Fuel economy

[Jim-Limited]

Anyone try any aftermarket tricks (intakes, chips, etc) that has had a significant impact on fuel economy? 540hp is plenty for me, but I’d really like to get better gas mileage.

 

[Rss1]

I don’t think anything you do will make much of a difference. I think the trucks are about as good as you can get for gas mileage. They’re leaned out from factory to pass emissions.

 

[Riding Deacon]

So....went on a 1500 multi state road trip last week to visit a family member with my 2025 Longhorn with a JB4 tuner. 20.8MPG on the highway.....with a pretty good payload of people, gear and supplies. I was trying like hell to get to the rated 21MPG......and I just couldn't do it. Maybe with some flatter elevation I could have done it, but nonetheless I was happy with my aggregate mMPG reading. Almost 640 miles to empty....at least from the computer. No issues. One thing I found with these new SST HO's, you can't mash the accelerator every time you pull out from a stop sign or traffic signal. That's when those engines consume the most fuel. I don't drive the truck like there is a soft boiled egg under the accelerator either, but just ease into the gas....and decelerate easy into your stops......will also save your brakes. Almost 13,800 (s)miles on this Longhorn and zero issues.....so far. The JB4 in Map 1 is good enough for me.....when I need to pass....or get out of the way. Love this truck.......and I'm coming from a 2500 with a Cummins....which I kept for my heavy duty trucking needs!!

 

[LOWRMPG]

As others said, can't imagine you're getting a boosted 3.0 putting out 540hp to get better than 17-20mpg.

 

[StuartV]

I say this all the time: If you post fuel economy #s and you don't specify whether it was hand calculated or from the dash display, you may as well save yourself the typing.

The dash #s are a joke. The only fuel economy #s that can provide a basis for discussion are if you hand calculate.

I use Fuelly to log every single fill-up. I have been doing that since I got my '19 Hemi in 2019. I always log what the dash says, then I reset my tripmeter B and the Fuel Economy readout on the dash whenever I fill up.

So, my log shows me for every fill-up what the actual calculation says it was and what dash display says for that tank.

The dash display shows a higher # about 99% of the time.

I filled up my '25 last week after driving 462 miles. My dash said I had gotten 18.1 MPG. Fuelly calculated it as an actual 16.8 MPG.

20.8 MPG on the dash display is meaningless. It could easily have been 19.0. You just don't know.

 

[arod412]

Just saw this and going to chime in, because there are so many variables to consider here.

In my personal Situation, I don’t drive hyway at all, so my mpg are in the single digits. I’ve never bought a truck and expect gas mpg will be not so great. This is why I’m currently looking at ev trucks (specifically fords…they have all types of engines to pick from including updated v8 engines). Ram kinda given up on folks having options on types of engines. There are road trips I’ve taken that I’ve gotten 21 mpg using methods like going exactly the speed limit, using eco mode (I have a hemi) and just not stomping on the gas when entering on-ramps or at lights when it turns green.

For me personally, EV truck would make perfect sense in regards to empg. I would save a lot more in fuel saving, and after 2 years, it would pay in itself ( I have solar at my home so that’s more of a long term savings as well).

So back to gas…it’s how you drive it. Someone driving on the hyway at the speed limit (give or take 5 miles over) you will be more efficient with mpg then someone like me that only does local travel. Also, having a heavy foot comes into play with mpg. Those are undisputed facts.

Finally…a gas truck getting 20 mpg is very good…so if your trying to aim higher, your going to have to work harder…like less stomping on the gas, and more hyway driving. City driving kills mpg. If your aiming for 22mpg hyway, it’s doable, but if your trying to aim for like 30mpg, a truck isn’t for you.



2022 Ram Big Horn Back Country
2016 Dodge Charger scat pack
2021 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara

 

[Scram1500]

540 hp and fuel economy do not mix well

Edit: Higher trim trucks are also heavy pigs with a payload around 1,100 lbs. The 700-800 lbs of luxury you're hauling doesn't help