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Pktatum95

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Hey there. Have a question guys. Wanting some of yalls opinions.

I have a 2017 RAM 3500 6.4 hemi DRW Reg cab with 4.10 and 66rfe. 209k on the clock.

Bought it brand new with 8 miles on it (I put 6 of those test driving it)

Lifter failure at 93k. New long block courtesy of FCA.

No issues with new engine. Ran mobil 1 0-40 and m1-113a filters up to 200k miles. Recently switched to redline 5-30 and still using m1-113a filters. Change air filter every other oil change. Do oil changes religiously at 4-5k miles. Tranny fluid and rearend fluid maint regularly.

I use it as my hotshot truck. It does not move unless it’s hooked to my gooseneck. So 100% towing. Either unloaded, or loaded (up to 16k, although that’s rare. 75% of loads are you 11/12k range- thats including my 5600# goose). I run about 85-100k miles a year. So give or take right at 8k miles a month. So it’s a pretty specific application obviously. The trucks got plenty of power, no complaints bout that. Tranny and shift points could be better. Especially holding gears. I’m just interested in maximizing fuel mileage. Even 1-1.5 mpg for me is huge considering the sheer volume of fuel and miles I burn thru. I’m at about 9400 gallons of fuel for the year already. So literally increasing 1-1.5/2 mpg would literally equal= 6k-8k+ Savings a year for me. I run it cab and chassis, with a 100 gallon drag up tank on it. So I buy 132 gallons of fuel at a time. (Really makes a difference when u can find it at 2.97 and fill up, and pass 3.05-3.50/gal for the next 900 miles or so.) saves a lot of money in the long run. Anyway, completely bone stock. Everythin. All I’ve done to it is plug a scan gauge 2 into it so I can have my digital Speedo plus monitor my EOT, TFT, WT, and IA/ VLTS.

Usually get round 10-10.5 mpg with empty goose- (goose weighs 5600 empty)

Usually round 7.5-8.3 mpg when loaded with average load (5-7k, +5600# goose)

Empty weight- 12,860. (Truck and trailer)
That’s with all my tools needed for the road, duffel bag, me, my bags laptop ect, empty trailer, all chains binders straps bungees tarps spares ect. Fully operational empty weight.

Average loaded weight- prolly between 16-22k (truck and trailer plus load)


I try to stay round 63-66/67 as I know speed kills fuel mileage. Feather in and out of stops. Stay off that brake pedal as much as possible. The usually truck driver/ hotshot commen sense driving to make money.

Keep tires at 80 psi. Run 87 octane.

I’m really light (the truck) seeing as how it’s a regular cab, and I’m runnin it cab and chassis. No extra weight at all. Stock wheels. Stock tires. Nothin aftermarket.

Would y’all suggest a switch to 4.56 gears?

Contacted jay greene and had a good convo with him. He suggested staying stock as far as tuning goes for my application.

What else would y’all suggest?

Any questions just ask.

“Get a diesel” yeah yeah I know. I’m makin work what I got right now ****. Wife’s 8 mos pregnant with our first boy, along with the other kids and her bein off work, tryna maximize profits without doin any major moves right now.
 

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mtofell

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So literally increasing 1-1.5/2 mpg would literally equal= 6k-8k+ Savings a year for me.

If it were that easy, Ram would have figured it out and built the truck that way. MPGs are/were such a focus that they went with "0" weight oil to save some fraction of a % of MPGs
Would y’all suggest a switch to 4.56 gears?
This could actually yield some benefits with the loads you tow. If you're not ever reaching your top gears it might be worth it to try. I know guys that do a lot of city driving were reporting some improvement with that gear switch from stock.

Sorry... not sure why my answers keep showing up in your quotes..... Mods - this new format blows!! I frequent at least a half dozen message boards and this formatting and quoting SUCKS!!!!
 

crash68

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@Pktatum95 sounds like you're already have a good handle on running as inexpensively as possible.
You made a note about keeping the speed down, it's the wind drag that eats into the MPG. If there's anything you can do to streamline the truck/trailer.
Now this sounds counter intuitive but since your loaded up nicely, I wonder if 89 octane would yield better results in MPG. It's possible with 87 octane the engine has to pull timing more often resulting in less than optimal performance.

not sure why my answers keep showing up in your quotes
your probably highlighting the text and selecting the +Quotes as I did in this reply to you. It's a convenient feature if you want to post an answer a specific part of a post without having the rest of the post quoted.
 

RLJ10X

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When you took the bed off, did you notice an increase in mpg?

