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Poor gas mileage

JF19Longhorn

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Pasted from another thread, but it applies here.

"
Just drove from South Jersey to Greensboro, NC, drove around down there, and then the trip back. 99.9% Hwy in the 55 - 70 mph speed limit range (62mph - 79mph cruise setting) I sat in the right lane with the auto cruise on for most of the trip. (89 Oct / filled up the night before we left)

- tank #1 - 17.13 mpg (hand calc) zero traffic, 3/4 of the drive from south Jersey to NC on this tank, 3 adults, 1 baby, and a bed full of mostly babystuff for a 4 day stay.

- tank #2 - 15.97 mpg (hand calc) zero traffic, last 1/4 of the drive to NC she was avg 18.9mpg on the dash.. but drove around the rest of the tank going to dinners, wedding, etc and idled ALOT keeping the baby / wife cool while we were waiting for people to arrive / get ready to leave / etc. Same 3 adults, one baby, but next to nothing in the bed.

- tank #3 - 17.45 mpg (hand calc & best tank I've had so far) this entire tank was driving through NC to about Richmond, VA when we stopped for lunch / diaper change
:baby:
. Speed limits was mostly 60 - 70mph (67mph - 77mph cruise setting), zero traffic.

- tank #4 - 18.7 mpg
:boxed:
(lie-O-meter) *have not filled up yet, but this tank is surprising the **** out of me. We hit a **** ton of traffic, literally right after filling up and getting back on the road. It took us 6+ hours to get from just north of Richmond, VA to South Jersey.. should have taken us 3 1/2 - 4hrs.. traffic was BAD! I let the auto cruise do it's thing for most of the drive... and with the Etrq / MDS / A-S-S constantly engaging and disengaging with all the acceleration > slow down > acceleration > slow down > stop, etc the mileage actually went up.. it'll be interesting to see what the hand calc comes out to when I fill up later this week."

Tank #4 ended up being 18.1mpg (hand calc)
 

Timeless

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Yes we figured that out already lol. Too bad I don't have a Costco anywhere near me

Usually Sams Club has premium for almost the same as or cheaper than 89 elsewhere. They are not top tier but I cannot believe their premium would not be as good or better than a top tier 89.
 

brian42

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Usually Sams Club has premium for almost the same as or cheaper than 89 elsewhere. They are not top tier but I cannot believe their premium would not be as good or better than a top tier 89.
Most gas comes from the same distribution area in your region. It gets an additive package dumped into the tanker and, voila, you magically have Shell or 76 or BP or whatever.

'Top Tier' has to do with the detergents added to the gas. The EPA has a standard for gas sold in the US and Top Tier is higher than that. FCA (along with BMW, GM, MBZ, and others) feel that the EPA standard is too low so recommend the higher Top Tier fuels.
 
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Timeless

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Most gas comes from the same distribution area in your region. It gets an additive package dumped into the tanker and, voila, you magically have Shell or 76 or BP or whatever.

'Top Tier' has to do with the detergents added to the gas. The EPA has a standard for gas sold in the US and Top Tier is higher than that. FCA (along with BMW, GM, MBZ, an others) feel that the EPA standard is too low so recommend the higher Top Tier fuels.

Yup yup. (y)
 

PowerJrod

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Usually Sams Club has premium for almost the same as or cheaper than 89 elsewhere. They are not top tier but I cannot believe their premium would not be as good or better than a top tier 89.
That's a good point...although top tier usually doesn't have anything to do with octane level, it's whether or not they have a specific amount of cleaning detergents in their gasoline.
 

Rsorrell2

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I am currently driving cross country (instead of flying to see the grand kids), so from San Diego to the Outer Banks in North Carolina.
Mostly highway, but also some back roads as doing some camping along the way to avoid cities and hotels (so at least 500 pound# of stuff) and I am getting around 18 mpg so far with the 5.7 eTorque and running the climate control around 74-75 and keeping within say 5 mph of the posted speed limit.

not what was promised for highway mileage but kind of live able as it is a truck.
Also using 89 octane (though most has at least 10% ethanol).
 

ktl5005

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I am currently driving cross country (instead of flying to see the grand kids), so from San Diego to the Outer Banks in North Carolina.
Mostly highway, but also some back roads as doing some camping along the way to avoid cities and hotels (so at least 500 pound# of stuff) and I am getting around 18 mpg so far with the 5.7 eTorque and running the climate control around 74-75 and keeping within say 5 mph of the posted speed limit.

not what was promised for highway mileage but kind of live able as it is a truck.
Also using 89 octane (though most has at least 10% ethanol).
I love the outer banks. We usually stay in Duck due to how dog friendly it is so we can take are buddies with us. I would retire to there and can’t wait to get back.
 

Timeless

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That's a good point...although top tier usually doesn't have anything to do with octane level, it's whether or not they have a specific amount of cleaning detergents in their gasoline.

True, but typically premium has the most additives. I have no way of knowing if that is the same for Sams Club or not though. I do know I've never had any issue with either 87 or 93 from there. I typically mix them to get the 89 or better octane (IE, if I fill up with 93 the next fill up happens when the truck is at most down to 1/4 with 87...and next fill up will be 93 when that is down to 1/4).
 

brian42

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Also using 89 octane (though most has at least 10% ethanol).
It's hard to find anything less than 10%. Most stations say "up to 10% ethanol" and I'm sure they are mixing it in to the maximum extent possible to squeeze out every last penny per gallon of profits.
 

PowerJrod

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It's hard to find anything less than 10%. Most stations say "up to 10% ethanol" and I'm sure they are mixing it in to the maximum extent possible to squeeze out every last penny per gallon of profits.
It's funny because I just noticed that the Maverick station next to where I work has Ethanol Free gas...any thoughts on how that would behave in a Hemi 5.7 gas engine..?
 

Aseras

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I am currently driving cross country (instead of flying to see the grand kids), so from San Diego to the Outer Banks in North Carolina.
Mostly highway, but also some back roads as doing some camping along the way to avoid cities and hotels (so at least 500 pound# of stuff) and I am getting around 18 mpg so far with the 5.7 eTorque and running the climate control around 74-75 and keeping within say 5 mph of the posted speed limit.

not what was promised for highway mileage but kind of live able as it is a truck.
Also using 89 octane (though most has at least 10% ethanol).
dropping the tailgate if possible on long trips is an instant 3-5 mpg boost. Just turn off the bed lighting.
 

PowerJrod

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I'm serious. If you have an empty bed, put the tailgate down when going highway speeds. It's a big giant air dam.
You weren't kidding??? Omg...if you hit a large bump while doing that on the highway; the tailgate could break off...that's terrible advice! Removing the tailgate would make more sense.
 

brian42

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Aseras

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These new tailgates are locked into place. They are not tailgates you can pop off and steal easily like a 90's pickup.

secondly I just drove 750 miles and know for a fact it makes a substantial difference at highway speeds 70+mph.
 

PowerJrod

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These new tailgates are locked into place. They are not tailgates you can pop off and steal easily like a 90's pickup.

secondly I just drove 750 miles and know for a fact it makes a substantial difference at highway speeds 70+mph.
No, you could cause some serious damage doing that....keep doing it if you want.... You'll find out the hard way.
And at most you'll get MAYBE and extra 1 mpg better while damaging your truck.
 

CrazyWorld

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No, you could cause some serious damage doing that....keep doing it if you want.... You'll find out the hard way.
And at most you'll get MAYBE and extra 1 mpg better while damaging your truck.

Better yet....put a Tonneau cover on the truck....I have a Leer....looks good.....smooth sailing.
 

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