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Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really?
[Re: Dodgem]
#1465367
07/09/13 11:06 PM
07/09/13 11:06 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,444
NEW JERSEY
dynamite
pro stock
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pro stock
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,444
NEW JERSEY
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Maybe a different animal but my 04 3.7 Dakota club cab gets 17 plus all around average and about 24-25 over 70 mph all hiway..maybe gears ? in overdrive 70 mph tachs right at 2000 rpm...and without O/D 70 mph is around 2700rpm...don't know what rear gear is in it ...
Last edited by dynamite; 07/09/13 11:08 PM.
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Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really?
[Re: dynamite]
#1465368
07/09/13 11:25 PM
07/09/13 11:25 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,999
Salem
Grizzly
Moparts Proctologist
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Moparts Proctologist
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,999
Salem
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16 mpg at 72mph out of a 318? You did exceptionally well. 2001 360 Off-Road 4x4 QuadCab with 4.10's and I can get 17mpg at 60mph. No catalytic convertor and electric fan made a significant difference (about 2mpg). As for the gm comment, my mighty '98 350 vortec never did see anything over 16mpg and it's replacement was an '06 with the 5.3 and it was yet worse. By fair comparison my '07 MDS Hemi Ram beats them by a looooong shot. Even my '01 is better than the so-called "best in class fuel economy" gm's. 
Mo' Farts
Moderated by "tbagger".
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Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really?
[Re: Grizzly]
#1465369
07/09/13 11:36 PM
07/09/13 11:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 104,346
Garden Grove, CA
OzHemi
Penguin-hating Ginger
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Penguin-hating Ginger
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 104,346
Garden Grove, CA
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I got 16 - 17 mpg on the highway with my '02 1500HD GM with a 6.0 liter, and my current '11 crew cab with a 5.3 gets 21 - 22 on the highway easily. (went to Fresno a couple of weeks ago and did 75 most of the way (it is in the middle of no where  ) a/c on of course as it was almost 110 degrees out...got around 21.5 mpg on the trip. I had a 350 vortec powered '97 around for a little while years ago, can't remember what it got  but wasn't too bad from memory. So maybe just some trucks vary compared to others. 
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Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really?
[Re: stumpy]
#1465370
07/10/13 07:46 AM
07/10/13 07:46 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,065
Niles , Ohio
therocks
oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
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oh wait.but hey.lets see.oh yeah.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 21,065
Niles , Ohio
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My 99 Durango with 5.9 and running at 70 with 5 people and some luggage did average about 17 or so on a trip.We took it to Carlisle quite a few times. Also made quite a few trips to Norwalk and also to Michigan.It always was over 16 and usually over 17.Rocky
Chrysler Firepower
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Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really?
[Re: therocks]
#1465371
07/10/13 09:45 AM
07/10/13 09:45 AM
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 348
Texas Hill Country
Centerline
enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 348
Texas Hill Country
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02 Ram 2500 diesel 2wd auto. Houston to El Paso 65 mph 1700 rpm average 22 mpg. High of 24 on the flat and low of 20 in the hills. Not loaded.. just me and a suit case.
Centerline
64 Dodge Polara 426 Street Wedge - For when I want to go fast
99 Corvette Z-06 - For when I want to turn corners
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Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really?
[Re: 70Sbird]
#1465372
07/10/13 10:48 AM
07/10/13 10:48 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 697
Central IL
70Sbird
OP
mopar
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OP
mopar
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 697
Central IL
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Thanks for the responses  I've had this truck for 13 of it's 14 years and have been really happy with it. Othar than an intake gasket, water pump and a few sensors, it has been trouble free and never let me down. Mostly it just hauls my butt back and forth to work with an occasional trip to tow a car or haul mulch, parts etc....maybe this is "normal" I was just expecting something closer to 18 on flat roads with the cruise on. My regular day to day mileage runs about 13-14, and as low as 11.5 in the winter (short commute to work) I recently towed a car and parts (probably close to 7,000 lbs total) and got 11.5mpg @ 65 mph, i was fine with that. Here is a pic from that day:
Last edited by 70Sbird; 07/10/13 10:48 AM.
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Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really?
[Re: Dodgem]
#1465374
07/10/13 03:17 PM
07/10/13 03:17 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog
Striving for excellence
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Striving for excellence
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
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Quote:
Tonneau cover  i can't speel!
I bought into that hype!
I bought a $800 Leer cover. Nice looking, well constructed too. I drove at many speeds as a test and found no noticeable difference.
It was good for keeping the bums away from taking my soda cans though...
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Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really?
[Re: Kern Dog]
#1465375
07/10/13 04:28 PM
07/10/13 04:28 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,424
Florida STAYcation
dOc !
The village idiot's idiot
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The village idiot's idiot
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,424
Florida STAYcation
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Quote:
Quote:
Tonneau cover i can't speel!
I bought into that hype!
I bought a $800 Leer cover. Nice looking, well constructed too. I drove at many speeds as a test and found no noticeable difference.
It was good for keeping the bums away from taking my soda cans though...
Yo frankenBERRI ..... Load-up that bed with 'em and BRING those cans to MI and get 10 cents each for them ! ... remember that Seinfeld episode with Kramer and Newman ? ...
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Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really?
