how many MPG are you guys seeing with the newer diesels?

rocknrod · April 22, 2013

I get 18mpg. I drive to and from work maybe 25 miles each way.

On the freeway much better.

Wintersun · August 14, 2013

On the freeway with the bed empty my LML powered truck gets 19 MPG. Around town it gets 13-14 MPG. With a 4,000 lb. camper in the bed the truck gets 13 MPG at 65 MPH but add a 15 MPH headwind and it drops to 11 MPG. The diesel provides a lot of power and torque for accelerating onto a freeway or for passing up a steep grade and fantastic engine braking for steep downgrades but at a high cost. My diesel is a nice to have and by no means a need to have vehicle. I shopped around for months to get a great deal so I paid less than my neighbor did for his 2500HD with the gas engine. For his purposes on his dairy farm the gas powered truck makes more sense and he is very happy with the truck.

The diesel engine and transmission adds about $9,000 to the sticker for a new truck. Diesel engines cost more to maintain and a great deal more to repair. Diesel costs more than premium at the pumps in most areas so the 20-25% gain in MPG is offset for the most part in the higher price paid for the fuel. When traveling I have to plan my route and fuel stops are places that sell diesel. Check with gasbuddy.com and see how many places in your area sell diesel and compare the prices to those for premium gas.

Diesel engines add about 800 lbs. of weight to the front end which has to be more stiffly sprung to compensate. I would expect the ride for a 2500HD with the gas engine to be less harsh than that of my 2500HD with its Duramax engine. A 1500 with the gas engine would be car like by comparison.

Diesels are being pushed by the car makers largely to increase their CAFE fleet average to meet the new federal guidelines while still selling very large and very heavy vehicles to their customers. It makes sense for the manufacturers but not for consumers. I have a diesel pickup for heavy hauling and towing but my everyday vehicle is a Prius that I can drive like a bat out of hell with a lead foot and get 45 MPG on regular gas tank after tank after tank.

Prokopchuk_9 · August 15, 2013

If you hauled that DEF/EGR off of it it would get 20MPG. And the engine would last longer.

MikeNH · August 15, 2013

Oh and it is impossible to drive a Prius like a bat out of hell. Out of heck maybe, but not hell. They're too slow.

BlackSilver · April 21, 2014

First off, having a diesel isn't about economy. It's about heavy hauling.

Having said that, open highway my '08 3500 4WD gets about 18 empty, 11 pulling 7 ton high profile camper.

My previous Dmax, an '03 2500 2WD, got about 20 empty, 10 pulling the camper.

Generally pull at about 65MPH. At 70 or above the mileage falls off a cliff to about 8. Same in my old truck.

gmtech4 · April 29, 2014

Ya , this thread has me asking "who cares what a truck gets for mileage " as most are work trucks , not sure if it's just a BS conversation or if the OP actually gives a crap about the oxymoron " truck and mileage " lol