improving mpg
Record Breaker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,400
Likes: 5
From: San Pedro, California
Sounds about right for a 4WD around town milage
Dodge says that we can get at best 14-20 MPGs for a 2009 2WD 3.21 axle with MDS. If we could get more they would claim as much as the law would allow. I'm not sure, but I think the 4WD TRX is rated for 13-18 MPGs. To me, you are just about the low end.
Yeah, If you baby it, go 60 MPH on flats with no winds, you will get the claimed 18 - 20 MPGs. The rest of the time, expect 13-14 MPGs. This will average about 16 MPGs combined with the highway miles - just don't expect it around town stop and go.
We are a bunch of liars here when we say we get in the 20s for MPGs. I've seen posts that claim 23-24 MPGs. These guys are resetting the EVIC and then going down hill and taken pictures of the display.
The only time I've gotten 20 (hand calculated) was pure highway, flat driving with the MDS on for a lot of the drive.
Yeah, If you baby it, go 60 MPH on flats with no winds, you will get the claimed 18 - 20 MPGs. The rest of the time, expect 13-14 MPGs. This will average about 16 MPGs combined with the highway miles - just don't expect it around town stop and go.
We are a bunch of liars here when we say we get in the 20s for MPGs. I've seen posts that claim 23-24 MPGs. These guys are resetting the EVIC and then going down hill and taken pictures of the display.
The only time I've gotten 20 (hand calculated) was pure highway, flat driving with the MDS on for a lot of the drive.
Amateur
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
From: Sirius
Honestly, I'm willing to bet that your problem is how you're driving.
I see people all the time (especially those who use their right foot for gas and their left foot for the brakes) complaining about their poor gas mileage.
If you ride with them or follow them, they are usually riding with one foot on the brake all the time.
More commonly, you'll see people who accelerate then coast, accelerate then coast, accelerate then coast.... That kills your MPGs quicker than if you were doing WOT runs in it. Steady and slow movements in the acceleration will do wonders.
I see people all the time (especially those who use their right foot for gas and their left foot for the brakes) complaining about their poor gas mileage.
If you ride with them or follow them, they are usually riding with one foot on the brake all the time.
More commonly, you'll see people who accelerate then coast, accelerate then coast, accelerate then coast.... That kills your MPGs quicker than if you were doing WOT runs in it. Steady and slow movements in the acceleration will do wonders.
Professional
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
When my truck was stock I drove from Sacramento to Fresno. My mileage was 21mpg, NO KIDDING truck had maybe 300 miles on it. Not even broke in yet!
I put 35's under her and boy did I screw up. I average 11.5 now. When these wear down Im buying 33's
I put 35's under her and boy did I screw up. I average 11.5 now. When these wear down Im buying 33's
Veteran
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 414
Likes: 0
From: Gibsonton, FL
I'm willing to bet your truck has the 3.21 axle ratio. Putting tires that big will make your truck work harder to maintain speed. If your truck is working harder to maintain speed it might not even be activating MDS because there is too much load on the engine. You might be due for a regear since your effective axle ratio right now with oversize tires might actually be about a 2.90. Dodge rates their axle ratios based on the 17" rims and stock 31" tires.
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
From: HOUSTON,TEXAS
Please exclude the people that are NOT liars, you dont need to bash people, just comment on there post, if i am getting 22 MPG great, if you are not ,still OK, just dont come on here and call people liars ,when you can NOT prove them wrong you can only comment on the truck you personally drive or a friends..........
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 24,686
Likes: 21
From: South Georgia/East Florida
Dodge says that we can get at best 14-20 MPGs for a 2009 2WD 3.21 axle with MDS. If we could get more they would claim as much as the law would allow. I'm not sure, but I think the 4WD TRX is rated for 13-18 MPGs. To me, you are just about the low end.
Yeah, If you baby it, go 60 MPH on flats with no winds, you will get the claimed 18 - 20 MPGs. The rest of the time, expect 13-14 MPGs. This will average about 16 MPGs combined with the highway miles - just don't expect it around town stop and go.
We are a bunch of liars here when we say we get in the 20s for MPGs. I've seen posts that claim 23-24 MPGs. These guys are resetting the EVIC and then going down hill and taken pictures of the display.
The only time I've gotten 20 (hand calculated) was pure highway, flat driving with the MDS on for a lot of the drive.
Yeah, If you baby it, go 60 MPH on flats with no winds, you will get the claimed 18 - 20 MPGs. The rest of the time, expect 13-14 MPGs. This will average about 16 MPGs combined with the highway miles - just don't expect it around town stop and go.
We are a bunch of liars here when we say we get in the 20s for MPGs. I've seen posts that claim 23-24 MPGs. These guys are resetting the EVIC and then going down hill and taken pictures of the display.
The only time I've gotten 20 (hand calculated) was pure highway, flat driving with the MDS on for a lot of the drive.
Your dad is doing great with his 2nd Gen 5.9, my '98 RCSB 5.9 4x4 never saw double digit mpgs after I lifted it and put 35" tires on it, LOL.
That's a lot of weight and drag for a gas truck to be pulling around.. Especially for long commutes like what myself and luckydt have to do. We both have to drive anywhere between 25 and 30 miles each way to work. And seeing as he gets some horrible gas mileage I had to reconsider getting a 6" lift and 35" tires.
Yeah Chris, for the most part I agree with this, but I can see the OP posting up a red flag if he's getting significantly worse MPGs than most others with roughly the same truck...
Last edited by HammerZ71; Oct 12, 2010 at 09:22 AM.
Record Breaker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,400
Likes: 5
From: San Pedro, California
Calm down
Please exclude the people that are NOT liars, you dont need to bash people, just comment on there post, if i am getting 22 MPG great, if you are not ,still OK, just dont come on here and call people liars ,when you can NOT prove them wrong you can only comment on the truck you personally drive or a friends..........
. I'm not calling you a liar - folks just need to qualify when they claim high MPGs. Just because you get it on some trips doesn't mean that that is the expected norm. I have the '09 CC 2WD with the 3.21 and 17" wheels. I drive from Los Angeles to Mariposa often. So if I get on Hwy 99 and start at Fresno with a full tank, reset the EVIC when I get on the road, pull off at the grapevine and fill up. My EVIC will say 21.5, my hand calculated will say 20.This is not indicative of normal driving - only of flat, cruise control at 75MPH driving.
Champion
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,497
Likes: 1
From: MN
Although I get better milage around 70MPH.
Captain
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 574
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster tx
Dallas to corpus christy 2 weeks in a row, going south in a headwind 20.4 ... coming back home north the best I got was 21.6 .. 09 ram box c.c. 321 rear end 20" tires ... running 78 mph with the a/c on ...I have a drop in K & N filter .... 20 months old 75,000 .. drive it like you stole it .. knock on wood no problems yet!!
Professional
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
I also have a 09 TRX4 5.7L your not going to get any better mileage then what you are getting. I did the muffler and K&N CAI and programmer and in the city I get 15-15.5 the harder I drive it the better the mileage???? If I drive like a old man it dropes to 13.