[Re: dynamite]
#1465377
07/10/13 05:50 PM
07/10/13 05:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,237
fredericksburg,va
cudaman1969
master
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master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,237
fredericksburg,va
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Quote:
Maybe a different animal but my 04 3.7 Dakota club cab gets 17 plus all around average and about 24-25 over 70 mph all hiway..maybe gears ? in overdrive 70 mph tachs right at 2000 rpm...and without O/D 70 mph is around 2700rpm...don't know what rear gear is in it ...
Engine speed is the problem. Engine that turns 1500 rpm at 70 will get better mileage than 2500 at 70. Get a 2.92 gear and do a tuner that adds some timing will help alot, to heck with emissions.
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Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really?
[Re: cudaman1969]
#1465378
07/11/13 12:09 AM
07/11/13 12:09 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,999
Salem
Grizzly
Moparts Proctologist
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Moparts Proctologist
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,999
Salem
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Frankenduster, it was explained to me that without a tonneau moving air builds up in the box and forms a "bubble". The rest of the air flows over the bubble with no "parachute" effect as a person might think.
I thought it was a good enough explanation because I have tried just going without the tailgate and seen no difference whatsoever.
Mo' Farts
Moderated by "tbagger".
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Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really?
[Re: 360view]
#1465381
07/11/13 06:33 AM
07/11/13 06:33 AM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,162
USA
360view
Moparts resident spammer
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Moparts resident spammer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,162
USA
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General Motors engineers "swore under oath" that tonneau covers reduce drag in order to get a US Patent no. 4573730 http://www.google.com/patents/US4573730?...ved=0CDUQ6AEwAANotice the odd result that the best drag reduction was with a partial cover that started at the back tailgate and went forward 60% but left the 40% of the bed just behind the rear window open. Apparrently a horizontal tornado (vortex) forms behind the rear window but is held in place by the tailgate. If a 60% length tonneau cover "tightens up" the diameter of this horizontal tornado it is like a gentle slope behind the rear window that reduces drag. Note also how the later GM Avalanche vehicle added slanted sides to this horizontal tornado area. Weird, huh?
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Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really?
[Re: dOc !]
#1465382
07/11/13 08:09 AM
07/11/13 08:09 AM
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,847
Oakdale CT
gdonovan
I Live Here
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I Live Here
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,847
Oakdale CT
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Quote:
...to add what others have said .... drop the speed down to 62 or so .... and put the AC on low or off ... I will bet your MPG will go up to near 20.
My 2000 Durango pulled 20.4 on the Ohio flats and 18 and change going through the hills of PA at 70 mph on the dot with the cruise on.
It had a 5.2 2WD with 3.55's, R/T rims and Firehawks, Hooker max-flower muffler, ported throttle body, smooth air kit and a PCM flash.
That being said, it has a smaller frontal area then a ram, less weight and no bed to induce drag.
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Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really?
[Re: 360view]
#1465383
07/11/13 10:50 AM
07/11/13 10:50 AM
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,746
Ontario, Canada
Dodgem
master
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master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,746
Ontario, Canada
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Quote:
General Motors engineers
"swore under oath"
that tonneau covers reduce drag
in order to get a
US Patent no. 4573730
http://www.google.com/patents/US4573730?...ved=0CDUQ6AEwAA
I remember when the Dakota trucks came out and they started drag racing them they interviewed one of the racers on ESPN and asked why they ran tonneau covers instead of putting the tail gait down and they said wind tunnel testing showed tail gait down was worst drag. caps were better and tonneau cover had the least drag.
Myth busters did a show too and showed tail gate down worst, tail gate up better as a bubble of air is created and reduces drag and tonneau cover is the best.
I do know back in the day my 78 D100 got 13 miles to the US gallon average highway tail gate up or down and same with an aluminum cap.
Used to make the same trip 250 miles filled at the same gas station when I left and same one when I got back and it averaged 13.
Since it was 60 miles east then 70 miles north up and 70 miles south and 60 miles west going home any wind seem to get averaged out.
Dam I like this 2008 ram has gotten as high as 21 highway and hear the 2010 and up are better yet.
At the 78 dod truck at the drags it ran 15.75 tail gate up and 15.75 tail gate down.
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Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really?
[Re: Dodgem]
#1465385
07/12/13 11:18 AM
07/12/13 11:18 AM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,162
USA
360view
Moparts resident spammer
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Moparts resident spammer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,162
USA
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Quote:
Since it was 60 miles east then 70 miles north up and 70 miles south and 60 miles west going home any wind seem to get averaged out.
I made the same mistake
of thinking that on round trips
the wind direction
"averages out"
Head winds hurt much worse
than tailwinds help.
This is because
power from the engine
to overcome
or be helped
by a wind
goes up
as the
"cube function"
of the speed.
Sidewinds dont average at all
they hurt both sides
and more than you would guess.
At any given time across the USA
you are most likely to be
in a 7 mph side wind.
Aero wise
there are also relatively easy
MPG gains to be hard
by making a lower airdam with
plastic lawn edging
or foam swimming pool float toy "noodles"
and blocking off
enough radiator grille opening
to raise coolant temps to
220 to 250 degrees F
Recently GM wind tunnel engineers said in an article that
the small air gap
below the rear window
between cab and cargo box walls
needed to be sealed with flexible foam
as it increased total drag much more
than similar size gaps other places.
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