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Poor gas mileage

Dewey

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Well, here is my Info...... Trip to Florida from Northern IL. ........ 2021 Limited, 5.7 conventional engine, 3.21
Air temp. in Northern IL at time of departure ~40 degrees mileage 15.5 , once in Southern Indiana air temperature rose to approximately 70, with mileage increasing to 18.5. View attachment 127814
Once in Southern Georgia air temperature reached 78 degrees my best mileage 21.2..

I'm a firm believer, air temperature makes a difference in mileage this type of engine.
Yes it does with pretty much any vehicle but much more noticeable in a V8 truck. Here in WI we see temps from -30 to almost 100 in an average year. My truck ranges 5-6 mpg from one extreme to the other. Extreme cold creates a whole lot more friction on all moving parts. Even 40-80 degrees is a pretty big increase in mpg’s which is exactly you found. I commute 80 miles round trip to work every day for 25 years so have a real good baseline to work with. Very easy to analyze all the affects of all the different conditions.
 

Idahoktm

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Well, here is my Info...... Trip to Florida from Northern IL. ........ 2021 Limited, 5.7 conventional engine, 89 octane, 3.21
Air temp. in Northern IL at time of departure ~40 degrees mileage 15.5 , once in Southern Indiana air temperature rose to approximately 70, with mileage increasing to 18.5. View attachment 127814
Once in Southern Georgia air temperature reached 78 degrees my best mileage 21.2..

I'm a firm believer, air temperature makes a difference in mileage this type of engine.
Cold, dense air will always require a richer fuel/air ratio, otherwise your engine will run too lean. This affects all internal combustion engines.
 
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MontFla

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I'm getting similar to OP as well (actually less lately)...

The problem is; while some of us have uncommonly low mpg, many have reasonable numbers.

I'm convinced there is an issue - and the discrepancy is not driver related or anything relating to how the trucks are outfitted... Some of these motors are getting much worse mileage than others.
Not all hemis are created equal. I had two that reflected the window sticker. 2020 that how amazing mileage and the current 2022 that sucks on mileage.
 

BowDown

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Well, here is my Info...... Trip to Florida from Northern IL. ........ 2021 Limited, 5.7 conventional engine, top ter 89 octane, 3.21
Air temp. in Northern IL at time of departure ~40 degrees mileage 15.5 , once in Southern Indiana air temperature rose to approximately 70, with mileage increasing to 18.5. View attachment 127814
Once in Southern Georgia air temperature reached 78 degrees my best mileage 21.2..

I'm a firm believer, air temperature makes a difference in mileage this type of engine.

It does, its called DA or density altitude. The higher the air temp, the less dense the air and the IAT and the MAP sensor adjust the fuel maps for the decreased volume of air entering the engine, I.E. lower temps will have higher DA and cause more fuel to be used to keep the engine at its fuel to air ratio which is likely in the 13's. Warm air also aids in fuel mileage because its less dense and reduces drag.

IMO, this is the same reason fuel mileage drops in the winter instead of winter gas myth.
 

Mountain Whiskey

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It does, its called DA or density altitude. The higher the air temp, the less dense the air and the IAT and the MAP sensor adjust the fuel maps for the decreased volume of air entering the engine, I.E. lower temps will have higher DA and cause more fuel to be used to keep the engine at its fuel to air ratio which is likely in the 13's. Warm air also aids in fuel mileage because its less dense and reduces drag.

IMO, this is the same reason fuel mileage drops in the winter instead of winter gas myth.
I thought it was the opposite.

Cold air is preferred over hot air from the engine bay. Blowers have intercoolers to cool off the hot air. Heck even adding ice to them on the track.

Milage and power do not go together? I am asking, not arguing. It was just my understanding and could well be wrong.
 

BowDown

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I thought it was the opposite.

Cold air is preferred over hot air from the engine bay. Blowers have intercoolers to cool off the hot air. Heck even adding ice to them on the track.

Milage and power do not go together? I am asking, not arguing. It was just my understanding and could well be wrong.

Performance wise, cold air makes more power because you can shove more air and subsequently more fuel in a cylinder, the key here is the more fuel part. In regular part throttle driving, you don't need this improvement in air temp and increased DA so its a detriment but still occurring due to the colder denser air. At the track where you are at WOT looking for every once of power, its an advantage.

Colder denser air will always require more fuel and that same colder denser air in part throttle driving still has tuning impacts from the IAT and the MAP on the fueling table, cold air, your AFR will go up and if unchecked, past stoich 14.7:1 and lean the engine out so fuel is added to keep the engine in a safer 12-3 range. That added fuel is why the mileage drops in colder air.

ETA, FYI, that's how the handheld tuners work, they lean the engine out and increase timing, that's the reason they need you to always run 91-93 octane fuel. Leaning an engine out can increase power because OEMs use extra fuel to cool down the cylinder to protect the piston, rings and the intake valve. That extra fuel cooling a cylinder reduces power, the hotter the combustion process, the bigger the explosion, which is more power. A leaner engine can do this but theres a point at which you can get too lean and burn a piston (which is really melt, crack or break a ring land).
 
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Mountain Whiskey

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Performance wise, cold air makes more power because you can shove more air and subsequently more fuel in a cylinder, the key here is the more fuel part. In regular part throttle driving, you don't need this improvement in air temp and increased DA so its a detriment but still occurring due to the colder denser air. At the track where you are at WOT looking for every once of power, its an advantage.

