2020 1500 eTorque with terrible MPG

Retiring Don · Jan 13, 2020

When researching to purchase my 2019 2wd Laramie 5.7l CC to pull my travel trailer I noticed the MPG on the window stickers didn't change whether the truck had 3.23s or 3.92 gears in the rear which I attributed to Ram only submitting one engine/rear gear combination to the EPA for evaluation. I wanted the 3.92s to help pull my trailer up the Rockies. If I'm not towing the trailer and I'm not sitting in traffic I routinely get 16 mpg around town and 21 on the highway when not exceeding 70 mph. If I cruise at 80 on cruise control the mileage goes down to 17 which makes perfect sense given the low 3.92 gear ratio. When towing my 6K lbs trailer on the highway its 10.5 to 11.5 mpg depending on the terrain. I am totally okay with all of this because the 2003 Dakota 3.9L V6 I traded in was getting 14 around town and 18 on the highway when I wasn't towing anything. The 8 spd trans in my new truck vice the 4 spd in my Dakota makes a world of difference.
While I didn't order my truck from the factory, I'm very glad it came with the 33 gallon tank as we plan our trailer trip overnight stops to be around 300 miles apart so we only need to fill up once a day.

2019RamInSC · Jan 13, 2020

1200 miles on a new 2019 Laramie hemi 4x4 3.92
16 MPG at home in the country to town and such.
18 MPG on highway at 70 MPH.
I red line it once in the while.

For what its worth.
Good Luck.

tcburch · Jan 13, 2020

Jeff A said:
So I just bought a new 2020 1500 Limited eTorque and I'm really having some issues with my MPG.

I've been through 4 tanks of gas so far, and here's what I'm getting:
1st tank - 13.02 MPG (in town) - 275 miles, 21.128 gallons
2nd tank - 12.17 MPG (in town) - 272 miles, 22.354 gallons
3rd tank - 16.96 MPG (all highway) - 377 miles, 22.226 gallons
4th tank - 16.21 MPG (all highway) - 328 miles, 20.229 gallons. For this tank I used the cruise control for ~80% of the time, left at 73 mph.

According to my window sticker I should be getting 17 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway. So I'm running about 25% lower MPG than advertised in the city and the highway. I took it to the dealership to ask them to look at it, but before I even dropped it off the service adviser told me it's all in how you drive it, and to try a different gas station. I told them that I let my wife drive it for one of the tanks, and all 4 fill ups were at different stations. Low and behold, they didn't find anything wrong with it.

What do you guys think about this? Anyone else seeing this kind of mileage? I have 2 family members with 2015 Ram 1500's that routinely get about 15/20 MPG. If I'm at 12/16 that's a huge disappointment for such an expensive truck.

I'd really appreciate any advice anyone can give me on working with a service department who's actually interested in seeing if there's a problem, or anything I can do to help refine this on my own.

Thanks,

Jeff

tcburch · Jan 13, 2020

flyingron said:
I've got a 2020 Ram 1500 Limited (5.7 w/etorque). I'm getting way better. It's averaging right around 18. It goes way up on the highway.

I'm with you...I've got a 2020 Longhorn with 5.7 eTorque...I bought it mid-August, just turned 3000 miles (90%++ city) and I've watched the mileage get better with each tank. I'm now averaging, city mind you, 18 or slightly better (18.3 was yesterday's fill on my receipt which I keep for business). IDK...I think we pretty much expect the best out of the gate when in reality you should be "breaking in" any vehicle/motor-drive line...it's still the thing to do...of course having said that, there are the exceptions and I know I'll get some pushback, but wth...

arthur dwyer · Jan 13, 2020

a couple things-it is a hemi-aero of a barn door-it is not broke in yet-it is a truck and not a car!

Jim Prendergast · Jan 13, 2020

DILLIGAF said:
I wish I was getting 15mpg

TestPilot57 · Jan 13, 2020

TimboRam77 said:
...The only advantage of 3.21 is the engine noise is slightly less...

In my camp that is a DIS-advantage...

Anthony Kalos · Jan 14, 2020

tbird71 said:
I went from a 14 reg cab getting 19 hiway with the 645RE six speed
to an 11 Big Horn 4x4 with the old 545 5 speed that gets 12-13 city and MAYBE 15-16 hiway. But I knew this goin in. I like the crew cab ride and I like the hemi. You can keep that etorque crap. 2200+- more and another battery to replace and as you see here maybe as good as a reg for mileage. No thanks

Gregory McKinley · Jan 14, 2020

My 2019 1500 Big Horn 5.7 MDS eTorque with 3:21 rear axle gets on average 16.5 to 17 mpg. I have a short commute to work so it could be better. I have noticed that if I drive more aggressive the mpg goes up. Seems that it should get worse???? It likes to get beat on every once in a while!! It just rolled over to 27,000 miles. I bought it used just under 26,000. If I run to Georgia to visit family I have noticed above 18 mpg. Goes to hell when I hit the country roads. Love this truck. I have no complaints what so ever about it. Bad ass truck!!!!

