2020 1500 eTorque with terrible MPG

Did you not understand that I am 70. I have been driving trucks since I was 12 years old. I very much understand about different driving habits. I understand the EPA is an estimate, etc. I have purchased more vehicles than your age. My hand calculated MPG should not be about 33% less than the EPA estimate. In almost all the vehicles I have purchased, I actually get better than the EPA average. Not on this Ram.

David Roark said:

Did you not understand that I am 70. I have been driving trucks since I was 12 years old. I very much understand about different driving habits. I understand the EPA is an estimate, etc. I have purchased more vehicles than your age. My hand calculated MPG should not be about 33% less than the EPA estimate. In almost all the vehicles I have purchased, I actually get better than the EPA average. Not on this Ram.

Click to expand...

Age is irrelevant as is how long you may or may not have driven. Just driving a vehicle doesn’t make you an expert. Ive spent the majority of my career working on these trucks, so I have the actual first hand experience with their faults. I’ve known lots of people who have done something for years but still aren’t any good at it or still do it wrong.

No need to get all pissy because someone is trying to address your complaint or are you just looking for a soap box? Sounds like you’d be better of trading it in, and buying a Prius if gas mileage is that important to you in a 6000lb truck.

Personally I average 14mpg in my truck, probably 90% city and it makes about 600hp. So the issue with your truck is likely your driving habit, ****** fuel or there actually is something wrong with it. What are your idle and drive hours? Excessive idling will kill your mileage. Your truck is also pretty much brand new. FCA won’t even address any mileage complaints with only 6500 miles. I’ve seen lots of new vehicles get slightly poor mileage when new but once they get some mileage on them it starts to improve.

There’s also a TSB from FCA that somewhat states the whole COVID thing may be partly to blame.

It states:

As a result of actions due to the coronavirus (Covid -19) and the subsequent reduced economicactivity, fuel consumption has been significantly reduced. The fuel distribution system is dependenton high throughput to transition from higher vapor pressure winter fuels to lower vapor pressurefuels for the summertime EPA regulated ozone season.In response, EPA has enacted waivers of seasonal fuel requirements. For more details, pleasereference the EPA website.epa.gov/enforcement/nationwide-fuel-waiver-concerning-summer-gasoline.This could result in more volatile/ higher vapor pressure fuel in the retail fuel system longer thanwhat is normally permitted by the EPA or States. Customer issues related to higher volatile fuelcombined with warmer ambient temperatures are possible, and standard diagnostic procedures maynot lead to a root cause.Potential issues could include vehicle refueling concerns, stalling, driveability issues, DiagnosticTrouble Codes (DTCs), increased evaporative emissions and fuel odor. Issues are most likelyto occur in warm temperatures within 1-3 days of refueling.

Tach_tech said:

There’s also a TSB from FCA that somewhat states the whole COVID thing may be partly to blame.

It states:

As a result of actions due to the coronavirus (Covid -19) and the subsequent reduced economicactivity, fuel consumption has been significantly reduced. The fuel distribution system is dependenton high throughput to transition from higher vapor pressure winter fuels to lower vapor pressurefuels for the summertime EPA regulated ozone season.In response, EPA has enacted waivers of seasonal fuel requirements. For more details, pleasereference the EPA website.epa.gov/enforcement/nationwide-fuel-waiver-concerning-summer-gasoline.This could result in more volatile/ higher vapor pressure fuel in the retail fuel system longer thanwhat is normally permitted by the EPA or States. Customer issues related to higher volatile fuelcombined with warmer ambient temperatures are possible, and standard diagnostic procedures maynot lead to a root cause.Potential issues could include vehicle refueling concerns, stalling, driveability issues, DiagnosticTrouble Codes (DTCs), increased evaporative emissions and fuel odor. Issues are most likelyto occur in warm temperatures within 1-3 days of refueling.

Click to expand...

Build a Ram Laramie 1500 and add the 33-gallon gas tank option and you must then decide to add either the Laramie Level 1 Equipment Group for $1,795 or the Level 2 Group for $2,750.

An aftermarket fuel tank is not available for trucks with gas engines so if you want a larger tank you will want to special order the truck. Dealers bring in very few trucks with the 33-gallon gas tank.

GM specifies 89 octane gas and if you put in 87 octane gas then the computer will retard the spark to prevent pre-ignition (knock) and this will reduce engine power and reduce fuel economy. Octane refers only to how prone gas is to pre-ignition and it is not linear so you can mix 10 gallons of 87 Octane gas in the tank with 3 gallons of 93 Octane and feed the engine a fuel mix that is close to that of 89 Octane gas from the pumps.

