Ask the Car People.SM


Diesel Fuel Economy and chips

448 messages,  Last post on Aug 09, 2012 at 7:24 AM

You are in the Diesels Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford F-250 Super Duty, Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD, Dodge Ram Pickup 2500, Ford F-350 Super Duty, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, Dodge Ram Pickup 3500, GMC Sierra 2500HD, GMC Sierra 3500, Fuel System, Performance Mods, Fuel System, Diesel, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Truck

Messages Page 1 of 45

#1 of 448 Diesel Fuel Economy and chips by pickupwbb

Mar 30, 2005 (12:27 pm)

Does anyone have any insight about chips and fuel mileage increase. I do a little towing not much but drive my 05 Ford 6.0 PS to and from work ona daily basis 80 miles rt and with the price of fuel I am wondering if it makes sense to chip it out for higher MPG?
 
Any thoughts and real world experiences?
 
Thanks

#3 of 448 Dodge Sprinter Versus Duramax by eibli1cj

Apr 09, 2005 (7:53 am)

Hello,
     I am new to the Forum and have a big decision to make soon. Wanted to get some opinions from as many members as possible. I live in Michigan and I travel all over the state doing warranty service home repair on manufactured homes. I work on Redman, Commander, Fortune, Dutch, and Champion some times. The issue I have if my current truck (1995 CK 1500) and 20 ft 8ft wide trailer are getting me on avg. 7 MPG. Which is sick and taking my mileage income away from me. I get .50 a mile so the better fuel economy I get the more I take home. The trailer is a snowmobile trailer and not to practical for my job. I am looking to go two routes for new equipment for my business. I need a trailer / vehicle that can accommodate a slider door for height, and carpet/ Linoleum rolls that can be 15ft in lenght. I have been looking at two options:
 
1. A van that can get me up to 27 MPG at a full GVWR and at 55 MPH. Dodge claims this is absolutely possible! And at 70 MPH I am still getting 20.7 MPG, but for the most part I am on 55 MPH roads to service the new home owners for repairs. Here is the link for the Dodge Sprinter http://www.dodge.com/sprinter/low_operating_cost.html
This van has only been available in the states since 2002 and is fully built in Germany. I test drove one and was very impressed. It is a Mercedes Benz powertrain and had amazing power with such good MPG. They have a long 158-inch wheelbase models which gives me the length I need for carpet, ect...Also 73 inches of walk-through height that clears what I need to put slider doors ect in. Price with options just over $35,000.
 
2. Ford or GM diesel truck and a 16 ft V-nose trailer. I know I will not have the fuel mileage of the Sprinter but I will have a little more cargo room seeing how I have the truck and the trailer. The trailer alone would 16ft and taller than the van, and then the bed of the truck comes in handy a lot of the time. My wife wants me to get the truck so we have that extra vehicle, but I would not be able to afford a brand new truck and then buy a $6000 dollar trailer in addition. Real foggy part about this option is the fuel mileage? I would be towing 3500-5000 lbs across mainly flat areas of Michigan.
 
Consider: I drive an average of 31,200 miles a year and I get 7 MPG's with my current truck and trailer. Say $2 a gal my annual fuel cost of close to $9,000. 31,200 * .50 = $15,600 for fuel pay from my employer. With the Sprinter at say 21 MPG which is the LOW....my fuel cast would be come less than $3000 for a savings of AT LEAST $6,000 a year. That is $500 a month free and clear! Not to mention the repair cost on my truck and trailer and the missed work for those times. I have placed $2500 in my rig in the last 6 Months. Add that to the cost or savings and buying a Sprinter is a no brainier. Big question is what a Duramax Diesel can get me pulling 6000 lbs. And can I get a truck and trailer for under $35,000? I am sure I can but it will not be new as the Sprinter would be. Just wondering what option would be best.

#4 of 448 Re: Dodge Sprinter Versus Duramax [eibli1cj] by gagrice

Apr 09, 2005 (12:16 pm)

Replying to: eibli1cj (Apr 09, 2005 7:53 am)
Just wondering what option would be best.
 
Go with the Sprinter. It will get an honest 22-25 mpg. You can throw in some seats or a couch and use it on the weekends for a camper. They tow an honest 5000 lbs with double the mileage you are getting with the CK1500.
 
Good testimonial:
 
armchair67, "Dodge Sprinter" #100, 25 Nov 2004 5:29 am

#5 of 448 Re: Dodge Sprinter Versus Duramax [eibli1cj] by pusterracing

Apr 09, 2005 (5:32 pm)

Replying to: eibli1cj (Apr 09, 2005 7:53 am)
As long as you are sure the Sprinter will tow the trailer, I say go for the Sprinter. I have an '03 F350 CrewCab with a 6.0L powerstroke. I average 14mpg towing a 27' Travel Trailer that is 5000lbs dry (Forest River Flagstaff). So if the Sprinter will actually tow 5000lbs (my Expedition wouldn't do it comfortably) and get 20+ mpg, then go for it. Another option is the Excursion diesel. You get the 6.0L Powerstroke, but the Excursion is gears differently than the F250/350 and the Excursion is known to get 23-24MPG on the HWY without towing (from the owners I talk to in the RV Parks). They claim to get 18-19mpg towing similar travel trailers, but that's gearing for you. I can tow 16500lbs they can only tow 11000lbs (course I can go goosneck/5th wheel and they can't).
 
Eventually I will chip my truck.
 
BTW, we travel the same type of terrain.....I'm in Elkhart, IN.....7 miles south of the MI border.
 
