gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town?

Posted By: toplescuda

gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/15/14 01:57 AM

I drove the 2012 ram up to the dealer this morn. And test drove (mostly hi way) a 14 ram with 8 speed. Both 4 door 4x4. The 8 speed sure shifted a lot. They told me the 8 gets 2 mph better then my 6 speed. How does the 8 speed compare with in town and up n down hills? (all we got in these parts)
looking for real comparison not just what someone said/read. Thanks

Posted By: HotRodDave

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/15/14 03:02 AM

All depends on how you drive.

The auto can not lug it down at lower RPM higher throttle angles like a skilled 6 speed driver if they have the same final drive ratio. Of course if you like to run around cruising at 3000 RPM @45 mph down the blvd then the auto will kill your 6 speeds mpg. The auto also has more frictional and pumping losses no matter how good the trans is

If someone wants to prove me wrong give me a truck with a 6 speed, follow me in the auto and I WILL get better mpg.

Almost forgot, I think the autos may be using MDS (can't think of any reason not to put it on the manual trans except to make the auto look better so you spend more money)if that is the case it could help sway it to the autos favor but I still think I would have a real chance in town. If they both have MDS the manual with a skilled driver still wins.

Posted By: toplescuda

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/15/14 03:23 AM

Both trucks (6 speed and 8 speed) are automatic

Posted By: toplescuda

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/15/14 03:28 AM

Will also add. Whil I drove to a dodge dealership bout 25 miles away I reset the trip odometer so can see my mpg average which was 24.3(pretty flat road for most part)
this was with my 2012 4 door 4x4 6 speed auto ram

Posted By: justinp61

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/15/14 04:43 AM

My 12, 6 speed, 3.55 geared, two wheel drive Ram averages 17.5 driving back and forth to work. It's 17 miles each way, 3 miles each way are interstate, the rest is curvy, up and down two lane.

Posted By: toplescuda

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/15/14 12:25 PM

Thats bout what my 12 (6speed) gets back n forth to work. The longest streach is 3 miles (out on hiway) before I have to stop and turn up n down hills. Not the best. Does really good out on the hi way thou

Posted By: denfireguy

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/15/14 03:21 PM

Quote:

I drove the 2012 ram up to the dealer this morn. And test drove (mostly hi way) a 14 ram with 8 speed. Both 4 door 4x4. The 8 speed sure shifted a lot. They told me the 8 gets 2 mph better then my 6 speed. How does the 8 speed compare with in town and up n down hills? (all we got in these parts)
looking for real comparison not just what someone said/read. Thanks

I love my 8 speed, especially in mountain driving. It always is in the right gear. I find myself hitting the brake on downhill runs far less than I do in the Durango.
Going to work in the morning, the highway is wide open and I get 23.5 mpg going. Coming home is all stop and go on the same highway and it goes down to around 17. My average for a week's worth of commuting is 19.5 mpg, about 20% better than the 4.7L Durango.
Cross country trips is where it shines nudging 24 mpg. That gives it a 500+ range on a tank of gas.
These numbers are all real world with A/C and regular gas.
Craig

Posted By: toplescuda

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/15/14 03:47 PM

I still have my 98 durango I bought new. 360 4x4 392 gear I love that thing. Out on hiway I can get bout 17 now (160k miles on it) but intown. I think I actually get better gas milage with it then the 12 ram. Wich for the most part is where I do the most driving.
I may trade the 12 ram in this weekend for a 14 and can get either the 6 speed auto or the 8. But if the 8 speed dont get better gas milage (in town where I do 95% of my driving) then I may just get the 6. Now remember I do most all my driving in this in town up and down hill and that is what im wanting to know about. Yes I know the 8 will get lil better out on the road. But it wont be spending much time there. As if we go out of town we will be taking the 300 lol

Posted By: HotRodDave

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/15/14 07:15 PM

In that case go here and compare

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/PowerSear...amp;srchtyp=ymm

They test them all the same way in the same conditions so you get a good comparison, however it may not be the actual miledge that you get. I tell customers to take what they currently get and look at the difference. They even have a $$$ savings calculator, it will vary depending on your actual MPG/miles driven/cost of fuel but it gives you a basic idea

Looks like about 2mpg better in town and on highway.

Posted By: justinp61

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/15/14 07:35 PM

I'm going to be trading for a new 15 this fall, it will be an 8 speed. My understanding is that first and second gears are lower in the 8 speed. Anyone else heard this?

Posted By: feets

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/15/14 08:35 PM

4.71 first gear if I remember correctly.

Posted By: 3hundred

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/15/14 08:47 PM

Quote:

4.71 first gear if I remember correctly.

It's a long way from the 727 2.45; 1.45 1.0

Robert

Attached picture 8301247-gears.JPG

Posted By: gregsrt

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/16/14 01:24 AM

Get the 8 speed, you will like it far better. If you don't need the ability to tow 10,000lbs get 3.21 gears. I had a 2013 with an 8 speed and 3.92's and it was still hard on fuel on the highway. I just traded it in for a 2014 with 3.21's and it revs 4-500 rpm less on the highway.
On the highway today it got 20mpg compared to my '13 that got 17.5. Remember my 2014 only has 600kms so it's nowhere near broken in.

Posted By: toplescuda

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/16/14 01:51 AM

Well thats what I was wanting to know. Thanks

Posted By: Pntastar69

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/16/14 01:09 PM

14 Ram Quad 1500, 5.7, 3.92 gears, 8 speed, getting 14.2 mpg puddle jumping back n forth from work, 6 miles one way. Towing a 6600 lb travel trailer I got 11.4 mpg. Highway a little over 20 mpg. It only has 1400 miles so it should increase a little.

Posted By: 340duster340

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/16/14 07:39 PM

Quote:

14 Ram Quad 1500, 5.7, 3.92 gears, 8 speed, getting 14.2 mpg puddle jumping back n forth from work, 6 miles one way. Towing a 6600 lb travel trailer I got 11.4 mpg. Highway a little over 20 mpg. It only has 1400 miles so it should increase a little.

Same here. I find that the sweet spot is 40mph.. get s high 20s mpg. High way it will hold 22mpg at 60 on flat road.

Stop and go driving kills Mpg all together.

Posted By: HotRodDave

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/16/14 07:42 PM

As low as 1st gear is in that 8 speed there is no good reason for the 3.92 gears, the 3.21 will get a lot better mpg.

Posted By: Pntastar69

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/16/14 08:46 PM

Quote:

As low as 1st gear is in that 8 speed there is no good reason for the 3.92 gears, the 3.21 will get a lot better mpg.

I tow.

Posted By: justinp61

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/16/14 09:23 PM

My dealer thinks that 3.55s will be available later on the 15s. That's why I haven's ordered one yet.

Gregsrt, how many rpms is your truck turning at 75 with the 3.21 gears? My truck with 3.55s and a six speed turns 1900 or so.

Posted By: feets

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/16/14 09:31 PM

Quote:

Quote:

As low as 1st gear is in that 8 speed there is no good reason for the 3.92 gears, the 3.21 will get a lot better mpg.

I tow.

You're doing it wrong.

Posted By: B5 Bee

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/16/14 10:04 PM

Quote:

My dealer thinks that 3.55s will be available later on the 15s. That's why I haven's ordered one yet.

Gregsrt, how many rpms is your truck turning at 75 with the 3.21 gears? My truck with 3.55s and a six speed turns 1900 or so.

No 3.55 at all or just with the 5.7?
I looked at a base model 1500 Tradesman last week, 3.6, 8speed, reg cab shorty.
Only options were limited slip diff ($375) and 3.55 gears ($50).

Posted By: justinp61

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/16/14 11:03 PM

No 3.55 with the 5.7.

Posted By: HotRodDave

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/17/14 06:02 PM

Quote:

Quote:

As low as 1st gear is in that 8 speed there is no good reason for the 3.92 gears, the 3.21 will get a lot better mpg.

I tow.

1st gear in the 8 speed with a 3.21 gear gives you the same gear multiplication as a 727 with a 6.14 rear gear ratio, I don't see why you would need any more than that especially with all the power these new motors make

Posted By: HotRodDave

Re: gas mileage .6speed vs 8 speed ram in town? - 10/17/14 06:05 PM

Oh and for the mathmatically challenged the 3.92/8 speed 1st is like having a 7.50 rear gear and a 727, just seems like way over kill to me and that don't even consider how much better converters are now