I get 45 mpg with my wife's Prius and she gets 42 mpg and the difference is how we drive. Lots of people get 60 mpg from the same car and for them it is a competitive sport. My SUV at 55 mph gets 34 mpg and at 65 mph it gets 24 mpg and around town I get 21 mpg. My diesel 2500 pickup gets 15 mpg around town and 18 mpg on the freeway and if I keep it at 62 mph I can get 22 mpg.

Most of the horsepower is used to overcome air drag and at 80 mph the drag is 4x that at 40 mph. If fuel economy is important then slowing down is the easiest fix.

Only the Ram engineers know for sure but I can see how the eTorque might help make the AFM smoother but cannot see how it woud improve net fuel economy as the engine needs to charge the battery unit and there is pumping losses from the belt drive. It is not like a hybrid vehicle where a smaller IC engine is used and augmented when needed by the power of battery powered electric motors. I doubt that eTorque will exist for new trucks 5 years from now.

I have a 2019 Ram 1599 Laramie 4x4 with Etorque. My driving is 6 miles town 40 miles highway and 4 miles city every day. I cruise at 75 on the highway and I don’t hammer the snot out of it much. 12.9 after 57,000. Yes I know I have 3.92’s and it’s bone stock even the factory tires still. My 2015 was the same truck even with 3.92’s and that got 17 doing the same driving. I’m super disappointed in my etorque truck. I regret it. I bought it because it’s the truck my wife liked. Now I pay for it every time I go to the gas station. It’s terrible.

Elkman said:

Build a Ram Laramie 1500 and add the 33-gallon gas tank option and you must then decide to add either the Laramie Level 1 Equipment Group for $1,795 or the Level 2 Group for $2,750.

Click to expand...

Interesting. I had made the Equipment Group choice long before I got the the fuel tank size. Not that fuel tank size is a big deal to me; it's more a matter of efficiency, as it means less stops. But my average "trip" distance is probably around 15 miles. I use my truck mostly to go back and forth to work, at 11.8 miles one way. Can't think when I've driven it more than 2 hours.

I have a 2021 1500 “built to serve” 4x4, 3.92 5.7 with etorque. I love this truck, the ride, the power, the styling, the technology, everything. I drive 60/40 hwy/city and am getting 17.5 combined (hand calc.) It is all about how you drive and take advantage of the etorque, cylinder deactivation and auto start stop. If I drive it like my Mustang GT...well, you know.

Just and update on my earlier post about mileage at just over 10,000 miles. Mileage hasn’t improved any over the additional miles. Best is 17.5 driving like the old man I am. Trailer towing surprised me on a recent trip to Huntington Beach State Park in SC this past Christmas. I’ve made this trip several times at about 9mpg. This time it was averaging 7mpg. Kind of surprised me a such a difference. Same route same gas. I still love this truck even with its issues. The only thing I would change is I wouldn’t get the etorque. This truck is never going to see 23mpg IMO. Interesting about the winter gas. Going to the beach again at the end of this month and checking mileage.

TestPilot57 said:

How much do you get paid from FCA?

Maybe on some forums you can get away with it, but on here - there is no one that is eating that "stuff".

Then again, what are you driving - a Prius?

Seriously. According to your profile you have a 5.7 ET. THERE IS NO WAY you are getting the mileage you are claiming. I call a greatly mis-calibrated computer, lack of understanding of how to hand-calculate or a hoax.

Click to expand...

Don't call BS on what someone claims unless you are riding around in his pocket. I have a Limited 4x2 with e-torque and 3.92s that I can get 25 +/- easily if I do the 55/60 highway driving thing. When towing 10000 I consistently run 10/12. Some rigs just get good mileage. It is what it is, so you can keep the souer grapes.
92

NDanecker said:

I almost feel these threads should be banned from forum boards. LOL

Seriously though - there are so many variables that effect mileage that it is almost impossible for an owner to use what another person gets for comparison. Period. Cars reduce these variables in that they don't offer crew cabs, short beds, long beds, different gears, 4wd, 2wd, weight variations, etc that greatly influence mileage. Throw in other factors like driving style, elevation, fuel grade, temps, terrain.......its still crazy to compare. It is amusing to see you guys compare numbers though like its some sort of competition and the winner gets to keep the MPG trophy in their garage for the month. It truly make me laugh out loud. Its a truck. Drive it, use it, and enjoy it!

Click to expand...

You tell it brother. If you want mileage, get a prius.

David Roark said:

Did you not understand that I am 70. I have been driving trucks since I was 12 years old. I very much understand about different driving habits. I understand the EPA is an estimate, etc. I have purchased more vehicles than your age. My hand calculated MPG should not be about 33% less than the EPA estimate. In almost all the vehicles I have purchased, I actually get better than the EPA average. Not on this Ram.

Click to expand...

Looks like you got a bad one, plan accordingly.

