Hank, I'm not quite sure I am following you on this one. The purpose of the thread was to provide a simple calculator for seeing if a slight increase in MPG for our trucks would provide a cost savings that could over an extended period of time negate the expense of the most common improvements over the OEM intake, Programming and Exhaust. How does that tie into depreciation, insurance and healthcare? Those factors are independent of what a vehicle's MPG can produce for the same gallon of fuel. I don't want the thread to get to far off topic.

 

I bought my 06 MDS Hemi Ram in June and at first didnt get that great of mileage, 13-15mpg. I was buying gas at different stations, the cheapest I could find, taking the back roads to work but staying off the gas pedal. Then I started buying all my gas at Sunoco, 89 octane, switched to Pennzoil premium(synthetic), and switch to taking the main roads(longer distance but better at cruising speeds) and mileage immediately jumped to 17 mpg. I am about to buy the CAI on ebay for $50 and am trying to talk the wife into the $600 for the perfomance exhaust. If I get another 2-3 mpg doing that, I'll be thrilled.

 

I don't know but I have an 05 Hemi 4x4. I have the chip which is set at 93 octaine, cat back exhaust, K&N filter, and I get 12-14mpg.
But, I also have a cap, body moulding kit, big tires, and am usually carrying a ladder and a few tool boxes.
I think the guy who said that this truck isn't really a MPG queen in the first place had it right.
People who's main concern is MPG might better look at a smaller Toyota truck or Hyunday. No insult here. Just, we are driving 350 hp V8's here. Add 4x4, tools, tires, caps and we are, what, 5000 lbs?
I can't use a small, micro truck. I drive 30,000 miles a year and want comfort first, useable space for tools and family, style, performance, etc.
So the point is, gas is expensive, be happy you are not a trucker paying $5 a gal for diesel. Be happy you don't drive a dump truck or concrete truck for your $$. I have a friend who has an older model chevy camaro and would love to be getting 12-13 mpg.
Let's get a new president in office who doesn't have ties to oil and we will see lower prices again. Lets all do our best to combine trips and carpool to save $$ on gas. Good luck!

 

for most years
depreciation exceeds the difference in fuel cost
between a vehicle that gets 13 MPG and one that gets 50 MPG

many US citizen's forget that

 

17 MPG out of a MDS engine. That Stinks!

 

Toyota tacomas get crappy mileage especially the previous models v6...and with only 190hp there's just no excuse for that. I think the new one gets low 20's mpg with 240bhp which isn't bad. A car is only only way to go when mpg is concerned. Hell, my 2000 Z28 got 25+ freeway which is outstanding considering it's 350 at the crank stock and 8 years old. What year maro does your friend have?

My truck is a reg cab 2wd and it's curb weight is around 4950...so your truck is a lot heavier than that. I think the quad cab 4x4's are around 6k but that's just a guess.

 

i don't know what up with my truck but my all stock engine wise hemi 4x4 gets 20.5 mpg doin 70mph. around town like 15.

 

I MIGHT go along with that statement if you have a Single Cab.... Quad Cab, no chance... My bone stock truck 2wd, Hemi w/MDS got 12 MPG's around town and 17 MPG's on the highway (65 not 70)... After the addition of a few mods, CAI, tonneau, and exhaust I got it up to 13-city / 19-highway. Look in the other recent threads to see the current mod and mileage...

 

No joke, but ita not like im driving it hard. I thinks its do to it being all stock with the stock goodyears. but driving around 45 miles a day 5 days a week I only use a little below half a tank. i mean the overhead says it and my calculations it so it must be true. I guess the only way to save gas in these trucks is to take it easy. Towing our trailer thats a 25ft toyhauler I get around 9. Thats why I need to start looking into a diesel megacab befor they become obsolete.

 

another type of highway steady speed
MPG calculator
from the MegaSquirt open source EFI originators

http://www.bgsoflex.com/mpg.html

Cd of Rams varies with model year and 1500/2500/3500
1994 2wd 1500 0.42
1994 4x4 1500 0.47
1994 3500 dualie 0.50
2002 4x4 1500 0.528
2008 4x4 1500 0.465
2009 4x4 1500 0.419

Cd's about 12% lower with tonneaus

2008 Tundra claims 0.38 (bogus says Ralph Gilles)
2009 Silverado XFE 0.417
2007 Nissan Titan 0.44
1997 Ford F150 0.44

Frontal Areas about 34 to 36 square feet
and becomes higher if suspension lifted or big tires fitted

Brake Specific Fuel Consumption in gals/hr
for a 1995 5.9 V8 is about 0.0630 to 0.070
in the 1500 to 2500 rpm range

about 8% less for 5.7 V8
about 25% less for diesel engines

drivetrain loss will be higher than 12%
on 4x4 because of transfer case and extra diff and axles