Terrible CRD Fuel Mileage - What is wrong with my CRD ?

rayamash · **Posted:** Sat Feb 26, 2011 9:13 pm

I Cant get more than 19-20mpg. I drive 60 highway miles a day round trip to work. Cruise control set to 70mph. Have installed elephant hose mod and unplugged MAF sensor (ORD) and cleaned the MAP boost sensor, installed new air filter last month.

bhc04 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 26, 2011 9:21 pm

How long has this been going on? Where are you buying your diesel fuel, and could it just be a bad run of fuel?
My 06 CRD, I average combined city/hwy around 23 and on a trip strictly highway, just a hair under 27 driving at or just a few mph above the highway speed limits. I just though of another thing, is it possible you may have a brake dragging on one of your wheels? I'd feel them after you've driven to or from work and see if they're all about the same temp.

Pote · **Posted:** Sat Feb 26, 2011 10:30 pm

I like doing 70 too, but try this test for a few days...keep the cruise at 65 and see if your mpg improves. I've heard, and read on multiple occasions that 65 is the magic number for fuel economy. not sure if true but I've heard. anything above especially 70 really guzzles the fuel. just a thought.

flyingdoc · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 4:03 am

I was getting 18mpg, till I noticed that the viscous cooling fan was ceased and the fan was constantly driven by engine, ive removed the fan for the winter and now I get 24mpg(city driving is not a problem with out the fan) also may be you should take a look at your termo-stat it could be stuck open that will reduce your mpg

Lancer · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 5:11 am

In addition to all of the above suggestions - winterized diesel usually does result in an mpg drop of anything up to 4mpg. As I understand it(and I'm no expert by a long way), the stuff they put in to prevent gelling and wax crystal formation at cold temperatures does reduce the fuel's energy (terrible way to put it but you know what I mean).

4sefed · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 6:14 am

and because your in the northern US, it's cold. milage sucks in the cold. your diff oil is cold, your transfer case fluid is cold, everything is cold and thicker... wait till the warmer weather comes and it will get better.

otherwise pony up for a GDE tune and then you'll be much happier with your milage.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:11 am

where's the temp gauge pointing - should be straight up
if it's at 1/4 to 1/3 of scale - thermostat is dead and engine is running cold

(I haven't followed all of the weather reports - but I'd doubt that Michigan has had many warm days in the last 6 months.)

other issue is the speed - engine gets the best mileage below 2000 rpm - drops off above that - but with ~stock tires thats in the 60-65 range -
(it's perfectly happy spinning at 2300 - 2400 rpm but mileage drops)

racertracer · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 9:08 am

I know you all believe that the temp gauge has a lot to do with bad fuel economy, but mine has failed open and I get 21 to 23 MPG on winter blend and 25 to 27 or more driving on long trips during the warmer months.

I would suggest you get the Engine Control Module updated to the latest firmware / software update from the dealer, the dealer connects the ECU directly to Chrysler’s computers via the web and updates all the software that your vehicle needs updated since your last update. It makes the engine run smoother, quieter with more fuel efficiency; you will notice the difference right away and think that you have a new vehicle. A few of us have done it and love it. One hour labor charge from the dealer is all it costs, $95.00 plus tax.

And after you have that completed; get a tune from Green Diesel Engineering to take care of the EGR issues and get even better engine performance.

LibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 10:57 am

19-20 is exactly what I was getting too.

Then I did the GDE TCM tune, changed my tires, etc. and now I'll pulling 23.5 easily. Winter fuel and cold weather is horrible. This Summer I'll pull 26-27 probably (was always 23 Summer before the mods).

bhc04 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 12:04 pm

My 06 CRD's temp. gauge runs this time of the year, AZ. winter a couple of "ticks" below the halfway/straight up line on the gauge. Bought "new" in Dec. 05 and it's now got 65k miles on it, always has run that way winter time, and most of the rest of the year. Combo city/highway milage about 22-23 highway driving the speed limit or around 5 mph over, 26-27 mpg.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 1:24 pm

I replaced my t stat when I did the timing belt last week (prob shulda been done 3 yrs ago). In the winter the temp gauge never got to 12 o'clock on the freeway and would plummet to the 1/4 mark if I was idling for any reason. Now that it's fixed, the temp gage sits where it used to when I first bought it. I normally get 21 mpg mixed and under routine driving, have to fill up every 7 days. Although not scientific, I am on day 8 and still have 1/4 tank.