I think the avg. RAM (according to most online fuel mileage sources) would qualify as a 'bad one'.

Fuelly, as an example, is saying the Avg Hemi RAM is getting 16mpg. Pretty sure the window sticker say 19 combined, so it's 3mpg below what it is 'supposed' to get and puts it towards the bottom of the pack when compared to other's in it's class.

Randy Grant said:

Don't call BS on what someone claims unless you are riding around in his pocket. I have a Limited 4x2 with e-torque and 3.92s that I can get 25 +/- easily if I do the 55/60 highway driving thing. When towing 10000 I consistently run 10/12. Some rigs just get good mileage. It is what it is, so you can keep the souer grapes.
92

Click to expand...

At first, I was kind of surprised you say you’re getting 25 out of that truck even though you do have a 3:92 rear end but then again, you have a 2WD which is probably what’s contributing to your high gas mileage because you’re not feeling the wrath us 4x4’ers are feeling due to Chrysler’s long-lived design of our front axles and how our 4WD works. You don’t have the constant drag on your front wheels that we do because even when we are two-wheeling, our front axle shafts are always turning with the front wheels along with some parts in the front diff that are being turned also by the left front wheel. Our transfer case is disengaged, along with the front driveline but due to the slip collar on the right side axle shaft that’s powered by an actuator (that locks in the front end), we have a lot of drag from our front axle.

I know a gal that used to have pretty much the same truck I had back when I still had my 08 Ram but hers was 2WD; mine was 4WD and she claimed she could get 18 to 19 miles per gallon out of hers and the best I could do in mine was just 17.5 on a very good day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

David Roark said:

Did you not understand that I am 70. I have been driving trucks since I was 12 years old. I very much understand about different driving habits. I understand the EPA is an estimate, etc. I have purchased more vehicles than your age. My hand calculated MPG should not be about 33% less than the EPA estimate. In almost all the vehicles I have purchased, I actually get better than the EPA average. Not on this Ram.

Click to expand...

Same here! I own a 2021 Ram Rebel, 4x4, e-torque with 2000 miles on it, and my best tank was 14.56 hand calculated. I have absolutely babied this truck up until now, as I thought a 300 mile break in wasn't enough.

While my truck was in for service last week (for the 1/2 dozen problems it has), my loaner truck got 19.5 driven the same route! Talk about buyer's remorse! The Rebel is one sweet truck, but my old, lifted Chevy 2500HD gasser on mud tires did nearly as well as my new Rebel for MPGs. All things equal, I'd take back my old Silverado any day.

corneileous said:

At first, I was kind of surprised you say you’re getting 25 out of that truck even though you do have a 3:92 rear end but then again, you have a 2WD which is probably what’s contributing to your high gas mileage because you’re not feeling the wrath us 4x4’ers are feeling due to Chrysler’s long-lived design of our front axles and how our 4WD works. You don’t have the constant drag on your front wheels that we do because even when we are two-wheeling, our front axle shafts are always turning with the front wheels along with some parts in the front diff that are being turned also by the left front wheel. Our transfer case is disengaged, along with the front driveline but due to the slip collar on the right side axle shaft that’s powered by an actuator (that locks in the front end), we have a lot of drag from our front axle.

I know a gal that used to have pretty much the same truck I had back when I still had my 08 Ram but hers was 2WD; mine was 4WD and she claimed she could get 18 to 19 miles per gallon out of hers and the best I could do in mine was just 17.5 on a very good day.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Remember though, this is HIGHWAY miles. In town it isn't close to that. There it runs around 14/16

get this 2020 e torque averaging 11.4 mpg the most I've ever seen on highway is 13.6 mpg.
brought it to two different dealerships .the say its how i drive it or the gas or its winter they blame it on me of course . but were talking 11.4 my 2005 non e torque 5.7 with 200k gets 13 mpg ..i paid 70k for this vehicle .it has 8k miles on it now still 11.4 like the day i bought it and still getting that now. I've even tried to drive it like i was driving miss daisy same milage its a 2020 limited torque with 3.92 gears taneu cover on it . doing 55 on highway in cruise i still get 13.6 mpg. they opened a star case with crystler thats when an engineer gets involved he says the milage is normal lol . so i guess he's saying if i didn't have a torque my gas milage would be 2 mpg less even .im sure glad i paid 1500$ more for the option . they just don't want to dress the fact that something is way wrong here ..i think ill rent the same truck and do a milage test on highway on cruise for 100 miles then repeat it with my truck and bring my go pro film it then send it to them or sue .. but they seriously blamed it on gas and winter and said its normal when i drive it hard i get 7 -10 mpg . when i don't try to drive miss daisy ..i feel the torque is creating some kind of parasitic draw like its creating a drag or something what else could it be ? when i take foot off gas the truck seems to slow down fast faster than any other vehicle I've had .. but chrystler or my dealer don't want to hear anything at all i was told its normal idk what to do any suggestions ? anyone ? please help this is not funny but i have to laugh

