Kind of suprised at my mileage

mitchntx · April 7, 2004

Around town and some hiway, I am getting 13+

Towing my 6000lb race car and trailer package, I got 11.

The hills around the Dallas/Ft. Worth area aren't too much, but it isn't flat, either.

I am very happy with those results.

HendyPhoto · April 7, 2004

Thats good to hear! I was posting that too before I got my lift and a few people thought I was full of it! But there are several people with those numbers.

HDChuck01 · April 7, 2004

That seems real good. I only got 9.5 my last tank. I usually get 10 loaded or empty! 8.1/Ally is thirsty! I hope gas prices dont get too much higher!

midnight8100 · April 7, 2004

13 is good with the Ally, I usually get just over 13 with my 8.1 4x4 w/ 6 speed on the interstate (@70-80mph). I think with my driving style I'd get quite a bit less around town (don't do much city driving with this beast).

Get this, if I really baby it (lots of cruising 2 lane roads @50-60mph) I can get high 14's, I even think I calculated 15.5 ONCE. It seems to do around 14 with lots of fire lane cruising (mostly in 4wd) -- this suprised me.

What axle ratio do you have (I have 4.10's) and is your truck 4x4? I thought the 6 speed was really helping me out, but maybe the auto's can do just about as good?

mitchntx · April 7, 2004

I'm sure driving style has a lot to do with it.

I cruise at or just below 70 and ease around town ...

I have a 2WD and a 4.10 gear.

tmf6902 · April 7, 2004

I was getting close to that (12mpg) before my westers 93 tune.....now I get the normal 10-11. But the extra power is worth it.

HendyPhoto · April 7, 2004

You can't even buy 93 octane fuel here, the highest it goes is 91. What tune should I get with the westers? I tow about 7,000 pounds every other week or so up steep grades and I use 87 octane fuel which is mid-grade here, low grade is 85!!!! (it sucks)

(I know I am an artist with alot of spare time)

Dennis55 · April 7, 2004

I just filled up my 2001 3500. Since I put a T-cover over the bed I've been getting 13-14 unloaded on the highway, maintaining 65-70 mph. Not bad. When towing last summer with a 10,000lb trailer out west I was averaging between 8-9mpg. I'm happy with that given the 8.1L/Ally combo.

mitchntx · April 8, 2004

I must confess, I was a LOT apprehensive after reading horror stories of really poor gas mileage and oil consumption in early 8.1s.

I was used to a '92 460 F250 with a 4.10 gear. So, 13mpg is a God-send.

After the first 1000 miles, 1/3 of it towing a race car, the oil level has barely moved. The previous owner used nothing but M1 and said it would use a quart every 2K miles.

The dealership where I bought it changed the oil, but I'm not sure to what. No tags or stickers indicating what was used. I have a message into them to see.

westca707 · April 8, 2004

Drove from Reno, NV. to Mojave, Ca... Got 16 mpg in my 2001HD 8.1/allison. Driving no faster than 65mph.

drumhack · April 8, 2004

A question for you all regarding your mileage calculations...

Are you all quoting the mpg figures calculated by the DIC or are you manually calculating them at each fill up? My truck is still quite new (300 miles) and I'm curious how accurate everyone has found the DIC calculations to be.

If you're using the DIC numbers, do you periodically reset the Average Fuel Economy number to ensure you're getting a current MPG number that doesn't factor in MPG stats from say, a year ago?