How do I know if I'm using "winter fuel". I filled last night at a different station than I normally go to using 89 octane. I also made sure the tires were filled to 35psi all the way around. I'll maybe take v8440's advice about filling up the front tires with more air. Do I really want to go over 35psi on the 20 inch rims?

 

You will simply make your truck ride roughly and you will also increase your braking distance and decrease your traction creating an understeering condition. Fill to 35 psi, alittle less in the rears for comfort if you wish. You will gain very very little by putting in more air. You will also cause the center of the tire to wear more quickly because the sides will not be in contact with the road, see handling problem mentioned earlier.

 

Well, leave them low if you think the center will wear too much. That's why I specified only doing the fronts that way unless you run with a lot of weight in the back-the front is heavier.

To me, tire pressure is the first, most basic thing you check when mileage is out of whack. It's like looking at the gas gauge when the car quits.

One thing you have to realize is that the tire pressure on the placard of the doorjamb isn't specified with great mileage in mind. A soft cushy ride is apparently a large part of the equation when they specify pressures. Time and time again I've found not only better mileage by pumping the tires up, but have also gotten rid of a squishy, vague feel in the steering. You don't necessarily have to keep the fronts aired up to the max on the sidewall, but if you try it and find the ride acceptable, you WILL gain a noticeable amount of mileage compared to running them at what the placard on the vehicle specifies. If it's too bouncy, back it down 5 or 8 pounds and try again.

 

If you filled up in ND then I would say you are using winter fuel..

 

Do you have remote start? And if so are you using it? Sitting in the driveway at idle will kill your mileage. Just a thought, my buddy has a 06 ram that has remote start and is getting 9-10 MPG and complains about it but he lets the truck run in the driveway for 20 mins. If he just got in and drove to work he could have made it there and back by the time he gets going. I agree with v8440 on the tire pressure. I filled mine up to the 44PSI max in front and the backs to 35 PSI and it still rides awesome.

 

that sucks man, hopefully it gets better.

with my hemi i get 20mpg on the highway and about 15-16 in the city

 

Hey there. New to the forum. My Ram has about 5,000 miles on the odometer. I am getting 17 in town and 20.9 on the highway according to the computer. Now I just took a trip around Lake Winnipesaukee up here in NH. 68 miles. Took 3.9 gallons. So the computer is pretty close. You should be getting better than what you are.

 

I have to agree with Dr Bill. I've owned many dodge cars/trucks and none of them ever got good fuel milage. I drove dodges because they lasted forever and of course gas was cheap back then (.52-.75/gal) but with the 09 I do get better mpg and a bunch more luxury than in the past. The worst milage I ever got was my 78 GMC single cab short bed. 8mpg hwy with a 350 4bbl 2wd truck just plain sucked!!!

 

Whether or not you use your remote start will make a BIG difference (especially if you let it sit for 10 - 20 minutes before you get in).

Also, based on window stickers at my local dealers, the trucks with 3.92 gears were rated at 1mpg less for both city and highway than the trucks with the 3.55 gears.

 

Sure that isn't a difference between 2wd and 4wd? I've seen the window sticker of the truck I'm buying, and it's rated at 20. I've noticed that around here, most 4wd's are 3.92's and most 2wd's are 3.55's, which could lead one to conclude that the gears are the difference in mileage.