Gas Mileage

Mhermsen21 · Mar 12, 2014

I have had my 2005 Dodge Ram Big Horn for about a year now and I'm getting about 9.9 miles per gallon. I do mostly in town driving, no hauling and I feel that is slightly low. Is that normal for this model truck? Any one have any suggestions or tips on how to increase that? I change the air filter recently, just got an oil change and tires rotated, all schedule maint. is done. Any thoughts would be great. Truck has 62,000 miles. Thanks!

BigJoe1094 · Mar 12, 2014

im assuming by in town you mean short trips max of 45-50 mph, for trips like that i bring in about 14 in my truck but i baby the hell out of it, i rarely break 2K RPMs. if your only getting 9.9 im thinking something is up, what it is specifically i dont know. either that or time for that lighter foot mod lol

NYCruiser · Mar 12, 2014

Install a tennis ball under the accelerator pedal

rustydagger · Mar 12, 2014

A random thought, when were the spark plugs changed?

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granite14 · Mar 12, 2014

Was it always that low, or has it gone down over time?

katokahn99 · Mar 12, 2014

Is that MPG hand calculated or EVIC?
Do you drive it like a stolen sports car?
What mods are on the truck? Is it jacked to the sky and on big tires?
What kind of tires?
Is it manual or auto?
Do you warm it up for a long time in the morning?
Do you live at high elevation? Drive mountainous or hilly roads a lot?

98hemi-ram · Mar 12, 2014

Most of this winter I've also been averaging 9.5 MPG hand calculated in my 06 quad cab 4x4, leveled with 285/60/20 (33.5") Duratrac's, SC tune, new plugs and a ton of other parts in just done on the fall.

But I only drive about a 6 mile round trip to work and back with 5 stop signs total so I know exactly why my mileage sucks especially this winter since it has been colder than normal. But even doing a couple 40 mile round trips a week all highway my mileage seems to stay about the same.

My current tank is looking like it is going to be better now that the cold is starting to let up.

Mhermsen21 · Mar 12, 2014

I travel about 5 miles to and from work everyday, at 25 miles per hour. Not sure on the spark plugs, I think they were new when I bought the truck a year ago (10,000 miles). I don't have too heavy of a foot. I usually warm up the truck for 15 minutes in the morning due to living in Iowa and the cold winters. No modifications and standard stock tire size for the 20" rims..not sure of tire size off hand. Automatic transmission and it seems to be less than 6-9 months ago. Maybe because of warming it up in the morning?

Esgordon123 · Mar 12, 2014

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1394650870.631958.jpg

Mine is a 2012 with the 5.7. This is what I get out of a tank on a regular basis. Mpg and I reset the trip on fill up. Evic is close as I put in only 23 gallons before It was a full tank again.

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Mhermsen21 · Mar 12, 2014

I wish mine could get that. Best I have gotten is 18 and thats going 55mpg for 30+ miles. My average, before it got down to 9.9 was about 13-14.

HemiLonestar · Mar 12, 2014

HAHAHAHAHAH you mentioned gas mileage and Dodge Ram in the same paragraph!!!

Mhermsen21 · Mar 12, 2014

Thats true...what was I thinking lol.

gurowar · Mar 13, 2014

use cruise control that helps me a lot, when I don't use it I too get 9 driving around town

Sparkyy · Mar 13, 2014

I would say the idling in the morning is killing the MPG right there. I use my remote start and wait till I'm below the 1k RPM mark when idling and when I take off, I take it really easy and just let her warm up that way.

Also, just make sure all the fluids (diffs, tranny, transfer case) are clean or new, new spark plugs.

I'm getting about 10.5 around town with my truck and hoping that now the weather is getting warmer, it will go up again.

BTW: Welcome to RF!!

WhiteExpress · Mar 13, 2014

Welcome to RamForum.

For the price, I would throw some new NGK plugs in it. It's not going to hurt anything.
Crap mileage is part of owning a truck. 15 minute warm ups are a bit excessive and certainly aren't helping your mileage. I'd say 2-3 minutes tops.

usaf2006 · Mar 30, 2014

Now ive only had my truck two days but after driving to home depot and back... roughly 20 miles total and speeds from 25-55 I got an avg of 16.1 with hitting the pedal hard occasionally. Mines a 2006 single cab 4wd 5.7 with 100k miles.

cd36 · Mar 30, 2014

My mopars have always preferred champion copper plugs I would stick with them.

If you've done all the regular tune up things, fluids, air filter, plugs, etc. Then you probably need a scan tool and see what your oxygen sensor and fuel trims are doing to see if there is a deeper issue or if it's just your driving habits.

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Harley Harrold · Mar 30, 2014

On my 07 Ram with 5.7L HEMI, the spark plugs are replaced every 30.000 miles. My truck is coming up on 60,000 miles and I will be replacing the Spark Plugs with the Champion Copper Plus 570 spark plugs. I do not know if they were changed at 30,000 miles by the previous owner. I guess I am lucky as my MPG runs around 15 MPG combination driving. I too am bad to stop the go pedal every so often.

WulfGang · Mar 30, 2014

In the summer the computer says I'm averaging 16.5mpg.

This winter it was 12.5.

I have long idle times. I would say... I don't get on it too hard nor too often.

Aint got the $ for fixin stuff AND upgrades!

Gas Mileage

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