Mpg?

[PersyDonkers]

New owner of a New to me 2012 ram 1500 and new to the forum. Coming for a Ford ranger that got totalled so still learning the new truck but was apart of a forum that was great when it came to know how. Figuring it'll be the same here, im curious on the mods for fuel efficiency, i drive like alot for my job and curious because certain air filter setups could actually help with my mpg?

 

[Riccochet]

I'd say driving habits are going to be more important than mods, and they cost you nothing.

Use your cruise control as much as possible and keep it under 75 on the highway. The truck knows best how to drive itself the most efficient way.

Otherwise, a custom tune.

 

[MoparBrent]

The biggest thing for MPG on any truck not just a ram 1500 is how heavy your foot is on the gas.

No amount of mods will improve MPG over your driving habits.

Also the airbox in the ram1500 is way more competent than people actually know. A drop in filter or cold air intake is a total waste of money.

You mod a ram 1500 for the fun factor not to increase MPG

 

[ram1500rsm]

I’ll say
Tonneau cover to seal the rear bed.
Aftermarket alum wheels that are lighter than the stockers. Keep your tires factory size and if you need replacements keep those in the HT category.
Make sure you have a fresh air filter and tires psi are set to the correct psi per your door sticker.

 

[MRFREEZE57]

as said before, gas mileage is directly related to the weight of the right foot.

 

[DURASPANK]

I managed to get my 6.4 mega to show over 13 mpg over the holidays.

 

[RVGuy]

Like my friend used to say, "Drive like your grandma is sitting next to you wearing her Sunday best while holding a full pot of chili."
It's all about your personal driving habits. If I really try I can get my 6-speed 1500 with the 5.7 down to a tank average of 22.5mpg

 

[Wahrsuul]

Depends on where you're driving too. A lot of in town/stop and go traffic? Turning off MDS seems to help there. Also 3.92 gears if you really want to mod. Spending a lot of time on the highway? Keep it at 65-70 tops. I find cruise works well on mostly level ground, but manual control does better in hilly terrain - drive like a trucker, slower up hill and coast downhill. Tonnueau covers have gotten mixed reviews, some say they improve MPG, some don't. But I haven't seen anyone doing hard testing. And aero cap would be the best option, but it's a DIY solution.

Look up ecomodding.com - they have lots of info on driving techniques and things you can do to improve mpg.

 

[Cowboy Brick]

I got a 2012 5.7 hemi lonestar 4x4.
I'd say stay off the pedal and drive like your grandma is next to you in the passenger seat driving to Sunday morning church.
I notice a slight mpg gain when putting in new oil. I use Shell Rotella 5w-20.
The best way to keep mpg high is small and low weight tires and low weight rims.
I'm running 34" and 11.5" wide Mud tires (Cooper STT Discoverer Pro) with stock 20" rims and I'm getting 12mpg on base and 16-18 highway, but I'm stationed at Fort Hood, Texas and we got a lotta hills down here in central Texas.

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Nod for 8 when they open the gate.
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[Burla]

New owner of a New to me 2012 ram 1500 and new to the forum. Coming for a Ford ranger that got totalled so still learning the new truck but was apart of a forum that was great when it came to know how. Figuring it'll be the same here, im curious on the mods for fuel efficiency, i drive like alot for my job and curious because certain air filter setups could actually help with my mpg?

Welcome to forum, a lot of love around here for old Ford rangers as well, trust me. The main thing with older trucks for mileage is to get that engine burning like new, plugs is a good start, maybe run sea foam though vac lines, a good fuel system treatment many of us like redline si-1. You can drive in tow haul in the city, and turn it off on the freeway, this will get you some increase. It would be better to tune your transmission, have short gearing that keep high rpm's in early gears, and nice long sweeping gearing for freeway. You can do this by changing shift points. You can tune your transmissions as well for high psi, a lot of shift kits out there that prevent that bogging transmission, especially with the rfe's. There was a great jump in mpg when we went from 6 speed to 8 speed, but there was a great jump when we went from 5 to 6 speeds as well. There is only so much you can do with the engine, just like a fireplace the best thing you can do is have good air and fuel mix, get the fire raging and that equals efficiency. But you will have gains with good transmission upgrades, get those transmissions into gear faster and get that working just as efficient as a good running engine. Gears as well too, clearly going down with gears gains mpg's, but I'm not sure that is what I would do. If that was the case you would have been better off buying a penstar.

 

[Burla]

 

[Burla]

Firm shocks and tires pumped up at least to 36psi will also help.

 

[kurek]

And aero cap would be the best option, but it's a DIY solution.

Hypickup makes an aerocap for the 5.5' bed.

 

[Wahrsuul]

I've seen that one online for a while, but so far I haven't been able to get anyone to contact me back about how to order one.

 

[kurek]

One of the sellers on alibaba got back to me about it when I asked a few years ago, would be around $1200 by the time they crated it and shipped it and paid import duty which is actually not that bad. Buying 5+ became way cheaper, if one wanted to sell a few. The looks are polarizing but I don't care about what some other dude thinks of my truck he can make his look however he wants. But they don't make 'em for my 6.5' bed.

 

[Marine Les]

Big mud tires will tend to eat more fuel but being gentle on the pedal really pays off. Mods to help mpg rarely pay for themselves and sometimes make things worse.