Miles per gallon- What are you getting?
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,816
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles, CA
I've done the math on a couple tanks of gas (have to track mileage anyway as my gauge doesn't work) and I average 10-11MPG on a 1997 Ram 1500 5.2L (318) 4x4.... The original window sticker quoted 13-17. I don't accelerate hard all that often. Any reason why my mileage is so low...?
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 386
Likes: 1
From: Waxahachie, TX (DFW)
Figured that.
I was reading other posts, though, and my 318 seems to get the same mileage as the 360.
I just got my truck about a month ago, so I'm not sure what maintenance has been done during it's 160,000 mile lifespan. Seems to run smooth and powerful, takes off quick, and will rev to the redline if I want it to. Engine idles pretty quiet- few rattles/noises here and there. Various squeaks and creaks from the suspension/frame, but I doubt that has any effect.
Maybe I'm just fantasizing of ways to stretch those $50 fill ups...
I was reading other posts, though, and my 318 seems to get the same mileage as the 360.
I just got my truck about a month ago, so I'm not sure what maintenance has been done during it's 160,000 mile lifespan. Seems to run smooth and powerful, takes off quick, and will rev to the redline if I want it to. Engine idles pretty quiet- few rattles/noises here and there. Various squeaks and creaks from the suspension/frame, but I doubt that has any effect.
Maybe I'm just fantasizing of ways to stretch those $50 fill ups...
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,816
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles, CA
That's why I went with the V10. The difference in mpg is small, but the difference in power and towing ability is huge. And $50 fillups? Pffft, I would kill for those. With a 34 gal tank my fillups are closer to $75.
Veteran
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 386
Likes: 1
From: Waxahachie, TX (DFW)
Thank you. I'll add that to my list of things to check/change/fix.
Amateur
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
From: WI
Figured that.
I was reading other posts, though, and my 318 seems to get the same mileage as the 360.
I just got my truck about a month ago, so I'm not sure what maintenance has been done during it's 160,000 mile lifespan. Seems to run smooth and powerful, takes off quick, and will rev to the redline if I want it to. Engine idles pretty quiet- few rattles/noises here and there. Various squeaks and creaks from the suspension/frame, but I doubt that has any effect.
Maybe I'm just fantasizing of ways to stretch those $50 fill ups...
I was reading other posts, though, and my 318 seems to get the same mileage as the 360.
I just got my truck about a month ago, so I'm not sure what maintenance has been done during it's 160,000 mile lifespan. Seems to run smooth and powerful, takes off quick, and will rev to the redline if I want it to. Engine idles pretty quiet- few rattles/noises here and there. Various squeaks and creaks from the suspension/frame, but I doubt that has any effect.
Maybe I'm just fantasizing of ways to stretch those $50 fill ups...
What I've found on my 318 is that you get BETTER MPGs accelerating harder than softer (but not too hard) What I do is pump the gas pedal 2 times and accelerate about 50% throttle (my estimation) the truck accelerates harder than I normally would but the gas mileage is the same as if I accelerate slowly, difference being I get up to speed and can let off the gas sooner and get around 18-22mpg on flat ground. (which when averaged with the acceleration ends up being around 14mpg)
Another hint is to try to coast to a stop, I've found that increases in town MPG a lot, you only have to time it so you coast down to about 8mph and stop, if you can time the lights right and not stop at all that is the best. Trouble is coasting to a stop and timing it are a pain in the **** and take longer but some claim you can almost double MPG in town that way, sadly I have an auto so I can't shut the motor off or go in neutral so I can't get that much of a gain anyway.
Before I had a scanguage I occasionally tried to carefully position my throttle on the highway so I would slowly push it in going downhill and slowly let off the gas going up hill and I did manage over 17mpg a few times, real pain in the butt though. Now that I have had a scanguage all of 3 days I am hoping I can accomplish that with less effort. In fact I am hoping this summer when I go selling at the fairs with the truck I can accomplish 20mpg on the highway loaded up with supplies, we will see, trouble is you have to drive so darn slow to get that high.
A good place to learn how to get more MPGs out of our big rigs is here
ecomodder.com
Good Luck
Record Breaker
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,430
Likes: 2
From: WV
Buy a scanguage, true its a $120 device from JC Whitney with a 20% off coupon but you can figure out how to accelerate by monitoring your fuel flow rate and instananeous MPG.
What I've found on my 318 is that you get BETTER MPGs accelerating harder than softer (but not too hard) What I do is pump the gas pedal 2 times and accelerate about 50% throttle (my estimation) the truck accelerates harder than I normally would but the gas mileage is the same as if I accelerate slowly, difference being I get up to speed and can let off the gas sooner and get around 18-22mpg on flat ground. (which when averaged with the acceleration ends up being around 14mpg)
Another hint is to try to coast to a stop, I've found that increases in town MPG a lot, you only have to time it so you coast down to about 8mph and stop, if you can time the lights right and not stop at all that is the best. Trouble is coasting to a stop and timing it are a pain in the **** and take longer but some claim you can almost double MPG in town that way, sadly I have an auto so I can't shut the motor off or go in neutral so I can't get that much of a gain anyway.
Before I had a scanguage I occasionally tried to carefully position my throttle on the highway so I would slowly push it in going downhill and slowly let off the gas going up hill and I did manage over 17mpg a few times, real pain in the butt though. Now that I have had a scanguage all of 3 days I am hoping I can accomplish that with less effort. In fact I am hoping this summer when I go selling at the fairs with the truck I can accomplish 20mpg on the highway loaded up with supplies, we will see, trouble is you have to drive so darn slow to get that high.
A good place to learn how to get more MPGs out of our big rigs is here
ecomodder.com
Good Luck
What I've found on my 318 is that you get BETTER MPGs accelerating harder than softer (but not too hard) What I do is pump the gas pedal 2 times and accelerate about 50% throttle (my estimation) the truck accelerates harder than I normally would but the gas mileage is the same as if I accelerate slowly, difference being I get up to speed and can let off the gas sooner and get around 18-22mpg on flat ground. (which when averaged with the acceleration ends up being around 14mpg)
Another hint is to try to coast to a stop, I've found that increases in town MPG a lot, you only have to time it so you coast down to about 8mph and stop, if you can time the lights right and not stop at all that is the best. Trouble is coasting to a stop and timing it are a pain in the **** and take longer but some claim you can almost double MPG in town that way, sadly I have an auto so I can't shut the motor off or go in neutral so I can't get that much of a gain anyway.
Before I had a scanguage I occasionally tried to carefully position my throttle on the highway so I would slowly push it in going downhill and slowly let off the gas going up hill and I did manage over 17mpg a few times, real pain in the butt though. Now that I have had a scanguage all of 3 days I am hoping I can accomplish that with less effort. In fact I am hoping this summer when I go selling at the fairs with the truck I can accomplish 20mpg on the highway loaded up with supplies, we will see, trouble is you have to drive so darn slow to get that high.
A good place to learn how to get more MPGs out of our big rigs is here
ecomodder.com
Good Luck
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Malvern, AR
1997 extended cab, 4x4, 5.9 liter, fiberglass camper shell, airaid breather and filter, shorty headers going into a 3" single pipe with a turbo muffler. I average around 15 using 91 octane gas. Most of my driving is highway. If I use lower octane gas my mileage drops. I never use 87 octane or below because of pinging but when gas prices went up I started using 89 octane only to notice my mpg drop. When I put the fiberglass shell on I noticed an immediate increase in mpg. The free flowing intake and exaust made a barely noticeable increase in mpg but did imrove performance some.
