I just bought my 2001 Dodge Ram with the 5.9L Quad Cab 6.5 bed 2 weeks ago. I love the truck, love it. Only thing I don't like is the 9.5MPG. I get that weather I am doing city or highway. Currently the truck is 99% stock, the only thing not stock is the tires, which are stock size, but have the LT (Light Truck) tire instead of the P (Passenger) tire. I don't think that will mess with my mpg that much. I looked under my hood and it seems it still has the factory wires, (Mopar with Chrysler Logo, I think those are the factory). Truck has just over 68k miles. I put in 87 Oct gas. Current full tank has a can of SeaFoam in it to clean out the engine and get those injectors nice and clean. I have not taken apart the Distribuator Cap and rotor yet to check the contacts. I will be putting new wires, cap and rotor on with in the next few weeks. Link is to the wires, cap and rotor I will be buying. ( http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=SUM-867815CR&view=1&N=700+4294843706+4294873040+429490 8110+4294907804+4294924653+4294840106

I will be replacing the current plugs with Platinum Champion plugs. The igntion coil I will be replacing with a normal OEM replacement. Do you guys thing that this nice tune up will help with that MPG?? I know the 5.9 is a gas hog, but I see most people getting at least 12~14 with it. As soon as I can save up money I will be getting a Volant Air intake. Just let me know what you guys think! Thank you for reading!!!

 

Thats weird cuz I Have the same truck, 01 Ram Quad cab, 6.5 bed with the 5.9 gasser and I get 8.5-9.5 City or Highway too. The only difference is what you see listed in my sig. All depends on if I'm hard on it I get down towards the 8-8.5 and if I'm easy on it I Get close to 10, but never over 10. Don't know what to tell ya.

 

i get 10-12mpg. and mine is tuned up good.

 

Before upgrades, I got 9-9.5 in town during the winter (with at least a few 4x4 engagements), 10-10.5 during the summer.

After CAI, new plugs, new wires, new cap and rotor, new exhaust, I got 9.5-10 in town winter, 10.5-11.5 in the summer.

The few times I've gone on extended highway trips with it (usually use my wife's Jeep Grand Cherokee for those), I got anywhere from 13-15, depending on the wind's speed and direction. Not to mention crappy Minnesota gas... 87 octane with 10% ethanol, pah.

Will see if the Superchips made a difference or not after these next few tanks.

 

check out these website and see what the truck is rated for
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG/bymake/Dodge2001.shtml
http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.ef0c2cb

 

What gear do you have and is your transmission shifting through all gears? Sounds like you have a steep gear or your tranny is missing a shift. What size tires do you have? What rpm are you doing at 60?

I have a 2wd 8'box and can get upwards of 20mpg with a 5.9 if I keep it between 55 and 60 around town gets 15mpg.

 

Its an automatic, and I do mostly highway driving to and from work, I only do like 20% city. I travel at about 60~65 and the RPM's are around 1600. I use cruse control so its not fluctuating. It does not bounce around from gear to gear and when I accelerate I use the Accelerate button on the cruse control. Tires are stock as I said above. And its a 4x4 so I know I won't be getting 16~ highway like the sticker says. But I would at least like 13. lol I hope this nice tune up does the trick.

 

that is nowhere near normal. thats better than new hemi's. and better than the sticker on the window when new. so take it how you want.

 

I said the same thing last thread he said that

 

Where do you live? Reason I ask is that if its in an area where you experience a typical winter (temps beloew 30) then that may be the reason. In the winter your mpg will drop approximately 2mpg from normal due to additives in the gas so if your getting 9.5mpg thats normal cause a 5.9L wont fight much better than 11mpg in the summer, thats what I got when I had my 5.9L never better than 11 in the city in the summer and winter it went down to 9.