Guess my 6.4 mpg

[U&A]

Wow, you guys are getting WAAAAAAAY better than me. I didn't get the truck for mpg, but damn, the EVIC is showing 10.5 mpg. I'm not heavy footed either. Running 295/65r20s, 3/1 lift, 373 gears, ranch hand bumpers f/r and it's a 4x4. I was expecting a drop in mpg, but didn't think it would be this much. Truck only has 1 tank of gas through it. Hoping it gets better as I break it in. So far mostly mixed hwy/city driving.

I did notice the MDS almost never kicks in unless I'm on a long downward grade or I am 100% coasting. Also, trans seems to search for gearing a lot.

I just came from a 1500 4x4 with 4" lift, 295/60r20 tires, and 321 gears w/8 speed. I was getting 14-15 mpg with a lot of city driving. On long trips I was hitting 17-18.

I was getting 10 MPG or less when it was brand new. it slowly gets better. i just got to 2900 miles and Im getting (EVIC) about 14-15 in town and my highway mpg is posted above.

 

[U&A]

and my MDS kicks in a LOT!! when in town and very little on the highway. on the highway it need a down hill or no wind at all on flat planes.

 

[ptesmoke]

Wow, you guys are getting WAAAAAAAY better than me. I didn't get the truck for mpg, but damn, the EVIC is showing 10.5 mpg. I'm not heavy footed either. Running 295/65r20s, 3/1 lift, 373 gears, ranch hand bumpers f/r and it's a 4x4. I was expecting a drop in mpg, but didn't think it would be this much. Truck only has 1 tank of gas through it. Hoping it gets better as I break it in. So far mostly mixed hwy/city driving.

I did notice the MDS almost never kicks in unless I'm on a long downward grade or I am 100% coasting. Also, trans seems to search for gearing a lot.

I just came from a 1500 4x4 with 4" lift, 295/60r20 tires, and 321 gears w/8 speed. I was getting 14-15 mpg with a lot of city driving. On long trips I was hitting 17-18.

I can relate to this, running 305/55/20 duratracs , 2" level, 4.10 rear. for my first 5000kms mileage was atrocious but I didn't really care. now im almost at 10k kms and now MDS kicks in a lot, and mileage around 17mpg mixed.

give it a while, after breaking in it gets a lot better, my 2013 1500 sport was the same, after 10k it got really good mileage...

 

[14RAM4X4]

That's encouraging to hear. I'd be happy with 14 mpg reading on the evic. Anything above that would be gravy.

 

[tjfdesmo]

and my MDS kicks in a LOT!! when in town and very little on the highway. on the highway it need a down hill or no wind at all on flat planes.

I can't figure out the logic of the MDS programming. Around town at low speeds the damn thing will engage MDS when the truck may be in third, let's say, you get that initial "struggle" then it gets to holding speed OK, but then the trans will upshift and it can't pull MDS. Does the transmission shift strategy not take MDS into account???

 

[ptesmoke]

I can't figure out the logic of the MDS programming. Around town at low speeds the damn thing will engage MDS when the truck may be in third, let's say, you get that initial "struggle" then it gets to holding speed OK, but then the trans will upshift and it can't pull MDS. Does the transmission shift strategy not take MDS into account???

I'm trying to figure out exactly what you mean, do you mean it shifts to 4th and doesn't stay in MDS? Or it comes out of MDS, shifts to forth, then goes back into MDS?

from what I've experienced if I'm accelerating lightly it'll kick in MDS in third as I'm slowly coming to cruising speed in town (60km/h) so ill see/hear It kick in in third around 55km/h, then it seems once I hit 59ish km/h it'll shift into 4th and also be in MDS...but it does sound "odd" in the exhaust note when it does this..so I guess I would have to listen and see if I notice it come out of MDS, shift, and then go back in MDS. If this is what your asking about...

 

[U&A]

mine shifts from 3rd to 4th while MDS is activated and it never comes out. It has become very predictable for me and I can feather the gas to get it to come on most of the time if I want. as long as the circumstances allow it....meaning nice smooth acceleration and holding speeds are not to high. i feel like once I get around 50 MPH is way less active.

I like MDS, mostly. the only thing I don't like is the possibility of failure.

 

[drinking12many]

My last trip from Pensacola to WV Evic I got 19.2, on the way back 18.8. So I wont complain...that being said I was usually going 5 over the posted limit, cruise set not touching it unless I had to. 6.4 3.73 stock tires it seems to have gotten better with summer gas (expected) and having over 20K miles on it. In feb same drive evic i got 17.2 up and about 16.7 back.

