i have 2001 ram 4x4 1500 auto tranny 318 i have an upgraded exhaust and open air element on it, i am getting 11mpg on the highway so i wonder what is going on? its got a full tuneup plugs gaped correctly and i dont understand what the deal is can anyone please give me idea's on this. and no check engine lights on.

it runs great no issue there aside from the standard performance complaints but hey its pritty much stock so that really dosnt bug me. at 1800 rpms i am doing 60mph i think so whats the deal with it?

 

What where you mpgs to start with? Whats a full tune up to you?

 

If by "open air element" you mean a 14 x 3 air filter, it could be that the hot air that it's sucking in is doing it harm. If it had a cooler, denser air to feed of off, I'm sure it would do better mpg wise.

 

I doubt it. The 14x3 aircleaner didn't really change my mpg. It might have made it a little better actually.

11mpg on a 5.2 is probably a shot plenum gasket. I have a 5.9 and I get about 14-15mpg on average.

 

My 318 Gets 17-19 On the highway.

 

a full tuneup to me is plugs wires cap rotor and i havent checked the plenum yet but i will do so in the morning, at this point with only 98k on the clock i am seriously thinking about getting a 12v cummins 4x4 any other idea's? i know the pcm was replaced and apparently updated according to the sticker on it but when i took it to dodge to see if it had the death flash recall they said that it didnt but with the replaced pcm i really do wonder if it does in fact have the death flash

 

Is that what the overhead says or did you do the math, miles divided by gallons put into the tank?

What size tires do you run? Stock 3.55 gears? Auto tranny?

01ram1500318, some of the same questions. Tires? Gear ratio?

If its a 2001, it has the death flash. I don't care what the $tealership said, they probably didn't want to deal with any complaints you may have had about the "death flash" if they had told you "yes, you have it". No offense if you like the dealership in question, but very few dealerships can be trusted, and that goes for any make of vehicle.

For plugs, use nothing but Champion stock plugs, Champion truck plugs, or maybe Autolite 3923s. Some Dodges like the 3923s, some don't. Its a heat range colder than stockers, so it helps some with pinging if you have issues with that.

For cap and rotor, get brass units. Less corrosion.

For wires, make sure they are routed correctly, otherwise you may get crossfire.

A tuner would help as well after you fix the more than likely broken plenum gasket (happens to 99% of our trucks), as it will increase performance and/or get you better MPG. It gets rid of the death flash. Superchips or SCT are good.

 

ya i believe it does have the death flash as it is completely stock gearing and tires auto 4spd tranny is it possible to retune the stock ecm? or how do i get dodge to fix the death flash without costing me am arm and a leg and first born?

 

I get 7-10 out my V10. What's a "death flash?"

 

You don't have a death flash dude, you just have a V-10 lol. But hey, that's pretty cool.