View Full Version : Duramax and Scangauge
barkbuster 12-22-2007, 08:59 PM Just filled my truck filled up after being without the Scangauge for 2 weeks while it got the x gauge update. Was getting 20.2 mpg commuting when I had it but without it I dipped to 17.9:eek: I hope there are some diesel owners here that have this neat tool and can help me figure it out. I like the gauge so much I may have to get one for the car too! I saw on here somewhere there my be a group buy but can`t seem to find it now:(
Blaster94 12-22-2007, 11:52 PM It is in the for sale/wanted section of the forums.
phoebeisis 12-23-2007, 12:02 PM Barkbuster-I read a kinda' recent write up in one of the moto mags-maybe Truck Trend-the Duramax beat the Powerstroke and the Cummings in almost all categories(by more than 1 mpg better than the Powerstroke,2.5 mpg better than the Dodge) in a 2006 4X4 TDI tow off.It managed 15 mpg overall during all sorts of testing-including a 9000 lb trailer pull 0-60 mph.
Nice truck-surprisingly economical for something that large/powerful.
Luck,
Charlie
PS I've read claims from Dodge 5.9 TDI owners in which they report 25 mpg highway with the MT- no load.I have my doubts.It was an older 2002-2003 Cummings with an extended cab-not double cab(I think-memory hazy).
whtdvl 12-23-2007, 02:34 PM ^One of my friends told me that he has seen several Cummins Diesels that get over 20mpg on the hwy and some that have averaged 24mpg consistantly on the hwy.
That's pretty good for a work truck with 500+ ft/lbs of torque on tap
phoebeisis 12-23-2007, 03:41 PM WHTDVL,
Thanks for the confirmation.The Dodges have a HUGE frontal area,and they sure don't look aerodynamic.20+ mpg at 65mph is good considering their size and tow capacity.
This indicates to me that a large SUV with a properly sized TDI(say 3.5 liters-200 hp,400lb-ft) could be a more than adequate substitute in 1/2 ton SUVs/pickups for the current ~ 5.5 liter 300+hp (375 lb-ft)spark plug motors. It could tow 6500 lbs,and carry 8 people.Better yet it could get 25 mpg hy,and close to 18 mpg city. I expect that GMs Hybrid will be an honest 22 mpg(at 67 mph) highway,and 17 mpg city.The non hybrid Suburbans are said to get 22mpg highway now, but I know they get ~11 mpg in casual pure city driving.Working hard to get good mph I can get about 13 mpg in pure city-6 stops per mile driving.In mixed city( 40% city interstate) I work hard to get 15.5 on my 16 mile trips to school(UNO).My scangauge indicates I'll get 17-19 mpg in pure interstate trip driving(65-70 mph).My Suburb is the older-1998-less efficient 5.7 lt-the 5.3 is saif to be 1-2 mpg better hy-maybe.5 mpg better city.
New Suburbans-especially the Hybrid will be for fairly affluent($125,000 family income) folks only.The $50,000+ price tag indicates to me that GM now understands that all big SUV sales are going to be niche vehicles soon, not volume vehicles. The price increase GM just announced might be a hint of that also.All the 1/2 producers are hurting-sales are dropping.There won't be any point in producing large numbers of them-they will be like MB,BMWs,Lexus etc-"rich" folks vehicles.Not middle/middle class vehicles like they have been for the last 20 years.Just too thirsty.
Thanks,
Charlie
koreberg 12-23-2007, 05:00 PM 20mpg when most guys at my work get about 13-15 mpg, with their gassers. Thats pretty good. Makes me wish they would put the 2.2 diesel or a slightly bigger 1 in the odessey.
barkbuster 12-23-2007, 10:49 PM My friend has a 99 Dodge 2500 ext cab with the 5.9. He recently added a gear vender's overdrive which helps him get 23-25mpg highway running m/t. My best with my Duramax has been a couple hundred miles running on cruise control @ 65mph is 21.5mpg. I have approached the numbers he gets since I purchased the Scangauge but have not done a long trip yet. My truck maybe a little better thru the air being a bit narrower but its still a brick and has a bigger motor with 2 more cylinders. Now that its broke in I hope to see better #`s next spring and summer. With the cold temps this time of year and winter blend fuel it may be a few months before I see 20+mpg. l8r bb
phoebeisis 12-23-2007, 11:36 PM Barkbuster,
So the 25 mpg stories with the older Cummins MT are true(I've been told that the most recent 5.9's and I guess the 6.6? don't do as well-mpg wise).
Is your Duramax a AT or MT?Either way 21 mpg with 350 hp 600 lb feet and 6500 lbs is pretty good. There was a posting here not too long ago about a new GM TDI in the 4.5 liter range for the 1/2 ton market.If GM continues to clean up the aerodynamics(the new Tahoe/Suburbans sure look cleaner) they might be true 25 mpg hy vehicles with the new,small diesel.Of course,they could go much, much smaller-3 liter TDI can make 175hp-300 lb-ft easily enough, but that will probably wait for $6 gal fuel.
Thanks,
Charlie.
barkbuster 12-24-2007, 12:31 AM Mine is the Allison 6 speed auto. My friends Dodge is a 5-speed manual.
Yes that new baby Duramax will be interesting. It`s 2 liters smaller but rated the same power as the 1st gen 6.6 Duamax and will make it possible for 1/2 ton p/u and full size suburbans to
get 25 possibly 30mpg. Diesel power magazine this month has a preview of a whole bunch of new diesel power engines coming available now or very soon to power Mid size cars and SUV`s.
whtdvl 12-27-2007, 08:29 AM my friend that told me about the dodge diesel's getting 24+mpg told me that they were doing around 75mph..so imagine the possiblities if they were doing 65mph...or even 60mph..
barkbuster 12-30-2007, 01:31 PM Well, took a 380 mi round trip and the Scangauge was very close. Topped of the tank when I saw fuel cheaper than I can get @ home and it was only off a tenth in my faver:). retrimmed it and its helped achieve my new best mpg to date. Its showing 21.5 for the tank but I made a stop on the way, about 100 miles back and it showed 22.4 from there home.:p neatest addition to the truck so far for fun, although the xtra filters I installed quietly do there jobs well too:D
barkbuster 12-03-2008, 03:19 PM Wow! haven`t checked this forum for almost a year! Seen some good #`s in my truck this year. Raised the bar twice since the last post and match my old highs pretty regularly. 22.6 mpg earlier this summer and 23.4 in the fall. Truck is still stock, the gains came from favorable winds and drafting big trucks, along with a close watch on the scangauge! :Banane06:
Right Lane Cruiser 12-03-2008, 05:49 PM Please don't draft!!! It is a terrible way to die. :(
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