I just purchased a new 2008 Ram 1500 4X4 Mega Cab and I am only getting 12 miles a gallon. Does anyone have any ideas on making this better. I am thinking about changing the exhaust, adding K&N air filter, and a chip. What do yall think, anything else.
Thanks,

 

It will get better in the spring when the winter gas mixture is done.

 

Agreed, once you get away from winter mix, you should see a 1-2 mpg increase. The exhaust, CAI, and tuner will also give you another 1-2 mpg, if you can stay off the accelerator. Keep in mind though, that Mega 4x4 is a heavy beast, I think the best you'll ever see is maybe 13-14 in everyday combo driving. That's really not shabby, back in the day I had a Jeep J-10 with a 390CI engine and no where near the power of your Hemi and on a good day, with the wind at my back, doing 55 on the highway I could squeeze out maybe 10 mpgs.

 

The mods will help. Also like mentioned above the winter blend of gas is a bummer. And last is your break in miles. Once you get over 4000 miles you will see aslight increase. Not much though.

With my set up, I average 13 - 14 mpg with mixed drving. Setting the cruise at 65, I can get almost 18 mpg. Mines not a 4x4, but I have alot of weight added on.

 

The CAI,Intake and exhaust will help but I think you will see the biggest improvement from a regear - if you are avg. 13-14 mix driving you probably have 4.10's I have 3.73's and the best I get in mix driving is 10.5-11 and I drive it easy I get 15 at 65 on straight hwy. If you regear to 4.56 you will be reducing the strain on the motor/drivetrain and it will help the mpg the most. Also remember these trucks are 6500lbs - put bigger tires and 2 people in the truck and your over 7000lbs.

 

also if the truck is that new it is still breakin in a lil

 

I think once you find an area you can consistently drive down hill and use gravity to move you its not going to get a whole lot better. I owned an 01 1500 4x4 5.2 l and the difference between summer and winter was mostly I think due to using my remote starter more and the truck runs rich until it warms up. My 07 Mega Cab gets crappy mileage as well, but oh well at least I didn't expect it to get good mileage. I have read using a block heater in the winter helps a bit by warming your truck up a little faster.


Chris

 

until what mileage does the "break in" bad mpg end?

 

I think the break in ends between 6 and 8k

 

I don't know about that break-in time... I have 9200 mi. on mine and haven't seen any kind of increase. That could be because I drag a 2500# trailer every day, though. Work sucks, but the truck makes it bearable. fwiw, I get about 11-12 with the trailer.