rippedoffbyram said:

get this 2020 e torque averaging 11.4 mpg the most I've ever seen on highway is 13.6 mpg.
brought it to two different dealerships .the say its how i drive it or the gas or its winter they blame it on me of course . but were talking 11.4 my 2005 non e torque 5.7 with 200k gets 13 mpg ..i paid 70k for this vehicle .it has 8k miles on it now still 11.4 like the day i bought it and still getting that now. I've even tried to drive it like i was driving miss daisy same milage its a 2020 limited torque with 3.92 gears taneu cover on it . doing 55 on highway in cruise i still get 13.6 mpg. they opened a star case with crystler thats when an engineer gets involved he says the milage is normal lol . so i guess he's saying if i didn't have a torque my gas milage would be 2 mpg less even .im sure glad i paid 1500$ more for the option . they just don't want to dress the fact that something is way wrong here ..i think ill rent the same truck and do a milage test on highway on cruise for 100 miles then repeat it with my truck and bring my go pro film it then send it to them or sue .. but they seriously blamed it on gas and winter and said its normal when i drive it hard i get 7 -10 mpg . when i don't try to drive miss daisy ..i feel the torque is creating some kind of parasitic draw like its creating a drag or something what else could it be ? when i take foot off gas the truck seems to slow down fast faster than any other vehicle I've had .. but chrystler or my dealer don't want to hear anything at all i was told its normal idk what to do any suggestions ? anyone ? please help this is not funny but i have to laugh

Click to expand...

I would think with 8,000 miles on the odometer that it would be broke in by now but I don’t know. Are you going off the dash to calculate your mileage or is this hand calculated? Also, are you running 89 octane or 87? And something else, I don’t know where you live but since it is winter time, are you driving your truck with the auto-4WD engaged? Also, how is your air filter?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’m doing everything right. I live in Connecticut it is winter time I buy 89 octane . Regularly . I’ve tried the other octanes it makes no difference they all give the same mileage. I drive it in 2 Wheel Dr 99percemt of the time .. The computers calculations of the mileage and hand calculating the mileage give same results .. I paid $2000 extra for the E torque option that was supposed to buy me 2 miles more than a gallon it’s supposed to average 19 miles to the gallon highway and city combine .. I have never managed to get more than 13.6 miles to the gallon. That’s on the highway 2 Wheel Dr. cruise controlling at 55 mph and is it eco-mode.. I have seen a lot of other forums people are getting 22 miles to the gallon of a e torque Amd more. My old 2005 5.7 hemi that takes the same gas and I drive it as well it’s getting 13 miles to the gallon.. it makes no sense to me to me it’s fraud to list a truck to be able to get 22 miles to the gallon and I am averaging 11. Even if I drove the truck like an absolute maniac and tried to reduce the gas mileage by driving like a crazy should not be able to reduce the gas mileage by 50% just by hammering on the gas pedal. Which I absolutely do not do I’ve actually tried to get more mileage out of this by babying it.. I feel something is definitely wrong with it I’m sure if I go and ask to test drive The identical truck at a dealership .. i’m sure the gas mileage would be closer so what the MSRP sticker claims. Where I only getting one or 2 miles to the gallon less than MSRP I would just shrug my shoulders and chalk it up to the bs reasons chrystler gives. Like that it’s winter time or the amount of ethanol in the gas. Or that it’s the driver

I just don’t know where to go from here I’m waiting for one more callback from “Chrysler. I asked to speak to the engineer myself because I had some choice questions for him. Like why my 2005 to 200,000 miles on it with the same gas and same driver is getting better mileage that my 2020 etorque . For one .. and I would like to ask him if 10 miles to the gallon is normal at what gas mileage would he consider it not normal and would feel that Chrysler would need to step in. I feel I’m gonna have to end up taking my GoPro and making videos of me doing test drives in the same truck on the same road at the same time and day at the same speed with the same gas and the same driver. Do that in my truck and film it and then do that in others Amd film it . And then post it to Facebook and YouTube and see if the local news wants to see. And do a story on how somebody can spend $70,000 got a brand new truck that advertises 22 miles to the gallon get half of that and just be brushed off by Chrysler. Tell everybody on YouTube Chrysler doesn’t care they’re giving me no satisfaction. And they basically are doing blatant fraud in my case and don’t want to do anything for me. What else can I do

What I meant about 4WD, does your truck have the auto-4WD? See pic. If you do, you’re not driving around all the time with that button pushed in, are you?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk