and has a class leading 23000 gross combined weight rating.This trans is no joke.In fact there are a few modified 03' Rams running around with well over 400hp and stock trannys. Diesel dynamics has one,and from what they said you can run up to 400hp without modifying the trans.The Duramax/Allision trans begins to slip at 375RWHP. Dodge did to the 47Re,basically what the aftermarket has been doing to them for yrs,and then took it one step further with stronger planetarys,and improved lockup sealing. Anyone buying a new Dodge is buying a great truck,the trans has been addressed,and is IMO at least as good as the competition,as far as durability and has greater torque capacity than the duramax,in stock form.

[Swampbeast]

Originally posted by DoubleCutter
PS man are they alot more quiet now too


Not completely! The old 7.3 PS was the most awesome diesel out there, I absolutely love the thing. The new one needs work on all the electrical equipment, its a good engine, needs work. That simple.
According to lots of people, the Duramax is not such a hot engine either! Nor is the Allison tranny that comes with it. :D

So Banks is not so good eh? Hmm. Gonna have to do more research on this. Diesel Dynamics. Sounds good. I will look into that more. thanks John.

:cool:

[Nozzleman]

Another reason the 2003 Dodges may be getting lower fuel mileage than previous years may have to do with the front axle. The axle is now rotating all of the time due to the elimination of the center axle disconnect (this was actually changed on the 2002 model year). Hence, you may lose .5 mpg to keep the front axle spinning.

Also, like John said, Dodges new 48re tranny is a stout unit. I saw a bunch of photo's of a tranny that was torn down for demonstration and it is definitely built to go behind the high output.

G.M. and Ford should check their rear view mirrors because Dodge is making a pass for the lead.

[Swampbeast]

At the moment, Dodge IS in the lead. That will last for about a year or so, then Ford will take over again, then Chevy, then Ford again, then Dodge, then Ford, then Chevy, etc etc etc.


:cool:

[jsr2741]

swampbeast, John D is right about turbo diesl register. More products on there than you can shake a stick at.

I don't know what kind of air filter runs on his rig but may I suggest an AFE mega cannon. That thing has a sound you won't believe but its pricey. You only have to service it about every 30 or 40k.

I myself am a an edge product man. Have the edge comp with Dipricol boost and exhaust temp gauges. If I dont trade it for the new model next year its getting a bigger turbo and injectors.

One thing about these trucks, once you start bombing them its pretty hard to stop.

Also, I dont remember if you said what tranny your getting but I will tell you Chrysler tested the allison trans against the 48re and the engineers like the performance and durability of the 48re better therefore it got the nod over the allison. If your going manual get the 6 speed.

Enjoy your new truck when you get it.

[LA LAWNS]

I HAVE A 2002 DODGE 2500 2 WHEEL DRIVE, CUMMINGS TURBO DIESEL. PULLING 16 FOOT ENCLOSED TRAILER. IN THE CITY I AVERAGE 11 MILES PER GALLON, ON INTERSTATE ABOUT 15 TO 18 DEPENDING ON SPEED (70 TO 60mph). WITHOUT TOWING I GET, WAIT, I AM ALWAYS TOWING...LA LAWNS

[Swampbeast]

Okay, new question! What about the HEMI engine? what kinda mileage does it get? My Dad had one for a little while, but we got rid of it after just a few weeks, (wasnt to good at towing) but I dont remember the mileage it got. Anybody know?

:cool:

[Randy J]

Don't remember the exact figures, but there was a post on here shortly after they came out by someone who had bought one. The mileage he reported sure surprised me how good it was. I still think you'd be better off with the Cummins though. Better resale, longer life, better towing ability, and still better mileage.

Randy

[ffemt1271]

2500 cummins SO auto 16-18 city 20-21 on highway with 10k miiles so far