I'll start off by saying no I have not towed anything yet but am looking for a donner trailer to hook to and run down the highway for about 400 miles round trip. Just to see how she handles a trailer.As for the truck all I can say is OMG this thing is awesome! I knew the 2004 was noisey as to wind noise around the doors. Just didn't know how noisey until I got this truck. At 80 MPH you hear nothing, no chirps or rattles in the inside, no wind noise or road noise and the sound system rocks! The sub-woofer could be a little louder IMO but this thing even has two speakers in the back roof! Did have an opportunity to run a newer F-150 EB and toasted him off the line but that didn't last very long until he walked by me, but it was fun :B if only for a few seconds LOL! The transmission shifts are quick and smooth, a little too smooth for my liking, may look into a shift kit of some kind this spring. Or maybe get the dealer to bump up the line pressures a tic.The fuel mileage is still very disappointing only hitting 20.2 for the last tank hand cal.. It is improving with each tank so we will she what she ends up making. I ordered this truck with the 3.92 gears and I might regret it. But if we get a TT it will more then make up for the loss in fuel mileage with better towing performance and that was what I was looking for. The 4X4 system works great in the snow, the tires are not so impressive however. May look into buying some 17" factory wheels to run dedicated snow tires on for the winter. There seem to be a lot of them for sale. So all and all I can say Winner Winner Chicken Dinner for the new Ram Ecodiesel.Don

Good for you.20.2 huh? Still not bad for a new motor, not yet broken in to speak of.Do they salt heavily in your area????? Although expensive, a set of dedicated snow tires on rims would sure save in the long haul for pitting and other wearing on your factory wheels. Plus having the right tires for poor winter conditions.

If your sample mpg is 20.2, and you're drag racing/street racing, and running 80 mph? That's a pretty good testimonial to high mpg.

20.2 ain't bad considering you're running around racing Fords. LOL! Good report. It will get better the more you drive it and learn it's shift patterns.

Congrats on the new truck, love the sound of that engine! You are probably on the winter fuel same as us, so you lose a couple mpg.

So it's not giving it's EPA rated mileage? OMG! Just kidding. Glad you're happy with your new truck. I always like to read happy reports. Wishing you continued happiness and many years of good service with it.

First Impressions of the Ecodiesel | Good Sam Community

mkirsch
Nomad II
Jan 12, 2015
Skid Row Joe wrote:
Although cold weather does bring downward pressure on mpg, being "a motor not yet broken in," unequivocally, has no bearing on mpg as reflected on the low side.

On what planet?
ib516
Explorer II
Jan 12, 2015
I appreciate you having the stones to post true numbers. Many on here tell fish stories when it comes to mpg.

I like to add a short video when I post such things - that way there is no BS that follows accusing me of fibbing.
Skid_Row_Joe
Explorer
Jan 12, 2015
mich800 wrote:
Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
2oldmen, it should have read "donor" sorry about that :o

Well as I posted in the Ecoboost thread, "I don't drive this truck any different than my 2004 2500 CTD and it made 23 MPG for combined city/highway."

But the 04 did not do very well as to fuel mileage new either and my wife pointed that out yesterday morning. I guess I'm just a little envious of the other guys reporting 25-27 for there combined mileage.

Ric I can tell you, she would not be disappointed with the a new Ram Ecodiesel I can't keep the wife out of my truck! I bet the new Canyon and Colorado diesels are going to be nice also.

Don

There is nothing wrong with 23. But do you really think that engine will improve nearly 20% in MPG just by breaking in. I read these claims but that just seems like a huge leap. I would think it is more due to unconscious driving style based on what the vehicle wants.

It's impossible for mpg to improve by "23% all on it's own." Good luck though.
Perrysburg_Dodg
Explorer
Jan 12, 2015
As a note, I was not going to post BS numbers just to make my truck look good. I do understand that it is new and it is winter. I would have just liked to have seen a little better fuel mileage and yes putting your foot into it will kill the mileage, just like in the Ecoboost that toasted me. Was fun though :W

BTW if I use the "instant Lie-o-meter" @ 70 it shows 26 MPG on a flat level highway. Drop down to 55 and it makes only 2 more MPG? For those interested the truck is reporting lower avg MPG readings then hand calc. by 2/3 MPG!

