Gas Mileage after first 1160 miles of driving truck... Sucks!

[Drewster]

21 bighorn Non-etorque, with about 1000 miles on the odo. I get around 18 mpg (30/70 city/hwy). Driving pure highway I get ~21 mpg. My advice is get up to speed relatively quickly (1/3-1/2 throttle), and once you get there, use the cruise control. if I don't use cruise, I easily lose 2 mpg. I've also noticed that idling significantly reduces the average mpg, oddly enough these trucks are really thirsty when they aren't doing anything.

It's because they still use port injection. Most newer engines use direct injection, which allows them to use a very small, precise amount of fuel delivered right to the combustion chamber, while older port injectors are difficult to characterize/ inaccurate at small duty cycle (like when you're at idle). On the flip side, port injectors are also super cheap and we don't have to worry about high pressure fuel pumps or carbon build up, so it's a give and take.

 

[St-na]

I agree with this. Accelerate briskly if possible and set the cruise once desired speed is reached. If you can get mds to activate that will help. No more remote start. Try it to idle for long periods. Also, every car I pass at WOT results in a .1 mpg loss. So I try to avoid WOT as much as possible as well.

That's exactly how I drive, don't believe that new trucks much heavier, my old 2014RAM had 31 gal.tank

 

[theblet]

It's because they still use port injection. Most newer engines use direct injection, which allows them to use a very small, precise amount of fuel delivered right to the combustion chamber, while older port injectors are difficult to characterize/ inaccurate at small duty cycle (like when you're at idle). On the flip side, port injectors are also super cheap and we don't have to worry about high pressure fuel pumps or carbon build up, so it's a give and take.

I haven’t really looked at the engine that good. I assumed all newer engines were all direct injection.

 

[brian42]

The 5.7L HEMI came out in 2002 for Dodge/RAM trucks. There was an update in 2009 but it's the same basic design from almost 20 years ago.

 

[Every20years]

So at 900+ miles now and I'm averaging 26.7mpg with about 50% highway, 25% city and 25% "suburban" driving. Oh, wait. EcoDiesel and loving it. I DID buy it for the mileage. Only reason I filled the 33 gal tank twice was when the pipeline got hacked in case fuel got limited in our area.

I was really hoping in the last two years Ram was going to get the Hemi to a 19/22/24 type of number but loving the EcoDiesel and the 3.92 on the grades in Colorado. Unless I am accelerating up a 4-5% grade I don't downshift out of D8 like my Dakota did (ok, not D8 in it, but still downshifted) or my wife's Pilot does. Just cruises along. Can't wait to see how it does on the 6-7% grades going into the mountains.

 

[St-na]

The 5.7L HEMI came out in 2002 for Dodge/RAM trucks. There was an update in 2009 but it's the same basic design from almost 20 years ago.

Yes, the last generation of HEMI starts from 2009, from 2013+ they added few kW and torque, but biggest improvement for MPG was 8 speed transmission+MDS

 

[Warship2k15]

Ok on my truck the difference between driving it the way I want to and driving it at 70-74 mph with cruise about 1-1 1/2 mpg.

so for me I’m just going to drive it and not worry about getting the best mpg.

 

[St-na]

Your new truck is likely heavier, especially with things like that panoramic sunroof and 33 gallon tank.

5th gen RAM are 250 pounds lighter than 4th gen. Tank is only 2 gallon bigger. It's not the reason for sure!

 

[Drewster]

5th gen RAM are 250 pounds lighter than 4th gen. Tank is only 2 gallon bigger. It's not the reason for sure!

Probably the human element, then

 

[LakesAZ]

I have 4993 miles on my truck and I am averaging 17.06 MPG (Hand Calculated). That includes 1400 miles of towing, mostly hills and mountains (3500lbs of trailer and Honda Talon). So no complains from me.

 

[mmcbeat]

My Ram is not really broken in yet but I’m getting bad mileage, 12-13 mpg but it’s a hoot to drive. Most of my driving is stop and go city driving. No complaints.

 

[Gitter]

5th gen RAM are 250 pounds lighter than 4th gen. Tank is only 2 gallon bigger. It's not the reason for sure!

It's that 12" screen

 

[5thGenLoco]

My Ram is not really broken in yet but I’m getting bad mileage, 12-13 mpg but it’s a hoot to drive. Most of my driving is stop and go city driving. No complaints.

3.92 and being "a hoot to drive" is probably the reason for 12-13

Stop and go city kills mpg for mine. And it doesn't take long, either.

 

[mmcbeat]

3.92 and being "a hoot to drive" is probably the reason for 12-13

Stop and go city kills mpg for mine. And it doesn't take longer long, either.

Yeah, i don’t do power stalls, burn outs, donuts, etc. But I do enjoy “putting it to the wood” in the on ramps to the freeway.

 

[Patamaran]

Did pretty good on Victoria day long weekend. 140 mile trip. 87 octane, somewhat hilly road. 21.8 mpg, (10.7L /100km)

 

[brian42]

Summer blend is finally here!

Winter blend = 15 mpg overall
Summer blend = 16 mpg overall

Doesn't seem like much but that's effectively 2 "extra" gallons per tank for me. I burn through a tank in a week (or a little sooner) and at $4.09/gallon (Top Tier 89 octane) that's an extra 8 bucks in my pocket for a "free" adult beverage conveniently packaged with 5 of his closest friends...

 

[St-na]

Did pretty good on Victoria day long weekend. 140 mile trip. 87 octane, somewhat hilly road. 21.8 mpg, (10.7L /100km)

Had the same result with my 2014, but not anymore. Best on HWY 17.5 now

 

[Willwork4truck]

Did pretty good on Victoria day long weekend. 140 mile trip. 87 octane, somewhat hilly road. 21.8 mpg, (10.7L /100km)

Hay, ya' gotta tell the lower 48'ers what weekend you are referring to...

 

[Patamaran]

Hay, ya' gotta tell the lower 48'ers what weekend you are referring to...

Lol, I think that's the first time I've ever referred to may two four, as Victoria day weekend.

 

[captainzombie]

The first few weeks I was getting worse mileage than my ‘18 Silverado, roughly 13 mpg. The last two weeks I’m getting roughly 15-16 mpg city driving and on the highway had it around 18.5 mpg. It’s a truck, and shoot my recently traded in Silverado had an extra 400 lbs of weight as GM was taking ages to trim the body style down. It’s kind of what I’m expecting.