DOES A LEVELING KIT HURT YOUR MPG?

[itskrod00]

Hello everyone. Been thinking of a getting a leveling kit.

Do these kits effect any manufacturer warranty?
How much do they effect your MPG?

Anything else i should be concerned with leveling kits?

Thanks everyone.

 

[WilliamS]

Yes it will. The aerodynamics are built to have a certain rake/stance and height from the ground. As you raise the front you push air from one area to another. This can cause turbulence around the body, frame, underpinnings. Although it seems small it can add up pretty fast. You will lose 1-2 mpg on a level in most cases as you have altered the way the air moves around the truck.

The biggest MPG drop comes from wheels and tires after that. Some buys lose 5-7mpg from heavy wheels and tires.

 

[yortnodnarb]

I had my tires installed 1 week prior to getting the level installed. I went from factory 33's to 34's and my computer went from reading 18.5 to about 16.7-17.2mpg. Once I got the level installed (2.8" front, 1" rear) my mileage didn't change at all, still running 16.7-17.2mpg.

I would be extremely surprised to hear of anybody who lost 2mpg on leveling alone.

 

[clay282]

I dropped a couple MPG with the level kit. I wanted to plus size the tires but after I lost 2 MPG just on a level... Bigger tires aren't worth the trade off for me.

 

[Gary2]

If you did not get your speedometer corrected your gas milage also off now.

 

[shadowhawk]

The biggest MPG drop comes from wheels and tires after that. Some buys lose 5-7mpg from heavy wheels and tires.

that seems a bit extreme.

 

[WilliamS]

that seems a bit extreme.

Ask anyone on 35x13.5 or 37’s


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Oldfireguy57]

Ask anyone on 35x13.5 or 37’s


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Went to 35/12.5 from a undersized 32 tire and mileage dropped from 15+ to 11+. But speedo hasn’t been corrected either


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Csanders1992]

I went from a consistent 18 to a little over 13. On a 2015 crew cab 4x4 with the Hemi. Bilsteins at 2.8 with 35x12.50 on stock wheels.
It actually depends on your driving whether or not you’ll loose mpg from a level. If your mainly a city commuter you won’t see much change. If you drive a lot of highway speeds like I do, then you’ll see an impact. The faster you go the worse the aerodynamics will effect your mpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[cubmedic]

I was getting around 19 with stock height and tires. Switched to 275/60/20 Wildpeak AT3's and leveled truck with spacer kit and truck still getting 18-19 MPG.

 

[shadowhawk]

I went from a consistent 18 to a little over 13. On a 2015 crew cab 4x4 with the Hemi. Bilsteins at 2.8 with 35x12.50 on stock wheels.
It actually depends on your driving whether or not you’ll loose mpg from a level. If your mainly a city commuter you won’t see much change. If you drive a lot of highway speeds like I do, then you’ll see an impact. The faster you go the worse the aerodynamics will effect your mpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

was the speedo corrected for the larger tires?

 

[youshallnotpass]

I was at 18 stock now with 34.6 and bils at 2.8 I get excited when I see 13mpg. Speedo not calibrated however

 

[PresiousRam]

I was getting 18-19 mpg stock set up, after installing bils set at 2.8 and new wheels/tires 22x12 xd 831 with 33x12.50r22 fuel mt’s dropped from 13-16 depending on how I am driving
I mounted and balanced my wheels and tires myself and I can tell you those are heavy AF!

 

[clay282]

I went from a consistent 18 to a little over 13. On a 2015 crew cab 4x4 with the Hemi. Bilsteins at 2.8 with 35x12.50 on stock wheels.
It actually depends on your driving whether or not you’ll loose mpg from a level. If your mainly a city commuter you won’t see much change. If you drive a lot of highway speeds like I do, then you’ll see an impact. The faster you go the worse the aerodynamics will effect your mpg

He makes a very good point! 90% + of my miles are highway and I was pretty excited at the mileage estimates on this truck when I got it. I came from a 16 Sorento V6 AWD that would consistently pull 26mpg at 80mph all day long. I didn't think I would feel the hurt so bad over a few mpg... I was wrong. Stock, I could not get above 19mpg at 80mph. If I dropped it down to 75mph it would go into 8th gear a lot more and I could just touch 21mpg. I leveled it and put on Husky Liner mud flaps, back down to low 19mpg at 75mph. Put on a tonneau, took off the mud flaps and got back up to 20mpg.

Don't get me wrong, I love the V6 and 8 speed combo, but I had no idea little things could make such a difference. I run highway 67 allllll the time, so the surface and conditions are comparable and consistent. Maybe the Hemi is a better highway cruiser since it has more power and doesn't have to work as hard, but I will not be changing out bigger tires. I have never had any vehicle, including a truck, that was so affected by 5-10mph speed changes. If you aren't running highway, GO FOR IT! If you run a lot of highway... be prepared at the pump.

 

[autokraftgt]

2" level on 35's HEMI factory rear gear, averaged 12mpg on a 8hr road trip averaging 80mph. I tucked in my side mirrors and gained 1 mpg more lol

 

[yortnodnarb]

He makes a very good point! 90% + of my miles are highway and I was pretty excited at the mileage estimates on this truck when I got it. I came from a 16 Sorento V6 AWD that would consistently pull 26mpg at 80mph all day long. I didn't think I would feel the hurt so bad over a few mpg... I was wrong. Stock, I could not get above 19mpg at 80mph. If I dropped it down to 75mph it would go into 8th gear a lot more and I could just touch 21mpg. I leveled it and put on Husky Liner mud flaps, back down to low 19mpg at 75mph. Put on a tonneau, took off the mud flaps and got back up to 20mpg.

Don't get me wrong, I love the V6 and 8 speed combo, but I had no idea little things could make such a difference. I run highway 67 allllll the time, so the surface and conditions are comparable and consistent. Maybe the Hemi is a better highway cruiser since it has more power and doesn't have to work as hard, but I will not be changing out bigger tires. I have never had any vehicle, including a truck, that was so affected by 5-10mph speed changes. If you aren't running highway, GO FOR IT! If you run a lot of highway... be prepared at the pump.

5-10mph at cruising speeds has a huge impact, Hemi or not. I know I'm pushed around by crosswinds way more so leveled than not. But luckily my mpg wasn't negatively affected by the level alone, the tires are what got me.

 

[darren Toth]

I am running leveling kit with 285/65/20, only get 18-20 mph on highway and only 9-to 11 mph if strictly in town miles. ( back and forth to work)

 

[shadowhawk]

I am running leveling kit with 285/65/20, only get 18-20 mph on highway and only 9-to 11 mph if strictly in town miles. ( back and forth to work)

if you only get 9-11 mpH, you've got bigger issues

 

[Maligator]

Stock if I kept my foot off the gas on the highway and cruised I would average 21-22mpgs. With Bils at 2.8 and 34.5" tires I have to try hard to get it at 18mpg. This is on a stock hemi with 3.21s

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[clay282]

5-10mph at cruising speeds has a huge impact, Hemi or not. I know I'm pushed around by crosswinds way more so leveled than not. But luckily my mpg wasn't negatively affected by the level alone, the tires are what got me.

I'm actually glad to hear this. I thought maybe it was just because I have the Pentastar and figured the Hemi probably just stayed in 8th gear on the highway and got as good or better mpg.