new truck update

[mrbb]

just figured I might add a little info for anyone that is considering maybe a diesel over a gas truck

I got me a new 2016 dodge ram 2500 a month ago now
and
was coming from a same like truck only in Gas motor

so far I am getting about 5 mpg moer in the new truck (diesel now)driving same places as old truck
its a bunch heavier than old truck, and I can feel it when driving , more push in corners and any FAST reaction turns(like missing an object in the road/BIG pot hole or the likes)
it will also track more left and right while on the HI way, I gather due to the weight of the diesel motor

I am getting about 2200 miles out of 2.5 gallons of DEF fluid

Overall happy with the truck
haven't had to tow anything heavy yet, but can sure tell its got WAY more pulling power than any gas I have had to date and I had the older Dodge V 10, older worked up 440's motor's

so don't doubt it will tow better

It was 8250 lbs on a scale with me and a cap on the back and a full tank of gas
so again, its a heavy truck

NO snow here this yr yet to see how it goes there??
to add anything

But just thought I would give some updates if anyone cares LOL

Once I get some snow(OR hope to) AND get something heavy behind it, I can update more

 

[oktaneho]

It was 8250 lbs on a scale with me and a cap on the back and a full tank of gas

You should put diesel fuel in it, it's heavier and the motor will last longer.

What MPG are you getting? My 01 Cummins averages 16.5 summer, 14 winter with a mixture of driving empty or loaded and little more towing in the winter. I've seen a best of 22 mpg on a hwy road trip with no trailer or load.

 

[mrbb]

HAHA< well, GAS/Diesel FUEL< sorry, been driving a gasser for so long just a habit I guess to say it that way LOL
I have just over 5,000 mile on it now
just got back from a 500 mile round trip(went to go pick up a nice used ZRT hood)
almost all fairly FLAT and 97% all hwy on cruise at 75 mph, I according to on board computer says 20.1 MPG


Last week I ran a different 500 mile trip towing a 2 place 8x10 aluminum snowmobile trailer empty on the way there(248 miles one way) and then a 97 T cat on deck on way back and it was a a mix of back roads , dirt roads, and maybe 150 miles of hwy both ways!
I averaged 18.6 again on Trip computer deal
I HAND calculated about 2500 miles of mix hwy and rural roads EMPTY/ NO towing, and I have averaged 17 even, on all them, that I check
and my computer would show 17.2, so pretty darn close on it to actual hand caculated mileage numbers!! IMO
and right NOW we are using winter diesel, so, I would THINK that should lower things a HAIR, maybe 1-1.5 mpg??
NOW as for DEF fluid use, I have gotten to half a tank twice now, and BOTH times it took 2.5 gallons to fill
have NO idea if that is good or BAD to be honest! first truck with a DEF tank
I will say it seems to use it oddly

as it stays on FULL for about the first 1400 miles before it even moves, then it DROPS to about 3/4's
then just seems to DROP to 1/2

doesn't seem to have a slow drop, just bigger steps if you follow

NOW If anyone really cares
SO far, I have had a few issue's with truck

first is, I have gotten a few errors on my dash display, that SHOW<SERVICE ELECTRIC BRAKE>
and NO idea WHY, didn't have a e brake trailer hooked up, and NEVER even had one hooked up?? twice now had that show up, and would stay on for 15 minutes then disappear?

second issue is my adjustable pedals do NOT work, and haven't since I got it
I could care less ALMOST as there fine right where they are! LOL


next I am getting some FUNNY back shifts in trans that when it happens will shake the drive train pretty good
DOESN"T do it all the time or even very often, so living with it till I get to the first oil change(as dealer will be doing it, and will have them check things then UNLESS They get more common)

last issue?
the satellite radio in this truck SUCKS as to my old one
it drops signal in places my old one and two other dodges before NEVER did, AND< this is winter time NO leaves even on tree's
so expect this to be worse come green up here!