Even when the vehicle was bone stock, I never saw the mpg's some have claimed on here.

bugnout · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:36 pm

Winter Diesel sucks, should improve by at least 2 mpg as soon as they switch back to summer blend
Make sure your at temp - Tstat opening too early is very common after 50k
replace fluids in your diffs and transfer case. Switch to synth to give you a bit less friction. Can make a big difference if they haven't been changed in a while.
Check your air filter, reduced air flow can affect your mileage
Unload all those tools you carry in the back. Additional weight can cut your mpg's
Check tire pressure. Running at the higher end of the range can improve your fuel mileage.
GDE economy tune added a couple mpg to my mileage.

Big Montana · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 8:11 pm

I'm getting 20-21 mpg now too. It must be the cold and the winter fuel. In the summer I was getting 26-28.

rayamash wrote:

I Cant get more than 19-20mpg. I drive 60 highway miles a day round trip to work. Cruise control set to 70mph. Have installed elephant hose mod and unplugged MAF sensor (ORD) and cleaned the MAP boost sensor, installed new air filter last month. Tires air pressure is correct.

I have owned this crd for 6 months now. Has 90,000 miles. Fuel mileage has been this way since i purchased this. I thought this was normal until i read that other crd owners were having higher mpg in the low to mid 20's and some have high 20's mpg.

I purchase my fuel from local Marathon and Shell stations. Each of these has winterized fuel for use here in colder Michigan climate. I was also wondering if winterized fuel can contribute to decreased mpg.

Any other suggestions?

owner66 · **Joined:** Thu Feb 10, 2011 11:45 am **Posts:** 6

Are you checking the MPG based on fill up gallons?
What size tires? Is the odometer close to what you actually drive?
A few percent off coupled with winter fuel can make a difference.

BlackLibertyCRD · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 10:04 pm

Since your CRD is an 06 you need to add 5% to the mileage meter before doing your calculations.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 2011 10:41 pm

We also got the same mileage at the beginning. Keys are rebuild/modify front calipers to eliminate drag, disable VH, stock size tires inflated to at least 36 psi, GDE ECU and trans tunes, 190 degree thermostat, blanked off headlight intake for winter, religious block heater use and grill blanket for winter, Magnaflow exhaust. Should get 28-30 on winter fuel in 50/50 mix of highway/local driving (with a LIGHT foot). Should get 32-33 in summer on summer fuel.

Also, add 5% to your mileage in calculating to correct for low reading odometer (with stock tires, of course).

DOC

racertracer · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:40 am

Doc, are the front calipers a common problem?

Magnum · **Posted:** Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:53 pm

Do the stations where you buy fuel sell a lot of it, it might be bad fuel. I usually get mine at Meijer at US131 and 76th st or the one in Lowell both sell a lot of diesel

yakers · **Posted:** Tue Mar 01, 2011 3:31 am

Recently had a mostly road trip and averaged 22 MPG, kind of hoped for better but can't really complain; have the GDE Eco tune but we did have a loaded Jeep with 4 passengers & 'stuff', Goodyear AT/KO E rated tires, 80W140 rear diff oil and mostly did 70 MPH+ on the trip.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:11 am

Racer,

Yes. There is one slider pin on each front caliper sleeve. They expand over time and jam the caliper. Remove the sleeves and pack with slider grease. They won't rattle.

DOC

Terrible CRD Fuel Mileage - What is wrong with my CRD ?

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