Ark Slim

I recently bought a 04 3500 ram/w3.73 &4speed tranny. I've been getting 15-17mpg hwy and 8.5 towing 14000# 5thwheel is this normal or should I be getting better ? Any suggestions for improvement with minimal investment?
I drive about 68mph on the hwy. Also should you always use tow hall when towing on level or is it ok to drive in o.d.

thanks in advanc
Ark Slim

annabelle

Sounds low to me. I have gotten as much as 23.7 ( hand calculated). I average 18 MPG at 75 MPH, and not being careful how I drive. 23.7 was driving at 1800 RPM and having my tires aired up to 80 PSI. Yes, you can tow in OD.

firehawk

Forgive me Im new to Dodge autos, what terrain/weight would make it OK to tow in OD? I am paranoid coming from a 5 speed manual of getting the tranny too hot. I was under the impression that if you were towing you pretty much had to use tow/haul mode.

Ram Daddy

Sounds about right to me...not all of us are getting over 20 mpg...I feel the ones that do are the exception , not the norm.

Everyone I know gets around the #s you are.

If you`re on flat ground , and the tranny doesn`t hunt for gears while crusing, I`d keep the O.D. on , and keep the RPMs down.

glocklove

I get 17 mpg around town(hand calc.), don't do much hiwy driven, I keep mine between 1700-2000 rpm's when driven around town. Sorry can't give you any advice on towen I don't do any.

HotRodK

I have gotten 20.xx several times now keeping the tach just at or below 2000rpm. With my tires that works out to be around 67mph. My truck has 4.10s.

sallyman1

went to city and back and putzzed around town. figuring it out the canadian way i got 22 mpg. i divided my km by 10 and then times it by 6 to get miles. i then took my litres and divided by 4.54 to get canadian gallon. then i divided the 2 and i got 22 mpg.running edge juice on setting 1 and using ****** whistler. I also drove 105 km hour on highway also.

Hounddog

68 mph is not quite the sweet spot with a auto and 3.73.It is with 4.10s.Also 14k is that not the limint with 3.73?

rammer123

I get 21 MPG on the hwy running at 60-65 MPH amd 16 MPG around town. On my stock 2005. using the factory computer.

Dan_K

I did a test yesterday and burned half a tank of fuel driving around like a snail off the line, and keeping it at the speed limit everywhere I went.
22 mpg on the overhead.
I typically get 17 mpg on the overhead.
My buddy says he gets a constant 21 mpg, but he is always challenging a better mpg and says that I'd probably punch him as he drives sloooooow.
I'll be going for 17 again, as I don't have the patience for the 22.

KBar

2004.5... My overhead is consistantly 2 mpg over actual. do you guys find the same. as far as I can tell my engine has not been reflashed. does the factory reflash correct the error?

Hounddog

The times I have checked mine its within a few tents.

sallyman1

lol overhead. when im empty driving 100 km / hour i can see EASILY 27-31 MPG on my overhead. But thats the overhead. I usually figure 20-23 ish EMPTY> Pulling my 10,000 lb camper I get 9.5 - 10 MPG. thats figuring it out 4.54L/ canadian gallon also.

El Borrego

My '03 3500 got 16 to 18 on hwy staying below 80 equipped with auto trans when stock. Now I get 15.5 to 17 around town and 18 to 21 on hwy depending on foot pressure. Towing 14K lb. Fiver I avg. about 16 on flat runs and 8.5 to 15 in mountains, depending on foot. I tow in OD except in mountains. I use OD button like a two speed axle on hills and on hard pulls do not use OD. Rule of thumb, if it starts shifting in and out of OD get out of OD. Going down long grades with trailer I drop out of OD so engine can assist with slowing down. I don't have a manifold brake.