fin

I have a 2001 2500 with an auto, an air dog, bhaf, and 3 in straight pipe. I had a jet program but removed it and increased 2 mpg. I average 16mpg now what are the recomendations on improving it a little more.

nkennedy

Other than stock, I'd say lift up n the go pedal. Might be your VP going though. I get about 18 to 19, but have a manual trans.

KATOOM

Lots of variables like gear ratio, tire size and tread design, lift height, driving style, terrain, ect. will affect fuel mileage but generally running empty you should be around 17-21 hwy and 14-18 city.

rebal

^^^ if you have 4:10 rear gears thats about right , make sure the AIT and MAP sensors are good and clean my 01 dropped to 17 MPGs and with new sensors its back to 23+ with the smarty on fuel saver my wife can hit 25-26 mpg the best I can get is 23-24.(hand calced) and as was stated by KATOOM alot plays into the mpg game

fin

I am not sure on the gear ratio truck had a service body on it when i bought it but is a single rear wheel. I just want to squize more out of it iff possible. as for the skinny pedal I drive like an old lady according to my wife.

Dane

My biggest drop in fuel ecnomy was 2 mpg when I installed big wide tires. At first I thought it was a mistake, but over time I kept seeing the 2 mpg drop. No wonder the stock trucks come with skinny tires...

KATOOM

Here's an RPM chart to help you find what gear ratio you have. http://dodgeram.org/tech/specs/axle/rpm_vs_mph.htm

Cleaning or replacing the MAP and IAT sensors can help but they're not cheap either so tossing $100+ at something just to "maybe" increase your fuel mileage might not be cost affective if your mileage doesn't increase substantially. You can pull the IAT to see if its covered in soot. If it is then you can try cleaning it with some carb cleaner and see if that helps. Exhaust brakes are notorious for dirtying up the IAT and MAP. I used to clean mine but I got bored with continually going through the process so I dont bother anymore, but that's just me. Fuel mileage is one of the biggest unanswered questions regarding these trucks. No one really understands why one guy can get 20+ mpg and another gets less than 15 mpg. One thing we all have to consider is how accurately calculated the mileage "claims" are too. Using a calculator, dividing gallons used by miles driven with a GPS is the most accurate. How many go through that much effort?

rickf

I have always calculated fuel mileage by hand based on the trip odometer and gallons used. Now that I have a GPS I find that the odometer is off even though the speedometer is perfect. In the days of mechanical speedo's that could not happen because everything was geared together. Now it is all electronic so who knows. With the trip odometer showing 350 miles the GPS will show 370 miles. That is substantial when you are using those figures for mileage figures.

Rick

KATOOM

Great example.

fin

i have not gps it yet but will check to see what gear ratio i have

dodgeguy71

I found my gear ratio in two places, no calculations involved. First spot, in the glove box. Told me model number for rear axle and ratio. Second spot, on the rear axle tag along with other vital numbers that will be required if your differential should ever fail.

My fuel mileage back when it was a single wheel, manual over hilly and flat highway/city driving was 17-20. Think I got around 22 at one point. Left Nashville, TN and finally had to stop and put a bit of fuel in it about 20 minutes south of Cleveland, OH. I had around 520 miles on that tank. Empty bed, just me and one kid, cruise set at 70mph.

Now the truck has a dually 3500 axle underneath, two extra tires and about 4000lbs more weight. Think the fuel mileage is in the 13-16 mpg range. With my quadzilla set on 10 and driving like old mother hubberd I logged 16mpg, hand calc.

SIXSLUG

If its a 4x4 there should be a tag on the front diff also.

I just got back from a 1200 mile trip and with my stock height winter tires and winter blend fuel I lost about 3 miles per gallon according to hand calcs and a gps to confirm.

Stock tires at suggested pressure netted me 21 mpg with a moderate load this past summer.

mamm7215

+1 Yup!

fin

well I have found that I have a 3:54 ratio and I guess my truck averages about 16 mpg. but i have not figured with gps yet.

SIXSLUG

There are a few "major" things that can lead to poorer and poorer mileage but may not be the problem, i.e. vp44 going, trans slipping.

I would lighten up on the gas pedal and try some winter additive, maybe service the trans and check tire pressure. 15 mpg around town for me isn't unusual this time of year.

Also if you live in a hilly area you will see lower mileage due to the frequency of acceleration over coasting down the other side.