 

[ptesmoke]

mine shifts from 3rd to 4th while MDS is activated and it never comes out. It has become very predictable for me and I can feather the gas to get it to come on most of the time if I want. as long as the circumstances allow it....meaning nice smooth acceleration and holding speeds are not to high. i feel like once I get around 50 MPH is way less active.

I like MDS, mostly. the only thing I don't like is the possibility of failure.

I know its one more thing to "break" but has there ever been a lot of problems with it? I haven't heard of any...just curious. they've been doing MDS for quite a while now so I would assume its got most of its quirks worked out.

 

[U&A]

I know its one more thing to "break" but has there ever been a lot of problems with it? I haven't heard of any...just curious. they've been doing MDS for quite a while now so I would assume its got most of its quirks worked out.

Totally understand your point. just pointing out that it isn't really necessary and has the ability to cause problems. nothing more nothing less. kinda like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. I still like it though.

 

[[email protected]]

My 6.4 has 3600 it's a 2016. Just towed 2 quads on a trailer at 75 I got about 14 not that bad I guess. It will suck with the 6 inch lift and 37 inch tires lol but it is a truck

 

[ptesmoke]

Totally understand your point. just pointing out that it isn't really necessary and has the ability to cause problems. nothing more nothing less. kinda like a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. I still like it though.

ah I see was just curious if there was anything I wasn't aware of. Totally agree its just one more thing that could go very wrong and cost $$$. I like it as well, unloaded and steady town speeds I know its slowly saving me some gas...

 

[MN-Ram]

I had a 2011 Ram 1500 with the 5.7 and MDS. I traded it in for my 2015 HD with 87k on it. The MDS never gave me any trouble at all.

 

[14RAM4X4]

I'm still playing with the MDS. In my 2014 1500 5.7, I could feather the pedal and get MDS to kick in very predictably. But the 6.4 kicks on MDS very seldomly. Still getting used to the truck. Only put 300 miles so far and I'm sure it'll get better once I have more miles on it. I know the computer needs time to learn my driving habits.

 

[tjfdesmo]

I'm trying to figure out exactly what you mean, do you mean it shifts to 4th and doesn't stay in MDS? Or it comes out of MDS, shifts to forth, then goes back into MDS?

from what I've experienced if I'm accelerating lightly it'll kick in MDS in third as I'm slowly coming to cruising speed in town (60km/h) so ill see/hear It kick in in third around 55km/h, then it seems once I hit 59ish km/h it'll shift into 4th and also be in MDS...but it does sound "odd" in the exhaust note when it does this..so I guess I would have to listen and see if I notice it come out of MDS, shift, and then go back in MDS. If this is what your asking about...

I mean that while MDS is engaged in third and the truck is maintaining speed, it will then upshift, MDS is still engaged but it can't pull the higher gear and it drops out of MDS almost immediately.

 

[ptesmoke]

I mean that while MDS is engaged in third and the truck is maintaining speed, it will then upshift, MDS is still engaged but it can't pull the higher gear and it drops out of MDS almost immediately.

ah I see what you mean now, probably depends a lot on the terrain, wind, etc. the one long stretch out of my work i tested yesterday and it stayed in MDS into 4th and held MDS, but i know if i pushed another 1/8" on the pedal shed likely have come out of MDS for sure.

I'm still playing with the MDS. In my 2014 1500 5.7, I could feather the pedal and get MDS to kick in very predictably. But the 6.4 kicks on MDS very seldomly. Still getting used to the truck. Only put 300 miles so far and I'm sure it'll get better once I have more miles on it. I know the computer needs time to learn my driving habits.

mine was the same when it was new, it barely ever kicked into MDS, since the exhaust and first oil change though it seems to have changed a lot, better mileage, MDS kicks in a lot, i think it finally became self aware it was a hemi lol

 

[River19]

I may have missed it but did we ever hear back from the OP on what his actual trip mileage was?

 

[Iron Outlaw]

I may have missed it but did we ever hear back from the OP on what his actual trip mileage was?

Yea. 15.3 hand calculated and 16.8 evic.

 

[Hootbro]

Yea. 15.3 hand calculated and 16.8 evic.

Not bad.

 

[drittal]

My 6.4 pulled these numbers yesterday. I was happy with that mpg (probably 15) at 80mph. Bone stock.

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