-PR-
 
03 Ford F350 SuperCrew KingRanch 6.0L Powerstroke
04 VW Jetta GLS TDI-PD
05 VW Passat GLS TDI

#6 of 448 What are true Truck MPG's by eibli1cj

Apr 09, 2005 (8:49 pm)

pusterracing
  Thanks for your input. I did want to note that I do not need the Sprinter to tow a trailer as I can place all of my equipment in it as I would in option two with a trailer. The Sprinter claims to get an actual 27.4 MPG with a full GVRW at 55 MPH. I have a flyer I got at Home Depot when the dealer was promoting the Sprinter one weekend. I was amazed!! I did test drive the sprinter and immediately I could tell it was not a Dodge. Just had the emblems on it, but this baby was impressive. I am just trying to get a feel of opinions and trying to find out the same info the Sprinter dealers give out. True MPG's. I hear a lot on the trucks getting close to 20 MPG. Bottom Line is if I can only get 12-14 with a truck then I will probably go with the Sprinter due to the fact I drive at least 600 miles each week. So if a truck/Trailer gets me say 14 versus the sprinter at say 24 then that is 10 more miles for each gallon of gas I buy. So over the course of the year driving 30,000 miles it can become much more income in a hurry. Plus the Sprinter I would have to buy new, where spending the same amount of money on a truck and trailer I would more than likely have to go with a used truck. Thus not having the warranty and possible lowest maint cost the Sprinter would provide. I am not trying to make a case for the Sprinter just wheighing in on it all. I know the Sprinter has a 4x4 option but only available in Europe and a truck would give me that. Plus I am torn with getting the Sprinter as I spend that much money and not have a nice truck in the drive. That seems to be the wife's gripe about the van. But I tell her the van would be a revenue getter over a truck and trailer.
 I get rolls of Lino at least once every other week and Carpet is rare for me. The Sprinter will make me be a better organizer and it will be tight getting all of my tools and then supplies. And that is where a little single axel trailer to tow could play in at times? Not real sure.
I guess I really need to find out what MPG I can get from what trucks so I can really make the fuel cost factor and weigh in all of the advanteges & disadvanteges from both options.
Thanks again for your input....no better way to find out than to ask the world of truck drivers.

#7 of 448 Re: Dodge Sprinter Versus Duramax [pusterracing] by gagrice

Apr 09, 2005 (10:12 pm)

Replying to: pusterracing (Apr 09, 2005 5:32 pm)
I have an '03 F350 CrewCab with a 6.0L powerstroke.
 
What can you get on the open road with no trailer? My step son has that exact year and model. I asked him and he never checks the fuel, just has one of his hands go fill it from their big equipment tank. I had thought of getting one myself with a fifth wheel camper. He traded a 2001 7.3 power stroke for the 6.0 and says it will pull the long grade out of the desert with his big fifth wheel 10 miles per hour faster than the older Power Stroke. Plus it is quieter. It is my first choice if I buy a diesel truck. Got to get up to Portland Monday and drive that new Passat TDI, I am looking forward to that.

#8 of 448 Re: Dodge Sprinter Versus Duramax [gagrice] by pusterracing

Apr 10, 2005 (3:30 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Apr 09, 2005 10:12 pm)
Well gagrice you've asked the right person, since I check every tank (I'm a bit OC about it, even with electronic fuel efficiency calculators in both the F350 and the Passat I hand calculate it).
 
The truck in 100% hwy driving (a trip down to GA to visit my family this past Thanksgiving) I was able to squeak 23mpg out of the truck....but that was taking it easy....60mph 90% of the tank....in the truck: my wife and two kids (3yo and 4yo) and our luggage for 5 days, plus I have a CoverMaster E-300 fiberglass lid on the truck (made here in Elkhart, and I'll have to remove it when I get my 5th RV).
 
I generally average 18mpg in mixed driving, about 75C/25H. I can get as low as 13mpg in 100% city, but that is being really hard on the accelerator.....this truck will take a sports car off of the line with no problems at all.....but once it hits ~75mph, the sports car will easily take over. In fact, with the above mentioned 27' trailer, I was able to go from an emergency stop area on I-80 (to switch drivers with my wife) and get back out onto 80 in traffic, 0-60mph with 11,500lbs (or 5.5tons) 12 seconds......no kidding. That's 570lb/ft of torque for ya!
 
On the open road, running 75-80mph I get 19-20mpg hand calculated. I think that is pretty darn good for a truck that is 21' long and weighs 6500lbs.
 
I hope you enjoy driving you Passat down the coast. I've been able to get 43mpg out of mine, and only have 2100 miles on it, so a long way before being broken in. Speaking of that, I only have 19500 miles on my truck, so it too is a long way from being broken in and I'm sure its mileage will get a little bit better over the next few/ten thousand miles.
 
-PR-
  
03 Ford F350 SuperCrew KingRanch 6.0L Powerstroke
04 VW Jetta GLS TDI-PD
05 VW Passat GLS TDI
 
Hey...figured I'd post pics...haven't done that yet....
 

diesel!

DIESEL!!

DIESEL!!!
 
can you tell I love my cars?
 

#9 of 448 IS IT OK? by dieseldan

Apr 14, 2005 (6:02 pm)

I have a 03 7.3 f250 an I pull a 30ft 5 wheel dry weight at 7200. If I chip will it ruin my truck. I would like to get 200,000 miles. If it is safe what chip is best? I am new to diesels and this forum and will appreciate any help. Thank You

Messages Page 1 of 45

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement