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99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? #1465347
07/09/13 02:40 PM
07/09/13 02:40 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 697
Central IL
70Sbird Offline OP
mopar
70Sbird  Offline OP
mopar

Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 697
Central IL
OK had to post and rant (kind of). I delivered and engine to a friend in Kansas city this weekend from Central Il, about a 900 mile round trip. This is the first time in a few years that I have had my pickup out on the road for any length of time so I decided to check my mileage on the way back to Illinois yesterday. The truck was unloaded except for two adults and less than 50 ibs of luggage. All interstate driving with the cruise set at 72 with the A/C on.
The truck is a 99 Ram 1500 Quad cab Sport 2WD with the 5.2 and an automatic, 3.55 gears and factory sized tires.
The normal stuff that kills mileage is good - the truck has 80,000 miles on it, plugs and wires have 25K on them, air filter - 4K, Mobil One 10W30 in the pan, all tires checked at 40 psi hot.

my best mpg was 15.8.....is this normal? I was hoping for at least 17! any thoughts or suggestions

Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: 70Sbird] #1465348
07/09/13 02:48 PM
07/09/13 02:48 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,091
oberlin, Ohio
Rapid340 Offline
top fuel
Rapid340  Offline
top fuel

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Posts: 2,091
oberlin, Ohio
Try 62 MPH instead of 72 without the A/C and you should see a HUGE improvement.


1971 Factory Appearing Duster 340 11.000 @ 122 mph
Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: Rapid340] #1465349
07/09/13 03:08 PM
07/09/13 03:08 PM
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 1,235
Phoenix, AZ
Jjs72D Offline
Deep in the closet
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Deep in the closet

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Phoenix, AZ
I agree the speed is the killer here. A/C isn't helping either.

Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: Jjs72D] #1465350
07/09/13 03:47 PM
07/09/13 03:47 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,906
IL, Aurora
A
ademon Offline
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ademon  Offline
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Posts: 6,906
IL, Aurora
same thing on my 03 4.7. best mileage is between 55 and about 64mph anything over drops off.

Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: ademon] #1465351
07/09/13 03:49 PM
07/09/13 03:49 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,906
IL, Aurora
A
ademon Offline
master
ademon  Offline
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IL, Aurora
that seems ok for that old of a truck at 72 mph, with a couple extra doors.

Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: Rapid340] #1465352
07/09/13 03:52 PM
07/09/13 03:52 PM
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,537
PORT ALBERNI , BC., CANADA
superwrench Offline
master
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PORT ALBERNI , BC., CANADA
Quote:

Try 62 MPH instead of 72 without the A/C and you should see a HUGE improvement.






It's a truck.....anything over about 65 MPH (105kph up here) is going to kill mileage. Even my 92 Cummins diesel looses about 4 MPG if I drive it at 65 MPH instead 0f 60MPH. I wouldn't turn off the A/C as such, but if you slow that puppy down to under 65, I bet you'll get at least 17. Everyone in my family has a truck...different years and different engines, and they all react the same to the difference in speed.

Also....16MPG down there is like 19 MPG up here in Canada.....I'd say not too shabby for a pickup even at that.

Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: ademon] #1465353
07/09/13 03:54 PM
07/09/13 03:54 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,920
n.e. pa.
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65rbdodge Offline
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65rbdodge  Offline
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n.e. pa.
I agree with the above comments about the excessive speed. I`ve read studies about wind resistance that say that when you drive above 60mph you wind resistance increases dramatically, greatly reducing your MPG. also I gained 1 mpg with a drop in K&N filter, I confirmed it many times both before and after it was installed on an 03 Dakota 4x4 ex. cab w/ 3.9 5 speed 355 gears(got about 18.5mpg) my 08 Dakota ex. cab 3.7 auto w/392 gears gets about 19.5mpg and lots more HP than the 3.9

Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: 65rbdodge] #1465354
07/09/13 04:07 PM
07/09/13 04:07 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,882
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
I Win
stumpy  Offline
I Win

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Posts: 32,882
Grand Prairie,Texas
A bed cover also helps.

Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: stumpy] #1465355
07/09/13 04:46 PM
07/09/13 04:46 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582
Rust Belt, SW PA
Silver70 Offline
I Live Here
Silver70  Offline
I Live Here

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Posts: 18,582
Rust Belt, SW PA
My 96 4x4, stock except a high flow cat got 15mpgs mixed. Not much highway as in non stop driving. In a 95 2wd I averaged 13mpg towing a trailer both ways and 6k pounds loaded on the way back from Pitt to Detroit. Although I didn't really drive over 60mph with it loaded.


68 Road Runner, 69 Belvedere, 71 Challenger Vert
340 barracuda, 01 Ram CTD, 95 Ram, 04 Ram, 85 Daytona turbo Z
66 GTO, 06 Magnum RT AWD. 07 Ram CTD, 07 Ram
Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: Silver70] #1465356
07/09/13 05:18 PM
07/09/13 05:18 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,247
Florida STAYcation
dIc dOc Deity ! Offline
The village idiot's idiot
dIc dOc Deity !  Offline
The village idiot's idiot

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Posts: 30,247
Florida STAYcation
Narrower, harder-compound and more of a highway tread tires helped my diesel dually in the MPG department

Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: dIc dOc Deity !] #1465357
07/09/13 05:23 PM
07/09/13 05:23 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,012
indiana
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mcmopars Offline
super stock
mcmopars  Offline
super stock
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Posts: 1,012
indiana
i had basically the same truck as you,milage and all.it was a good truck other than the milage.

Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: mcmopars] #1465358
07/09/13 05:26 PM
07/09/13 05:26 PM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,247
Florida STAYcation
dIc dOc Deity ! Offline
The village idiot's idiot
dIc dOc Deity !  Offline
The village idiot's idiot

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 30,247
Florida STAYcation
...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.

Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: 70Sbird] #1465359
07/09/13 05:39 PM
07/09/13 05:39 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,746
Ontario, Canada
Dodgem Offline
master
Dodgem  Offline
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Posts: 5,746
Ontario, Canada
My 2001 5.2 3.55 gears quad cab with a cap. (caps and tunnel covers help)
Would almost always get 17 (US gallons) highway AC never made a difference got as high as 18 and as low as 13 (horrible winds) depending which way the wind blew. But most always my highway average driving 62 to 72 was 17! Cruise on (and air always I love my AC) cruise on adjusting speed with buttons on right steering wheel top give 1 mph more bottom gives 1 mph less.



My 2008 5.7 hemi quad with a tunnel cover gets 18 to 20 65 mph.

Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: Dodgem] #1465360
07/09/13 06:32 PM
07/09/13 06:32 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,828
Ontario, Canada
S
Stanton Offline
Don't question me!
Stanton  Offline
Don't question me!
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Ontario, Canada
I own the identical truck except it has close to 200,000 miles on it. I get that milage on the highway WITHOUT a/c at 65 mph. And everything is intact as far as I can tell (no check engine light, etc)

Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: Dodgem] #1465361
07/09/13 06:33 PM
07/09/13 06:33 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 8,828
Ontario, Canada
S
Stanton Offline
Don't question me!
Stanton  Offline
Don't question me!
S

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Posts: 8,828
Ontario, Canada
WTF is a "tunnel cover" and which tunnel are you covering ?!?!? I'm looking in the Canadian Tire catalog and I can't find a "tunnel cover" !!! I'm gonna try Google next ...

Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: Stanton] #1465362
07/09/13 06:40 PM
07/09/13 06:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 104,346
Garden Grove, CA
OzHemi Offline
Penguin-hating Ginger
OzHemi  Offline
Penguin-hating Ginger

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Posts: 104,346
Garden Grove, CA
Quote:

WTF is a "tunnel cover" and which tunnel are you covering ?!?!? I'm looking in the Canadian Tire catalog and I can't find a "tunnel cover" !!! I'm gonna try Google next ...




Tonneau cover maybe ?



And wow...sure sounds like kinda bad mileage? (Chevy truck owner, so haven't had a Dodge to compare with)

Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: OzHemi] #1465363
07/09/13 08:35 PM
07/09/13 08:35 PM
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,305
Lakewood, Colorado
herkamer Offline
pro stock
herkamer  Offline
pro stock

Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,305
Lakewood, Colorado
My 83 with a throttle body injected 360, overdrive 518, and 4.10 gears just got 17mpg going over 2 mountain passes over 10,000ft. Held an average speed of 65 over the entire trip. That's pretty much ideal timing and AFR with the Megasquirt. Not bad for a brick flying down the road.


Matt
69 Dart Swinger 340
83 W350, Megasquirted with 46RH
Old news: 72 Demon street/race mobile
Latest: 70 Duster backhalf car
and even more
Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: 70Sbird] #1465364
07/09/13 08:42 PM
07/09/13 08:42 PM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,445
Sterling Heights, Michigan 483...
daniel_depetro Offline
pro stock
daniel_depetro  Offline
pro stock

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,445
Sterling Heights, Michigan 483...
I just managed a best of 21 MPG's with my 2001 Dodge Ram quad cab shortbox SLT 2wd with a 5.9L Magnum.
grnated my truck has a bit of work into it to make it more efficient, but 2wd 5.2L's should easily get 17-20 MPG's in nearly stock form (highway, of course)


1969 Dodge Super Bee A12 (440 Six Pack, 4-speed, Dana 60 4.10)

1972 Plymouth Road Runner (400, 4-speed, 8.75" 3.23)

1974 Plymouth Duster 360 (360, 4-speed, 8.75" 3.23)
Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: herkamer] #1465365
07/09/13 08:47 PM
07/09/13 08:47 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,254
Canada
WO23Coronet Offline
master
WO23Coronet  Offline
master

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Posts: 4,254
Canada
Slower down and it'll improve, even my 05 Magnum loses about 3mpg going from 70 mph to 60 mph and A/C makes abit of difference.

One thing to remember is the 94-01 Rams had a horrible computer tune (bunch of timing pulled out) to compensate for the inevitable plenum gasket leak that they suffered from, they call it the death flash. I can't remember who it was (SCT maybe?) but a tuner company claims around 45 HP or so for their tune in these trucks. I bet a tuner would help alot (power and mileage)

Re: 99 Ram fuel economy - 15 mpg on the highway, really? [Re: Stanton] #1465366
07/09/13 10:50 PM
07/09/13 10:50 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,746
Ontario, Canada
Dodgem Offline
master
Dodgem  Offline
master

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Ontario, Canada
Tonneau cover i can't speel!

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