How do I improve gas mileage?
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10
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RE: How do I improve gas mileage?
new truck cabs are designed to get better aero dynamics with tailgates up. the cab design creates anair pocket or cushion in the bed to keep air flow above the tailgate. Pre 2k modles do not have this design feature.(Old body style). The popular show Myth Busters did this experiment not long ago with two new fords to disprove the old theory. Tail gate up got better gas milage. Total weights were the same, ran tests with cruise set I think at 65 no drafting and on the same road at same time.
Hope this clears the air.
Hope this clears the air.
Champion
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,119
Likes: 5
From: Sycamore, Illinois (displaced to Arkansas)
RE: How do I improve gas mileage?
"To get better gas mileage your gonna have to get a V6 or 4 cylinder because with that big V8 truck i doubt it will improve much "
Not necessarily, especially on a Ram. For instance, the Dakotas with the V-8s get about the same mileage as the V-6s. You would think the 6's would get better, but they don't.
Faulty oxygen sensors (specifically the front ones), MAP sensor (located near the throttle body), and engine coolant temperature sensor (located near the thermostat usually) can effect air/fuel ratio. These three are easy to test, and, if bad, should trigger the check engine light to come on (of course, should and does are two differant things).
Just do a basic tune up, as you said (oil [synthetic if ya want] and oil filter, air filter, check the PCV valve [with engine running take if off the head cover, and there should be vaccum, if not, take the PCV valve off the hose, if vaccum is noticed from the hose, replace PCV valve; if no vaccum from the hose, the hose is probably clogged], clean the breather filter [it can be cleaned in kerosene or similar solvent, or just replaced], spark plugs and wires, distributor cap and rotor if you want) and see what you see.
Also check the condition of the tires and tire pressure, and do a rotation if need. Also take note if the alignment is off, as this can effect mileage.
If that doesn't work, theres always other things you can check/do. A tranny flush might help a little bit, as could axle fluid. (Of course, not too much at all).
Not necessarily, especially on a Ram. For instance, the Dakotas with the V-8s get about the same mileage as the V-6s. You would think the 6's would get better, but they don't.
Faulty oxygen sensors (specifically the front ones), MAP sensor (located near the throttle body), and engine coolant temperature sensor (located near the thermostat usually) can effect air/fuel ratio. These three are easy to test, and, if bad, should trigger the check engine light to come on (of course, should and does are two differant things).
Just do a basic tune up, as you said (oil [synthetic if ya want] and oil filter, air filter, check the PCV valve [with engine running take if off the head cover, and there should be vaccum, if not, take the PCV valve off the hose, if vaccum is noticed from the hose, replace PCV valve; if no vaccum from the hose, the hose is probably clogged], clean the breather filter [it can be cleaned in kerosene or similar solvent, or just replaced], spark plugs and wires, distributor cap and rotor if you want) and see what you see.
Also check the condition of the tires and tire pressure, and do a rotation if need. Also take note if the alignment is off, as this can effect mileage.
If that doesn't work, theres always other things you can check/do. A tranny flush might help a little bit, as could axle fluid. (Of course, not too much at all).
Professional
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From:
RE: How do I improve gas mileage?
ORIGINAL: dodgerules86
"To get better gas mileage your gonna have to get a V6 or 4 cylinder because with that big V8 truck i doubt it will improve much "
Not necessarily, especially on a Ram. For instance, the Dakotas with the V-8s get about the same mileage as the V-6s. You would think the 6's would get better, but they don't.
Faulty oxygen sensors (specifically the front ones), MAP sensor (located near the throttle body), and engine coolant temperature sensor (located near the thermostat usually) can effect air/fuel ratio. These three are easy to test, and, if bad, should trigger the check engine light to come on (of course, should and does are two differant things).
Just do a basic tune up, as you said (oil [synthetic if ya want] and oil filter, air filter, check the PCV valve [with engine running take if off the head cover, and there should be vaccum, if not, take the PCV valve off the hose, if vaccum is noticed from the hose, replace PCV valve; if no vaccum from the hose, the hose is probably clogged], clean the breather filter [it can be cleaned in kerosene or similar solvent, or just replaced], spark plugs and wires, distributor cap and rotor if you want) and see what you see.
Also check the condition of the tires and tire pressure, and do a rotation if need. Also take note if the alignment is off, as this can effect mileage.
If that doesn't work, theres always other things you can check/do. A tranny flush might help a little bit, as could axle fluid. (Of course, not too much at all).
"To get better gas mileage your gonna have to get a V6 or 4 cylinder because with that big V8 truck i doubt it will improve much "
Not necessarily, especially on a Ram. For instance, the Dakotas with the V-8s get about the same mileage as the V-6s. You would think the 6's would get better, but they don't.
Faulty oxygen sensors (specifically the front ones), MAP sensor (located near the throttle body), and engine coolant temperature sensor (located near the thermostat usually) can effect air/fuel ratio. These three are easy to test, and, if bad, should trigger the check engine light to come on (of course, should and does are two differant things).
Just do a basic tune up, as you said (oil [synthetic if ya want] and oil filter, air filter, check the PCV valve [with engine running take if off the head cover, and there should be vaccum, if not, take the PCV valve off the hose, if vaccum is noticed from the hose, replace PCV valve; if no vaccum from the hose, the hose is probably clogged], clean the breather filter [it can be cleaned in kerosene or similar solvent, or just replaced], spark plugs and wires, distributor cap and rotor if you want) and see what you see.
Also check the condition of the tires and tire pressure, and do a rotation if need. Also take note if the alignment is off, as this can effect mileage.
If that doesn't work, theres always other things you can check/do. A tranny flush might help a little bit, as could axle fluid. (Of course, not too much at all).
So spending all that time and money will improve mileage by what 10%? Great youve saved .5 miles per gallon...worth it? I doubt it. My statement was made simply because if you worry about fuel consumption with a V8 then its not the best car for you.
And I have a V8 Ford Explorer and I get one mile per gallon worse than the V6s. But that one mile per gallon is still better than your .5
