RE: '01 QC First Impressions, Mileage, and other Musings (somewhat long)

From: Sam Parthemer (srp@home.com)
Date: Wed May 30 2001 - 18:09:33 EDT


I take it you live in San Diego.

Expect 1 mpg better once it's broken in. Also, you
were traveling westbound, so that takes away another mpg.

I see a 1 mpg improvement going eastbound over the same
stretch of road. It's better to get gas in Yuma than stretch
it, because aside from the gas station at the top of the grade
(which is terribly expensive), there's no fuel until Pine Valley/Alpine
and that's a long stretch to be walking.

Sam '00 RT
Santee, CA.

> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-dakota-truck@BUFFNET.NET
> [mailto:owner-dakota-truck@BUFFNET.NET]On Behalf Of NITF@work.com
> Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2001 2:42 PM
> To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
> Subject: DML: '01 QC First Impressions, Milleage, and other Musings
> (somewhat long)
>
>
> Quick stats about the truck:
>
> 2001 Quad Cab SLT
> 4.7 Auto 4x4 AWD
> 3.92 Limited Slip
> Wheel and Handling Package
> Leather Interior Group
> 1900 miles
>
> After picking up my truck I was ecstatic, I kept joking with people
> that were driving with me that everyone was checking out my truck. I
> stopped by my parent's house to show them but they weren't in and when
> I walked back to the truck a guy in a full size Ram had stopped in the
> road and started asking me questions about it. At lunch over the
> weekend I came out to see a guy looking in the window then walking
> away and repeatedly looking back then telling his wife to look. It
> seems we aren't the only folks who love the looks of these things.
>
> A couple of things I would like to be different include a larger rear
> view mirror, the back window is big enough to support a wider mirror.
> Also I find the gear shift to be too low, when in cruise and I move my
> leg I often bump it with my knee and it seems to be in the way when I
> reach for the stereo.
>
> I forgot to check the bed for alignment but it was squeaking,
> fortunately they had to remove the bed to paint the two-tone and the
> body shop put it back together better than the factory.
>
> Drove from Phoenix to San Diego last night and recorded on the
> overhead computer an average MPG of 15.5 from Phoenix to Yuma at an
> average speed of 75 on the fairly flat roads. And 15.9 from Yuma to
> San Diego at an average speed of 65 on the more mountainous roads.
> Coming into El Cajon I recorded a peak MPG of 72 while cruising
> downhill in gear.
>
> I found the MPGs to really roll off after 60 so I guess the factory
> rating of 18 MPG must have been based on a highway speed of 55.
>
> I will have to install the electric fan and underdrive pulleys to see
> if I can improve the MPG a little more then I can make the trip
> without stopping as long as the bladder holds out.
>
> I experimented and used Rain-X on the windshield as well as the chrome
> on the bumpers and grille, and this morning when I cleaned the dead
> bugs off it seemed to come off fairly easy with just glass cleaner and
> paper towels. Not sure if this had any effect or just wishful
> thinking so more experiments will be conducted.
>
> NITF



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