Trying to tell whether something is wrong with your truck
by checking the miles per tank is really difficult,
especially since there can be confusion
due to the three different gas tank sizes
(36 gal reg cab, 34 gal optional short bed and 26 gal standard short bed)

What does work to check out the health of a truck
is to drive gas station to gas station
over a mostly level interstate highway
with winds less than 7 mph and temperature above 40 F
at a steady 60 mph on the cruise control
for at least 100 miles.
200-300 miles is an even more dependable test.

A tuned up and healthy 4x4 Ram with either the 5.2 or 5.9 V8
and the 46 automatic transmission and 3.55 diff gears
should get AT LEAST 19 MPG
in this kind of special test run.

2wd Rams should get at least 20 MPG.

Many Ram owners are under the mistaken idea that their truck could never get 19-20 MPG, so doing this test can be a real 'eye opener'

If the wind is strong coming toward you
or from the side
knock off 1 MPG.
If really strong wind that can take a hat off your head,
expect 2-3 less and don't do the test that day.

If the interstate is concrete pavement instead of blacktop,
expect the MPG to be higher by about 1.

If you have wide, blocky tread, mudder style tires over 30 inches in diameter inflated to less than 35 psi
expect the MPG to lower by about 2.

If you have a tonneau cover over the bed
expect the MPG to be higher by about 1.

 

i have an 05 4.7 that gets between 360/380 mile to a tank of gas with a heavy foot. 22 gallon tank. one big thing to check is tire pressure. see what the truck says and see what the tire say and go 1/2 way. if the truck say 34 psi and the tire say 44 psi get it in between like 40 psi. this will help.the other to check is see if anyone is stealing your gas. 200 miles on a tank is bad. my full size 318 got 400 miles on a 26 gallon tank. a bad 02 sensor will cause a drop in mileage but not that much. also make sure you are running stock champions. i switched to a plat plug and lost 45/50 miles on a tank of gas. went back to the stock plug and mileage went back up

 

I have a tonneau cover and I probably get the worst gas mileage ever for a Dakota. I don't have that bad of a lead foot. I honestly don't care because I don't drive that much. Atank of gas can last me 1 or 2 weeks. I have only put 5000 miles on my truck and I have had it little over a year now.

 

thats hilarious! ur complaining about poor gas milage when u got a 318? dude, i got a 360, sh*t sucks gas like no other. i get like 9mpg around town and about 13mpg on both town and highway. and thatstryin to keep my led foot outta of it.o well, if i really wanted an eco-friendly vehiclei woulda got a 4banger p.o.s.
[sm=happybounce.gif]

 

I get about the same gas mileage as you boohoops.

 

well... i replaced both 02 sensors and already i can tell the difference.now its time for the balljoints and an alignment. ill be driving 50 round trip to work with it now so a good ride is somewhat important. at least till i can get my subaru on the road again. thanks for all the info!

 

i drive like a bat of hell and i think the truck likes it too. either way it drinks gas but it has the power i like. i decided to stop cryin about it and drive the way i want. its a 00 w/ a 4.7

 

Ive got the 98 dakota 2wd 5 speed w the 3.9L. I only get like 160 miles to the tank! and its a 12 gallon tank i believe, anywhere from 11 to 12 id say. When i had my stock muffler on it that had no baffles left in it i was getting about 200 miles to the tank. i did a tune up(plugs wires cap rotor), intake and throttle body cleaning with special agents provided by valvoline (3 part) and oxygen sensors. Is there anything i can do to help me out? i have a K & N air filter on it. im ready to do synthetic differential and trans fluid to free up some resistance and ponies. if anyone has any words of advice please help! college student going broke but loves his truck!

 

the smallest tank on these trucks is the 16 gallon tank, look on the back of your manual it will tell you 16 gallon standard, 22 gallon optional, ive the the 22 gallon tank, and i can get like i said 300 out of 3/4 of a tank but thats me

 

my 98 manual says 15 gallon with a 22 gallon tank optional. it makes most of this thread useless when folks don't say what their tank holds. big difference between those numbers. i get 160-180 from a tank... of course i rarely put more than 11 gallons in her, leaving me averaging 16-18mpg. one more thing to note, i lose 2mpg from a 10 minute wait in McBreakfast drive-thru. if folks would please put actual miles per gallon, itwould helpwith an accurate assesment.