Gregory McKinley · Jan 14, 2020

Oh one more thing to add..... Fuel mileage does go down when I use the remote start on those cold ass mornings. and DAMN...... I LOVE THAT HEATED STEERING WHEEL!!!!! Done got me spoiled rotten!! LMAO

Lucy Girl · Jan 14, 2020

Worried about gas mileage??? DON’T buy a Truck!!!

TestPilot57 · Jan 14, 2020

Gregory McKinley said:
Oh one more thing to add..... Fuel mileage does go down when I use the remote start on those cold ass mornings. and DAMN...... I LOVE THAT HEATED STEERING WHEEL!!!!! Done got me spoiled rotten!! LMAO

Did you not update your profile? It says you live in SC...???

tomb · Jan 16, 2020

DILLIGAF said:
I wish I was getting 15mpg

Me TOO!!!

RAMan92 · Jan 19, 2020

Holy cow that's poor mpg. My Pentastar is giving me 20+ with only 1300 miles on it, I can easily get 450 miles to a tank 40/60 city/highway. Our trucks are still "breaking in". I'd give it to about 5,000 miles.

CougarBFMC · Jan 23, 2020

Gregory McKinley said:
My 2019 1500 Big Horn 5.7 MDS eTorque with 3:21 rear axle gets on average 16.5 to 17 mpg. I have a short commute to work so it could be better. I have noticed that if I drive more aggressive the mpg goes up. Seems that it should get worse???? It likes to get beat on every once in a while!! It just rolled over to 27,000 miles. I bought it used just under 26,000. If I run to Georgia to visit family I have noticed above 18 mpg. Goes to hell when I hit the country roads. Love this truck. I have no complaints what so ever about it. Bad ass truck!!!!

Larger throttle openings increase fuel efficiency by reducing pumping losses, so long as you don't reach the point where throttle position or RPMs cause the computer to go into open-loop mode and dump extra fuel to proactively prevent detonation. A general rule-of-thumb is to aim for 60% throttle and peak RPM in each gear--though this varies by vehicle.

TL;DR Moderately-strong throttle is more fuel-efficient than slow acceleration.

crash68 · Jan 24, 2020

CougarBFMC said:
Moderately-strong throttle is more fuel-efficient than slow acceleration.

^^^ this
BMW did a study on this years back and found this out.

Also slow acceleration can be hazardous to your health if done in the left lane...lol

NDanecker · Jan 28, 2020

Go to fuelly.com and start tracking your mileage. I used to do this with all my cars for fun. Below is a snapshot of a true average using 2,283 RAM trucks who track their mileage not one guy on a forum board from Misfit Island (no harm intended).

I get around 14mpg average using hand calculated values over multiple tanks. This is a true average not some instant in time on flat ground with wind at my back bragging rights that my truck gets 28mpg. LOL.

Seems I'm right around the average considering I drive more city than highway to work.

Elkman · Jan 29, 2020

I monitor MPG only to tell when something is wrong with the vehicle (engine, sticking caliper, etc.). My truck has averaged 15.5 MPG with a lot of heavy towing and hauling. My large SUV averages 19 MPG around town and 26 MPG on the highway. My Prius has averaged 45 MPG over 97,000 miles of driving. I drive the truck when I need a truck and use the Prius to go to the market to pick up groceries or to the hardware store for a light switch.

All the trucks are built to tow and carry 5-6 passengers and have the aerodynamics of a brick (even before a yahoo jacks it up) and worrying about fuel economy is a waste of time. My 2500HD truck gets it best fuel economy of 20 mpg at 62 MPH on flat open road and the gas consumption greatly increases when I drive faster than that. If I am making a trip of 20 miles then speeding is going to save me maybe 2 minutes and cost me for the extra fuel burned. Smarter for me to leave the house 2 minutes sooner.

Gregory McKinley · Jan 31, 2020

TestPilot57 said:
Did you not update your profile? It says you live in SC...???

I am definitely warm blooded living here in the South. Anything below 40 is damn cold to me!!! Lol. Flew into Boston one year after a drop of 4 feet of snow. One week there was to much for me!!! You Yankees can keep all that!!!!!!! That is why most of yall invade the South during winter. :signs8:

TerraNewf · Feb 2, 2020

Big truck, big v8 engine, fuel milage is what it is. I didn't even give it any thought when ordering my truck. My main concerns were no E-torque and air suspension. Every other comfort option was added and I'm very happy. Truck sucks more gas in the winter but that's to be expected. Loving the luxuries of my truck and hoping to drive it plenty more kms yet. It tows my boat and 16' cargo trailer with ease.

2020 1500 eTorque with terrible MPG

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