Really BAD gas mileage...? Can you guys offer any help?
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Really BAD gas mileage...? Can you guys offer any help?
I have gotten on here before when I needed advise after having my sons truck lifted, you guys knew exactly what I should do about the arm hitting and it worked great! Now for my next problem...The truck is a 2002 Dodge Ram 1500 4X2. We lifted it (6 inch rough country?) and 35 or 37 (cant remember) tires. My son is averaging betweed 6.7 and 7.6 miles to the gallon...REALLY bad. I knew that lifting it was going to effect the mpg, but really? That much? Yes, he has flow masters, so he probably accelerates more than normal to hear the sound..but I drove it, and it got the same mpg! Any suggestions? I dont want to take it to the Dodge dealership without some imput from you guys. Is there anything to check? or add? Is this abnormal, or just the way it will be due to the lift? I dont know if it will work, but I am going to try to attach a pic. Thanks for all of your advice, its greatly appreciated! 
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What engine 5.9L V8 or 4.7L V8? Although his mileage is low, compared to most people with lifts, single digit MPGs isn't out of the realm of possibility with those engines in combination with that much lift.
If it's the 5.9, the engine is a tank, but is a gas drinker. Nothing really you can do for fuel economy. You could do a couple of things to squeek out another 2 mpg's but for what it would cost, you could buy a couple of years worth of gas instead. I had this engine in my old '98 Ram 4x4 and did a lot of "MPG modifications" myself to try to get better fuel economy and could only get about 9 mpg out of it in town and maybe could nip 12 mpg on trips IF I kept it under 65 mph and I only had 35" tires. If he's got 37's it'd be worse.
If it's got a 4.7, he has too much lift and too much tire for the engine. The 4.7 is a great engine, but would be a bit out of it's comfort level pushing a truck with that much lift and tires of that size (especially if it's a quad cab and the tires are 37s).
You could re-gear to 4.56 gears which would help fuel economy around town but the down side is you'll be increasing engine rpm which would cost him fuel economy on the highway. Plus you'd spend about a grand on gears and installation (again, money you could be putting toward gas).
The Flowmaster muffler isn't helping much either, it's a chambered design (for sound) and doesn't flow air that well. A better flowing muffler would be better on gas, but we are again only talking 1-2 mpg at most.
The only thing you could really do that would make a dramatic improvement to fuel economy would be to bring the truck down to stock height with some non-aggressive, stock size tires. Short of that, the single best thing you can do is make sure it's tuned up and has good, clean filters.
Having that much lift, especially on a 4x2 isn't very practicle. There is an old saying that says "if you want to play, you gotta pay" which rings true here. There is a premium to be paid to look cool in front of your friends in a 2 wheel drive truck...
If it's the 5.9, the engine is a tank, but is a gas drinker. Nothing really you can do for fuel economy. You could do a couple of things to squeek out another 2 mpg's but for what it would cost, you could buy a couple of years worth of gas instead. I had this engine in my old '98 Ram 4x4 and did a lot of "MPG modifications" myself to try to get better fuel economy and could only get about 9 mpg out of it in town and maybe could nip 12 mpg on trips IF I kept it under 65 mph and I only had 35" tires. If he's got 37's it'd be worse.
If it's got a 4.7, he has too much lift and too much tire for the engine. The 4.7 is a great engine, but would be a bit out of it's comfort level pushing a truck with that much lift and tires of that size (especially if it's a quad cab and the tires are 37s).
You could re-gear to 4.56 gears which would help fuel economy around town but the down side is you'll be increasing engine rpm which would cost him fuel economy on the highway. Plus you'd spend about a grand on gears and installation (again, money you could be putting toward gas).
The Flowmaster muffler isn't helping much either, it's a chambered design (for sound) and doesn't flow air that well. A better flowing muffler would be better on gas, but we are again only talking 1-2 mpg at most.
The only thing you could really do that would make a dramatic improvement to fuel economy would be to bring the truck down to stock height with some non-aggressive, stock size tires. Short of that, the single best thing you can do is make sure it's tuned up and has good, clean filters.
Having that much lift, especially on a 4x2 isn't very practicle. There is an old saying that says "if you want to play, you gotta pay" which rings true here. There is a premium to be paid to look cool in front of your friends in a 2 wheel drive truck...
Last edited by HammerZ71; Jan 21, 2011 at 06:53 AM.
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I remember you. I sent you an email about the lift way back when because you were talking about how bad the turning radius was after the RC lift install. So what did you guys end up doing to resolve it?
Your other thread says you got 35s
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen...g-knuckle.html
Anyway, I wont say more until I hear some responses to Hammers comments and Qs. He pretty much covered it all.
Your other thread says you got 35s
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/3rd-gen...g-knuckle.html
Anyway, I wont say more until I hear some responses to Hammers comments and Qs. He pretty much covered it all.
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Thanks
Hey guys, I hope I am replying to both of you. Hammer, I bought the 4X2 bc I didnt want him off roading (bc it ruins the paint job and can add a lot of problems to general repairs) in a truck at 16. This is the only vehicle I will be buying him, and it has to last through the first 4 years of college. He, of course wanted a 4X4. Now I wish I would have asked you guys first. I might have been better off moneywise with a 4X4...The truck is a 5.9L V8 (not hemi) Quad cab. So basically what your saying is dont even take it into the dealership, there is nothing they can do.
As for the RC lift, you guys suggested that I contact RC to see what they say. I did that, and they gave "permission in writing" to the company that installed the lift to do a little grinding on the arm (after numerous times of climbing under the truck and taking pics of where it was hitting and how the wheel was turned when it was hitting). It was amazing the difference it made in the turning radius. So like I said, you guys really helped with that situation, thanks again!
Not gonna lie, my daughter was a lot easier (and less expensive!) in the way of vehicles!!! It sure has been a learning experience! Thanks once again for the advice, it is nice to be able to get on here and ask questions. Thanks once again for your time and expertise!
As for the RC lift, you guys suggested that I contact RC to see what they say. I did that, and they gave "permission in writing" to the company that installed the lift to do a little grinding on the arm (after numerous times of climbing under the truck and taking pics of where it was hitting and how the wheel was turned when it was hitting). It was amazing the difference it made in the turning radius. So like I said, you guys really helped with that situation, thanks again!
Not gonna lie, my daughter was a lot easier (and less expensive!) in the way of vehicles!!! It sure has been a learning experience! Thanks once again for the advice, it is nice to be able to get on here and ask questions. Thanks once again for your time and expertise!