To DEF or not?

Use this forum for technical questions regarding tow vehicles.

Moderators: Mike Clay, Olbird

User avatar
rfolds
Posts: 42
Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 7:49 am
Location: Moss Bluff Louisiana
Cardinal Owners: Blue Ridge 3600 4 slides
Dodge 2011 2500 with Airbags to make it think it is a 3500.
Location: Louisiana Lake Charles

Re: To DEF or not?

Post by rfolds »

I have a 2011 Dodge 2500. I have never heard of DEF and had to google it.
New at this 5th Wheel thing so please be careful around me.
Rob & Cathy

Re: To DEF or not?

Post by Rob & Cathy »

I believe that DEF is a primary reason Ford and GM V8 diesels have such improved fuel mileage.

Rob
watkinsk
Posts: 640
Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:13 pm
Location: North Carolina, Clayton
Cardinal Owners: 2010 Cardinal 3150RL
Location: North Carolina, Clayton

Re: To DEF or not?

Post by watkinsk »

Just an update on my 2012 F350 that has 3,600 miles on it after returning from our trip to Branson. Mileage without towing is a consistent 19.5-19.8mpg. Mileage when towing to Branson and back was12.5mpg going eastward and only 10.5 going westward to Colorado. Not sure why the big difference but I am disappointed in the towing MPG. Hopefully it will improve as the engine loosens up.
r/ Keith & Sher
2021 Alliance 340RL
2010 Cardinal 3150RL
2022 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LTZ, 4x4, SRW, Std Bed
"NEVER, NEVER, NEVER QUIT"...Winston Churchill
Rob & Cathy

Re: To DEF or not?

Post by Rob & Cathy »

watkinsk wrote: Mileage without towing is a consistent 19.5-19.8mpg. Mileage when towing to Branson and back was12.5mpg going eastward and only 10.5 going westward to Colorado. Not sure why the big difference but I am disappointed in the towing MPG. Hopefully it will improve as the engine loosens up.
You're disappointed in that mileage?

Rob
watkinsk
Posts: 640
Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:13 pm
Location: North Carolina, Clayton
Cardinal Owners: 2010 Cardinal 3150RL
Location: North Carolina, Clayton

Re: To DEF or not?

Post by watkinsk »

10.5 mpg towing is much lower than the 12.5 mpg I averaged towing on my Dodge. I am puzzled as to why the difference in MPG between towing eastward vs westward.
r/ Keith & Sher
2021 Alliance 340RL
2010 Cardinal 3150RL
2022 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LTZ, 4x4, SRW, Std Bed
"NEVER, NEVER, NEVER QUIT"...Winston Churchill
Rob & Cathy

Re: To DEF or not?

Post by Rob & Cathy »

Shoot, an imperceivable amount of head-wind could cause a drop to 10.5 mpg. I hit some head-wind heading to Boise that dropped my mileage down to 8.0 mpg. I also had a tail-wind out of Laramie that got me 14.5 mpg. Plus are you gaining elevation heading back to Colorado?

Rob
User avatar
Mike Clay
Council, Administrator
Posts: 13245
Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:53 am
Location: Oregon Gresham
Cardinal Owners: 2016 3850RL Estate
Skype ID: Mike-Clay
Location: Oregon Gresham

Re: To DEF or not?

Post by Mike Clay »

My mileage has been in the high 10's and low 11's. Yesterday climbing out of Branson then the up and down coming to OK City I managed to get 10.4.
Mike, Susanna & Rudy
2016 3850RL Estate "Proto Grigio"
2019 Silverado 3500HD Dually D/A 4x4 LTZ
My dreams are too big for my wallet
Rallies attended - 32

Nights camping in 2013:159 2014:269 2015:Full Timers
User avatar
Chief409
Posts: 3945
Joined: Sun May 20, 2007 8:21 pm
Location: California Rosamond
Mojave Desert
Cardinal Owners: 2007 30WBLE
Location: California Rosamond

Re: To DEF or not?

Post by Chief409 »

Westbound the prevailing winds are from the west. Plus you're on a pretty steady climb till you get to the Continental Divide crossing the Plains. As mentioned, with the large frontal area of our 5th wheels even a 5 - 10 mph headwind will affect the MPG. I usually tow around 5 mph slower with a headwind to lessen the impact on the mpg.

Jeff
Jeff & Terry
U.S.N. Ret
2012 F350 Lariat FX4 6.7 Diesel Dually, Crew Cab, LWB, 50 gal Transfer Flow toolbox/tank
2007 Cardinal 30WBLE, "the 'Bird", ONAN gen.
The more I see in my travels, the more I realize there is so much more to see.
watkinsk
Posts: 640
Joined: Sat Apr 02, 2011 8:13 pm
Location: North Carolina, Clayton
Cardinal Owners: 2010 Cardinal 3150RL
Location: North Carolina, Clayton

Re: To DEF or not?

Post by watkinsk »

Not feeling so bad now! :)
r/ Keith & Sher
2021 Alliance 340RL
2010 Cardinal 3150RL
2022 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD LTZ, 4x4, SRW, Std Bed
"NEVER, NEVER, NEVER QUIT"...Winston Churchill
User avatar
BMullins46
Posts: 1569
Joined: Mon Nov 03, 2008 4:45 pm
Location: Texas Lubbock
Cardinal Owners: 06 Cardinal 31RKT; 2016 XLR 385AMP
2012 Ford F350 DRW, Lariat 6.7 Diesel.
Location: Texas Lubbock

Re: To DEF or not?

Post by BMullins46 »

You DO have a NICE new truck Keith. I bet it will get a little better once the truck is nicely broken in say at 30 to 35K miles. I know my Dodge sure did.
Bill & Debbie
06 31RKT, MorRyde LRE/4000; 2016 XLR 385AMP
2012 F350 DRW 4X2 Lariat, 6.7 Diesel, TransferFlow aux fuel tank
Fur babies, Betty and Cocoa
Nights camping
2011-102; '12-111; '13-89; '14-108; '15-142; '16-92; '17-163; '18-81
User avatar
Mike Clay
Council, Administrator
Posts: 13245
Joined: Mon Mar 13, 2006 8:53 am
Location: Oregon Gresham
Cardinal Owners: 2016 3850RL Estate
Skype ID: Mike-Clay
Location: Oregon Gresham

Re: To DEF or not?

Post by Mike Clay »

I seem to be staying in the 10's on this trip but pulling pretty heavy. It is what it is and nothing I can do about it. Still loving my 19 to 21 mpg around town here though.
Mike, Susanna & Rudy
2016 3850RL Estate "Proto Grigio"
2019 Silverado 3500HD Dually D/A 4x4 LTZ
My dreams are too big for my wallet
Rallies attended - 32

Nights camping in 2013:159 2014:269 2015:Full Timers
The sailor

Re: To DEF or not?

Post by The sailor »

:-B I don't think any of you guys have a thing to complain about , my 2001 f350 get 9+/_ mpg :AR!
tschmalz

Re: To DEF or not?

Post by tschmalz »

My 2005 Dodge runs consistently between 12 and 14 mpg pulling the rig and 20 to 23 empty. I have the six speed manual and I'm pretty conservative when driving with the rig attached. I think a lot of the disparity between the mileages is probably due to different factors, such as rear-end gearing, how fast you drive, and the size and weight of the rig you're pulling. I'm sure eventually we will all be running DEF in our vehicles because we need to help keep the enviornment clean. We should all be happy we can still buy these big rigs. I fear that in 10 years this RVing thing will be so expensive because of the cost of fuel that a lot of us won't be able to afford it.
Post Reply