I realize that you're all about light weight, and I get that. I also realize there is just so much you can do.

I think the only thing you have left is aerodynamics. You're set-up is about as aerodynamic as a dehumidifier.

Look at a big new Semi-tractor trailer. You'll see a stark contrast between what they've done to maximize aerodynamic efficiency and your "open wheel approach".

Maybe put your bed back on. Cover your loads, even it they don't require covering.

I'll bet the recent gas price spike cost you $ thousands a year. That sucks.
 
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Pktatum95

Pktatum95

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@Pktatum95 sounds like you're already have a good handle on running as inexpensively as possible.
You made a note about keeping the speed down, it's the wind drag that eats into the MPG. If there's anything you can do to streamline the truck/trailer.
Now this sounds counter intuitive but since your loaded up nicely, I wonder if 89 octane would yield better results in MPG. It's possible with 87 octane the engine has to pull timing more often resulting in less than optimal performance.


your probably highlighting the text and selecting the +Quotes as I did in this reply to you. It's a convenient feature if you want to post an answer a specific part of a post without having the rest of the post quoted.
I actually have been considering a switch to 89 to experiment. Currently In Alabama runnin a load to PA. But I just filled up with 87 last night. Once I run these 132 gallons out, I’ll actually try that for 2/300 gallons and report back. Thank you for the suggestion.
 
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Pktatum95

Pktatum95

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When you took the bed off, did you notice an increase in mpg?

I realize that you're all about light weight, and I get that. I also realize there is just so much you can do.

I think the only thing you have left is aerodynamics. You're set-up is about as aerodynamic as a dehumidifier.

Look at a big new Semi-tractor trailer. You'll see a stark contrast between what they've done to maximize aerodynamic efficiency and your "open wheel approach".

Maybe put your bed back on. Cover your loads, even it they don't require covering.

I'll bet the recent gas price spike cost you $ thousands a year. That sucks.
Also been considering that. Since imma welder by trade, I actually have been designing in my head “side flares” or whatever comin off my frame extending from the back of my cab out to my wheels. Almost like the slow bed slope of a stock dually bed, just with 10 gauge or somethin like that. I sold the stock bed a week after I got it. So all I have is my welding bed to throw back on. However, it would be fairly easy and a hour/2 of my time to build those. I miigbt also try those in the next 2 weeks or so next time I’m home and report back.

Thank y’all for takin some time out and responding.
 

crash68

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I actually have been considering a switch to 89 to experiment. Currently In Alabama runnin a load to PA. But I just filled up with 87 last night.
Keep in mind that depending on where you fill up you might start taking on winter blend fuel. Winter blend may ding you a mpg or two, it's possible you could make the change and not see any improvement but overall you actually have. Look back through your previous years fuel consumption for comparison.
 
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Pktatum95

Pktatum95

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Keep in mind that depending on where you fill up you might start taking on winter blend fuel. Winter blend may ding you a mpg or two, it's possible you could make the change and not see any improvement but overall you actually have. Look back through your previous years fuel consumption for comparison.
Copy. That makes sense as well. I live in Ohio, so I’m not real sure if we have that round here tbh. But I do run all 48. I know for sure up in ND and MT and **** they have it.

So essentially, it’s possible that even with the Increased gross in fuel spending, my net would be better overall for increased mpg. (100k miles on 11,700 gallons vs gettin that same 100k miles on 9800 gallons due to mpg). Possible, not guaranteed I know. But possible. I’d def be the guinea pig to test it, again cuz of the sheer volume of fuel I run thru lol.
 

crash68

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That makes sense as well. I live in Ohio, so I’m not real sure if we have that round here tbh. But I do run all 48.
It's pretty much guaranteed that any state that gets snow in the winter and can have average temperatures in the 40s or less will most likely have winter blend. It's probably more of a question when they get it vs if they get winter blend. Some states probably already have it, others may just be getting it.
 
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Pktatum95

Pktatum95

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So y’all don’t believe re gearing would be beneficial? Genuinely askin as idk. I’ve done research on here and saw guys saw increased mpg when towing due to holding gears longer and also low end torque. But that’s also mostly weekend camper miles. Not my specific application as well.
 

