'06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi.

'06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi. - 09/24/08 04:43 AM

Our '06 Dodge Durango 5.7 Hemi 4x4 that we ordered new has had the distance to empty (DTE) go from 389 miles down to 303 miles after a fill up. It now has about 43,000 miles on it. Anybody else experience this? It has had all the recommended service and has a new air cleaner too.

Posted By: moparkid1966

Re: '06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi. - 09/24/08 07:01 AM

How many fuel tanks was this averaged over?

Posted By: ahy

Re: '06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi. - 09/24/08 10:30 AM

DTE is calculated on recent average fuel economy. If you were cruising at 19 MPG when the first calculation was made and later driving around town at say 14 MPG when the second was made the change in DTE would be normal.

Posted By: RodStRace

Re: '06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi. - 09/24/08 02:08 PM

it's about time for winter gas too. Notorious for lower mileage...

Posted By: michaelphbarnett

Re: '06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi. - 09/24/08 07:32 PM

It's the same person driving it over the same general route since new. The reason I'm asking is that I would think it would have gone up a little from new instead of going down.

Posted By: DPelletier

Re: '06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi. - 09/24/08 08:16 PM

Don't put too much stock into what that computer says; the DTE function is a novelty at best. Hand calculate your mileage and if you see a real drop of 23% THEN get concerned.

Dave

Posted By: GTXKen

Re: '06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi. - 09/24/08 08:36 PM

These things may not be super accurate but they are usually pretty consistent. Poor mileage can indicate a problem. Does it idle rougher than it did or stumble at all? I had similar issues with other vehicles and once it was a bad wire and once replacing the plugs solved the problem.

Posted By: michaelphbarnett

Re: '06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi. - 09/26/08 01:59 AM

Quote:

Don't put too much stock into what that computer says; the DTE function is a novelty at best. Hand calculate your mileage and if you see a real drop of 23% THEN get concerned.

Dave

The problem is that I didn't hand calculate the mileage when it was new. I just remember the DTE being 384 miles when I'd fill it up and now the DTE is down to 303 miles.

Posted By: SALEM1912

Re: '06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi. - 09/26/08 02:04 AM

Have you tuned up yet. Hemi has standard plugs. 30K

Posted By: michaelphbarnett

Re: '06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi. - 11/23/10 07:56 PM

Yes, it had a tuneup.

Posted By: ademon

Re: '06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi. - 11/23/10 11:55 PM

Did you get new tires? changing to a taller tire will knock it down

Posted By: DaveRS23

Re: '06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi. - 11/24/10 02:45 AM

How recent is the decline? Has it just happened the last month or so? My tow vehicle has lost 1 1/2 mpg the last few weeks. It does it every fall. Winter blend gas.

Posted By: michaelphbarnett

Re: '06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi. - 11/08/12 02:27 AM

Quote:

Did you get new tires? changing to a taller tire will knock it down

it has gotten new tires from the same manufacturer, the same model and the same size. This didn't change the DTE.

Posted By: buildanother

Re: '06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi. - 11/08/12 07:23 AM

Sounds like you're doing a bit of local city driving and the avg mpg should be lower too from when you first got it.

Posted By: Jim_Lusk

Re: '06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi. - 11/08/12 07:30 AM

It could be something as simple as a change in the accuracy of the fuel sender...

Posted By: Grizzly

Re: '06 Durango Distance to Empty Went from 384 to 303 Mi. - 11/08/12 07:51 AM

Quote:

it's about time for winter gas too. Notorious for lower mileage...

This.