FOUND OUT< this is a DODGE issue, and NOTHING CAN BE DONE
some radio's pick up and work off weaker signals more or less, than older units that picked up a different signal that is stronger
something about the split up between XM and SIrus deal yrs back!!
NOT real happy about this, as seems like backwards progress to me, as my old 2006 truck had a better radio?? than a 60k 2016 does??
that seems backwards to me??
but I work more with common sense so, I guess MY logic doesn;t work well in the modern world LOL

- - - Updated - - -

HAHA< well, GAS/Diesel FUEL< sorry, been driving a gasser for so long just a habit I guess to say it that way LOL
I have just over 5,000 mile on it now
just got back from a 500 mile round trip(went to go pick up a nice used ZRT hood)
almost all fairly FLAT and 97% all hwy on cruise at 75 mph, I according to on board computer says 20.1 MPG


Last week I ran a different 500 mile trip towing a 2 place 8x10 aluminum snowmobile trailer empty on the way there(248 miles one way) and then a 97 T cat on deck on way back and it was a a mix of back roads , dirt roads, and maybe 150 miles of hwy both ways!
I averaged 18.6 again on Trip computer deal
I HAND calculated about 2500 miles of mix hwy and rural roads EMPTY/ NO towing, and I have averaged 17 even, on all them, that I check
and my computer would show 17.2, so pretty darn close on it to actual hand caculated mileage numbers!! IMO
and right NOW we are using winter diesel, so, I would THINK that should lower things a HAIR, maybe 1-1.5 mpg??
NOW as for DEF fluid use, I have gotten to half a tank twice now, and BOTH times it took 2.5 gallons to fill
have NO idea if that is good or BAD to be honest! first truck with a DEF tank
I will say it seems to use it oddly

as it stays on FULL for about the first 1400 miles before it even moves, then it DROPS to about 3/4's
then just seems to DROP to 1/2

doesn't seem to have a slow drop, just bigger steps if you follow

NOW If anyone really cares
SO far, I have had a few issue's with truck

first is, I have gotten a few errors on my dash display, that SHOW<SERVICE ELECTRIC BRAKE>
and NO idea WHY, didn't have a e brake trailer hooked up, and NEVER even had one hooked up?? twice now had that show up, and would stay on for 15 minutes then disappear?

second issue is my adjustable pedals do NOT work, and haven't since I got it
I could care less ALMOST as there fine right where they are! LOL


next I am getting some FUNNY back shifts in trans that when it happens will shake the drive train pretty good
DOESN"T do it all the time or even very often, so living with it till I get to the first oil change(as dealer will be doing it, and will have them check things then UNLESS They get more common)

last issue?
the satellite radio in this truck SUCKS as to my old one
it drops signal in places my old one and two other dodges before NEVER did, AND< this is winter time NO leaves even on tree's
so expect this to be worse come green up here!

FOUND OUT< this is a DODGE issue, and NOTHING CAN BE DONE
some radio's pick up and work off weaker signals more or less, than older units that picked up a different signal that is stronger
something about the split up between XM and SIrus deal yrs back!!
NOT real happy about this, as seems like backwards progress to me, as my old 2006 truck had a better radio?? than a 60k 2016 does??
that seems backwards to me??
but I work more with common sense so, I guess MY logic doesn;t work well in the modern world LOL

 

[sjb]

Thanks for the update. There are a lot a folks who brag about their trucks (or cars) that only state the positive and never bring out the real world experiences. My brother owns his first dodge - cherokee with the diesel. Some issues with his truck, but on a good streak now. Another one of my brothers just picked up a new dodge pickup. His first dodge as well. Jury is still out on that one.

Funny thing is, we grew up as a chevy family and now with the exception of my father, we have all moved away from GM products. I am running a ford with the eco and love it (but does not get the advertised MPG, but love to turbos) and the rest have Ram. Never would have guessed this 20 years ago.

Keep us posted.

 

[dab102999]

My dad just bought a new GMC 3500 dually off of a 2003 3500 Dodge. Notices a much more power increase and also much quieter. But I am sure a new Dodge would also be better then his old. He is only at 2000 miles but I believe he is on his 3rd gallon of DEF also. Reason that dodge went away was it was on it's third front end and was starting to have a trans temp light coming on so with purchase of a new trailer he decided that he was done putting money into the dodge. You won't notice real mileage till after 10,000 miles. Takes a while for that motor to get broke in. His GMC does get less milage then the dodge did. His best summer average with the dodge was 19 but most years it was closer to 17. Winter milage will always be less no matter on what brand you drive. Over the years we have always seen that 2500 will usually get better milage then a 3500, expessially empty.