New Truck MPG
Champion
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,313
Likes: 8
RE: New Truck MPG
Since your Ram is new
do a steady 60 mph test on a fairly level interstate highway
over at least 70 miles
from gas pump to gas pump.
You should get at least 18 mpg by hand and by overhead trip computer.
Write this down and put the slip of paper in the owner's manual.
This is really the only dependable way to know if your truck is 'healthy'
and is invaluable later if you suspect something is wrong.
While you are on the highway at a steady 60 mph
use a stopwatch in your cellphone to time highway mile posts to check your speedometer accuracy.
Ten mileposts should go by in exactly10 minutes
with each 10 seconds fast or slow meaning your's is off 1 mph.
If your speedo/odometer is off...your 'real' mpg is off too.
do a steady 60 mph test on a fairly level interstate highway
over at least 70 miles
from gas pump to gas pump.
You should get at least 18 mpg by hand and by overhead trip computer.
Write this down and put the slip of paper in the owner's manual.
This is really the only dependable way to know if your truck is 'healthy'
and is invaluable later if you suspect something is wrong.
While you are on the highway at a steady 60 mph
use a stopwatch in your cellphone to time highway mile posts to check your speedometer accuracy.
Ten mileposts should go by in exactly10 minutes
with each 10 seconds fast or slow meaning your's is off 1 mph.
If your speedo/odometer is off...your 'real' mpg is off too.
Thread Starter
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Rookie
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 76
Likes: 0
From:
RE: New Truck MPG
ORIGINAL: HankL
Since your Ram is new
do a steady 60 mph test on a fairly level interstate highway
over at least 70 miles
from gas pump to gas pump.
You should get at least 18 mpg by hand and by overhead trip computer.
Write this down and put the slip of paper in the owner's manual.
This is really the only dependable way to know if your truck is 'healthy'
and is invaluable later if you suspect something is wrong.
While you are on the highway at a steady 60 mph
use a stopwatch in your cellphone to time highway mile posts to check your speedometer accuracy.
Ten mileposts should go by in exactly10 minutes
with each 10 seconds fast or slow meaning your's is off 1 mph.
If your speedo/odometer is off...your 'real' mpg is off too.
Since your Ram is new
do a steady 60 mph test on a fairly level interstate highway
over at least 70 miles
from gas pump to gas pump.
You should get at least 18 mpg by hand and by overhead trip computer.
Write this down and put the slip of paper in the owner's manual.
This is really the only dependable way to know if your truck is 'healthy'
and is invaluable later if you suspect something is wrong.
While you are on the highway at a steady 60 mph
use a stopwatch in your cellphone to time highway mile posts to check your speedometer accuracy.
Ten mileposts should go by in exactly10 minutes
with each 10 seconds fast or slow meaning your's is off 1 mph.
If your speedo/odometer is off...your 'real' mpg is off too.
Champion
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,313
Likes: 8
RE: New Truck MPG
When new it is also a good idea
to learn how to pull up the trouble codes on your digital odometer readout
and write down any that are already there.
Also get the dealership to show you how to bring up the engine hours readout.
Before the first oil change
consider getting a Blackstone Labs oil analysis
so that you can compare to it later.
Later, when you suspect something might be wrong,
the two key tests are:
Are their any trouble codes set?
and
Does the truck still get the same (or better)
MPG at a steady 60 mph on the same road as before?
to learn how to pull up the trouble codes on your digital odometer readout
and write down any that are already there.
Also get the dealership to show you how to bring up the engine hours readout.
Before the first oil change
consider getting a Blackstone Labs oil analysis
so that you can compare to it later.
Later, when you suspect something might be wrong,
the two key tests are:
Are their any trouble codes set?
and
Does the truck still get the same (or better)
MPG at a steady 60 mph on the same road as before?