Colder denser air will always require more fuel and that same colder denser air in part throttle driving still has tuning impacts from the IAT and the MAP on the fueling table, cold air, your AFR will go up and if unchecked, past stoich 14.7:1 and lean the engine out so fuel is added to keep the engine in a safer 12-3 range. That added fuel is why the mileage drops in colder air.

ETA, FYI, that's how the handheld tuners work, they lean the engine out and increase timing, that's the reason they need you to always run 91-93 octane fuel. Leaning an engine out can increase power because OEMs use extra fuel to cool down the cylinder to protect the piston, rings and the intake valve. That extra fuel cooling a cylinder reduces power, the hotter the combustion process, the bigger the explosion, which is more power. A leaner engine can do this but theres a point at which you can get too lean and burn a piston (which is really melt, crack or break a ring land).
Thanks. That is a great explanation. 👍
 

CrazyWorld

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Love this truck! Just returned from a multi state 2821 trip....drove highway....some mountains......two lane roads....the works.....even snow conditions....set the trip odometer in the driveway.....averaged 21.8 MPG for the trip. Ram ran like a dream....currently have just over 22K on truck. Great trip....great mileage.
 

theblet

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Love this truck! Just returned from a multi state 2821 trip....drove highway....some mountains......two lane roads....the works.....even snow conditions....set the trip odometer in the driveway.....averaged 21.8 MPG for the trip. Ram ran like a dream....currently have just over 22K on truck. Great trip....great mileage.
very nice!
 

JF19Longhorn

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With the summer fuel blend and an honest attempt to get better mileage, she's slowly creeping into the high 16, low 17 mpg range on the highway.. which is still **** compared to all my previous trucks, but better than she was doing. 🤷‍♂️
 

theblet

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With the summer fuel blend and an honest attempt to get better mileage, she's slowly creeping into the high 16, low 17 mpg range on the highway.. which is still **** compared to all my previous trucks, but better than she was doing. 🤷‍♂️
at what speed is it making 17 mpg on the highway? Or is that your avg?
 

JF19Longhorn

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at what speed is it making 17 mpg on the highway? Or is that your avg?
Average for the last few tanks.

My Hwy speed otw to work can vary from 50mph upto 72mph (70mph zone). ..at that speed I'm already getting passed by semi's, can't really go any slower and not cause an accident.

At 50mph I can see in the 20-22mpg range on the Lie-o-meter and at 72mph she's usually in the 16-17mpg range.
 

theblet

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Average for the last few tanks.

My Hwy speed otw to work can vary from 50mph upto 72mph (70mph zone). ..at that speed I'm already getting passed by semi's, can't really go any slower and not cause an accident.

At 50mph I can see in the 20-22mpg range on the Lie-o-meter and at 72mph she's usually in the 16-17mpg range.
i got ya. that seems lower than what i usually see. at 50 mph im usually in the upper 20's, 35 to 40 with MDS. does your MDS kick in at all? I know it doesn't in stop and go traffic, just curious.
 

JF19Longhorn

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i got ya. that seems lower than what i usually see. at 50 mph im usually in the upper 20's, 35 to 40 with MDS. does your MDS kick in at all? I know it doesn't in stop and go traffic, just curious.
Sometimes I can get it to kick in above 50mph, but normally it doesn't. Below 45 I can keep it engaged on perfectly flat ground.
 

BluegrassMotorsport

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With the summer fuel blend and an honest attempt to get better mileage, she's slowly creeping into the high 16, low 17 mpg range on the highway.. which is still **** compared to all my previous trucks, but better than she was doing. 🤷‍♂️
This is about where I'm at in the warmer temps. If I set my cruise at 65mph on level ground and no headwind, I average around 18mpg. After 8k miles my lifetime mpg is 17.0 which isn't terrible. Just not as good as other trucks I've owned. My GM trucks were always very easy to meet and exceed manufacturer estimates. But the interiors were doo doo lol. Can't have it all.
 

JF19Longhorn

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This is about where I'm at in the warmer temps. If I set my cruise at 65mph on level ground and no headwind, I average around 18mpg. After 8k miles my lifetime mpg is 17.0 which isn't terrible. Just not as good as other trucks I've owned. My GM trucks were always very easy to meet and exceed manufacturer estimates. But the interiors were doo doo lol. Can't have it all.
First world problems, right?
 

Mountain Whiskey

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I'm surprised you guys have problems getting the eco mode to kick in. Mine works in stop and go. It comes on when coasting to slow down and is on quite a bit if I stay under 60. I have a problem with leadfootitis that makes the truck go too fast and keeps it from kicking in. Do they have a pill for that?
 

theblet

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I'm surprised you guys have problems getting the eco mode to kick in. Mine works in stop and go. It comes on when coasting to slow down and is on quite a bit if I stay under 60. I have a problem with leadfootitis that makes the truck go too fast and keeps it from kicking in. Do they have a pill for that?
mine works really well. I find it helps a lot in town when going 45 cause I make like 40 mpg.
 

BowDown

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I'm surprised you guys have problems getting the eco mode to kick in. Mine works in stop and go. It comes on when coasting to slow down and is on quite a bit if I stay under 60. I have a problem with leadfootitis that makes the truck go too fast and keeps it from kicking in. Do they have a pill for that?

So does mine, I can back out of my drive way, drive 25 mph up my street and mine will go into eco mode
 

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