Don
jwduke
Explorer
Jan 11, 2015
FishOnOne wrote:
The Mad Norsky wrote:
Glad that others have mentioned winter blend fuel. I forgot about that when I posted earlier in this thread.

It really does take a bite out of the fuel economy of a diesel.

My truck actually gets better fuel economy on winter blend or just perhaps with the colder temps due to less regens.

A recent trip to our deer camp and back yielded 21 mpg with 3 passengers and gear.

Don't use bio diesel in the winter... I don't think any one has a additive yet that works when it gets cold.
APT
Explorer
Jan 11, 2015
It's cold outside. My diesel takes a big FE hit when it's cold, like 15-20%. It takes longer for the diesel to get to normal operating temp. If I drive less than 5 miles, it might only get half my typical lifetime average. My commute is about 26 miles each way. I watch the trip FE rise from single digits to mid 30's now, and low 40's in the summer.

Lots of electrical loads (cabin heater, seat heaters, etc and the engine is to efficient heat is little wasted at cold temps.
transamz9
Explorer
Jan 11, 2015
mich800 wrote:
Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
2oldmen, it should have read "donor" sorry about that :o

Well as I posted in the Ecoboost thread, "I don't drive this truck any different than my 2004 2500 CTD and it made 23 MPG for combined city/highway."

But the 04 did not do very well as to fuel mileage new either and my wife pointed that out yesterday morning. I guess I'm just a little envious of the other guys reporting 25-27 for there combined mileage.

Ric I can tell you, she would not be disappointed with the a new Ram Ecodiesel I can't keep the wife out of my truck! I bet the new Canyon and Colorado diesels are going to be nice also.

Don

There is nothing wrong with 23. But do you really think that engine will improve nearly 20% in MPG just by breaking in. I read these claims but that just seems like a huge leap. I would think it is more due to unconscious driving style based on what the vehicle wants.

Depending on how new, the transmission has to learn the driving style also.
mich800
Explorer
Jan 11, 2015
Perrysburg Dodgeboy wrote:
2oldmen, it should have read "donor" sorry about that :o

Well as I posted in the Ecoboost thread, "I don't drive this truck any different than my 2004 2500 CTD and it made 23 MPG for combined city/highway."

But the 04 did not do very well as to fuel mileage new either and my wife pointed that out yesterday morning. I guess I'm just a little envious of the other guys reporting 25-27 for there combined mileage.

Ric I can tell you, she would not be disappointed with the a new Ram Ecodiesel I can't keep the wife out of my truck! I bet the new Canyon and Colorado diesels are going to be nice also.

Don

There is nothing wrong with 23. But do you really think that engine will improve nearly 20% in MPG just by breaking in. I read these claims but that just seems like a huge leap. I would think it is more due to unconscious driving style based on what the vehicle wants.
Perrysburg_Dodg
Explorer
Jan 11, 2015
2oldmen, it should have read "donor" sorry about that :o

Well as I posted in the Ecoboost thread, "I don't drive this truck any different than my 2004 2500 CTD and it made 23 MPG for combined city/highway."

But the 04 did not do very well as to fuel mileage new either and my wife pointed that out yesterday morning. I guess I'm just a little envious of the other guys reporting 25-27 for there combined mileage.

Ric I can tell you, she would not be disappointed with the a new Ram Ecodiesel I can't keep the wife out of my truck! I bet the new Canyon and Colorado diesels are going to be nice also.

Don
The_Mad_Norsky
Explorer
Jan 11, 2015
I do recall using just #1 fuel in my diesels when I lived in northern North Dakota prior to 2008.

One could really tell the difference in mileage and power, but gelling was surely alleviated in those cold, brutal conditions up there in the winter.

Here in southern South Dakota, I hardly ever see #1 available anymore. Not sure, but think the new diesels say run a blend anyway, not just #1 by itself.