RamminMopar

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Maybe gears would of been better when it was new and you'd get all the miles out of them. Also theres a break in period so idk if you can spare a few days while they install it, you do the break in and then change diff fluid
 

crash68

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Going with lower gearing might help if you did bunch of starting/stopping, but with the miles you rack up, that truck is always moving. The only re-gearing that would probably make sense for you would be an 8spd transmission. Maybe by the time you're in the situation for a new truck, Ram will have the 8apd behind the Cummins. You definitely rack up the miles and pull a big enough load to justify a diesel.
 

dhay13

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^ agreed. I would think that at highway speeds lower gears will actually hurt you. I believe that you would get better mileage in town (start/stop) with lower gears as the engine doesn't have to work as hard to get it moving. But at highway speeds that isn't a concern
 
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Pktatum95

Pktatum95

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For OP, I can’t offer MPG advice but I salute you for working hard and providing for your family. You’re a good man!
Preciate it man. Imma pipeline welder by trade, from 2017 to 2020, the first 3 years of its life it was my rig truck. But as I mentioned, that field is terrible right now. Had to figure out a way to make it work and put that dually to work. This is what she used to look like. Before this I ran a 7.3 as a rig truck. Over 350k on that 7.3 when I sold it to buy this one. But as a rig truck, I went with a gasser for cost and emissions. Never planned on hotshottin or bein in transportation. A gasser dually works fine for a rig u know. Got 4-6k lbs on the back of it and go to work. But now she serving a differenr purpose and just tryna maximize it u know. I figured I’d get destroyed by “get a diesel idiot” but all y’all been cool as **** I Preciate that man.
 

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Pktatum95

Pktatum95

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Btw a side note to everybody, I read on other forums that 4.10 rearend 6.4 hemi are hard to find on the lot. I got this one at a dodge dealer in cuyhago falls Ohio. They had 2 identical trucks sittin there. Mine, and another red dually identical to mine. Twins. One had carpet and 3.73s, the other one had 4.10 and vinyl seats/floors. Imma workin man, so I said **** I get the vinyl on vinyl plus a 4.10 rearend? Don’t even show me the other one sign me up lol.
 

Irishthreeper

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Preciate it man. Imma pipeline welder by trade, from 2017 to 2020, the first 3 years of its life it was my rig truck. But as I mentioned, that field is terrible right now. Had to figure out a way to make it work and put that dually to work. This is what she used to look like. Before this I ran a 7.3 as a rig truck. Over 350k on that 7.3 when I sold it to buy this one. But as a rig truck, I went with a gasser for cost and emissions. Never planned on hotshottin or bein in transportation. A gasser dually works fine for a rig u know. Got 4-6k lbs on the back of it and go to work. But now she serving a differenr purpose and just tryna maximize it u know. I figured I’d get destroyed by “get a diesel idiot” but all y’all been cool as **** I Preciate that man.
Again, you are doing what you need to do and that looks like a hard working truck. I have a ‘21 2500 Hemi that I pull a 5th wheel with and love it. Like most of us on here it’s a pretty truck that we use to do fun stuff with. Yours puts food on the table and I admire that. Be blessed and be safe.
 

buckeyexx

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It's pretty much guaranteed that any state that gets snow in the winter and can have average temperatures in the 40s or less will most likely have winter blend. It's probably more of a question when they get it vs if they get winter blend. Some states probably already have it, others may just be getting it.
I always know when the winter blend is here in Ohio because my truck drops at least 1.5 mpg. I live just north of Cincinnati and I’ve noticed the last 2 fill ups I’m getting just over 10 mpg when I usually get around 12. Perfect timing with it jumping up to 3.35 gal.
 
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Pktatum95

Pktatum95

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I always know when the winter blend is here in Ohio because my truck drops at least 1.5 mpg. I live just north of Cincinnati and I’ve noticed the last 2 fill ups I’m getting just over 10 mpg when I usually get around 12. Perfect timing with it jumping up to 3.35 gal.
Ahh I gotcha. Then it’s prolly round my way too. I live in the Ohio river. From my front porch ur straring at WV lol. Well I’ll keep that in mind over the next couple months when running numbers and not get too discouraged to see it drop a little.
 

SouthTexan

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Reduce your wind drag as much as possible. At lower speeds, rolling resistance is you biggest consumer of horsepower. At highway speeds, it is wind drag and it uses significantly more the faster your go. While not having a bed may make you lighter, it is likely creating more wind drag since the air is pushing flat spots instead of curves. Lowering the truck a little will help. So will putting plates under the truck to make air flow smoothly below it without hitting any flat spots. If your truck is always hooks up to the same trailer, then you can modify your trailer to eliminate as many flat spots and gaps as possible.

Here is a good report to read that may help your cause. It is mainly for semi trucks, but it still applies to your situation.

Cummins-Secrets to Better Fuel Economy
 
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