Proud new owner...gas mileage issue

[aftershock00]

I just bought an 07 black laramie with 13k miles...thing is immaculate and I love it. Im far from being new to big engines and fast cars, but something's not right here.

I just picked it up on saturday and im averaging 8-9 mpg on the overhead console thing. I am a lil harder on the gas that normal driving but nothing drastic. Even cruising to work at 75mph, i was gettin 9 mpg. Truck is a 4dr laramie with a tonneau cover and mopar dual exhaust.

Is this normal?? I understand its a big engine and a big truck, but 8mpg highway is dissapointing...i was expecting atleast 14 highway.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated and I look forward to talking to you guys in the future...

[aftershock00]

Come on, someone must have some advice???

I just filled up the tank and it confirmed it, I got 9 mpg. THis is an 07 laramie with 13k miles. Has MOPAR dual exhaust, runs perfectly. I dont understand why the mileage is so poor.

[crazy_luck]

Two things I can think of - heavy foot and the tonneau cover. Going 75mph uses more fuel; The previous owner (I assume you bought it used with 13K miles since you state you just bought it) may have driven it like an old lady and the engine management computer is probably used to that. Try driving it a little slower for a while and slowly work back up to your 75mph range over a month or so.

The tonneau cover may be interfering with the aerodynamics the vehicle was designed to have w/o it. The MythBusters did a study on "tailgate up VS tailgate down" and found there is an air bubble formed inside the box that helps with the fuel economy and by altering the bubble (IE, tailgate down, topper installed, tonneau cover installed) the economy will be lower. I can't say it's 100% accurate for every truck on the road, but it could be something adding to your issue.

[aftershock00]

Well I see how those factors would have a small effect...but this hemi is supposed to get 17 mpg highway correct? Even at 65 mph on highway, I was getting 14.2 mpg.

I have been having a little fun with the gas pedal, but I have a smooth foot and usually let my foot off the gas to let it shift at a lower revs. Either way, would the tonneau cover cause an extra 3 mpg loss???

Is there a way to reset teh computer/tranny? Disconnecting the battery or something to make it relearn my driving habits???

[hessian]

you have something wrong, I just bought mine last night and got 19.4 mpg at 70 mph on the interstate going home.

[aftershock00]

hmmm, well so far ive gotten 15.3 avg with about 70% highway driving. With mostly city, I'm gettin around 12. Its not as bad as I originally thought, and I dont go through a gas tank without atleast having a little fun with the gas pedal...afterall this truck is the result of consolidating my daily driver pickup and my worked up mustang so Im trying to get the best of both worlds.

Im also learning how to get the MDS to activate more frequently by learning the gas pedal.

I think i remember hearing that the 09 and up are supposed to use MDS more often. Is there any way of downloading this program on my 07?

[mrjordan2u]

My Hwy MPG is 10.4
in town- 9 mpg

[OsO]

It doesn't calculate current driving conditions only so if you were driving like speed racer earlier and now driving like grandma it looks at both to give you an estimate. Rest the overhead and then drive like your trying to save gas and see what it reads

[RACERAM9]

It doesn't calculate current driving conditions only so if you were driving like speed racer earlier and now driving like grandma it looks at both to give you an estimate. Rest the overhead and then drive like your trying to save gas and see what it reads
I agree, the truck could have sat running in one spot for a long period of time that will definetly screw up the overhead calculations and you cant go by the overhead anyway

[mrjordan2u]

Put it in neutral while going down a nice long hill.
My Overhead tells me I'm getting 99.9 mpg when I do it.

[jwebb2004]

If the truck only has 13K miles on it, it should still be under warranty... You could always take it to the dealer to have them take a look at it. Worst case your out a little time.

[circuit19]

I have an 06' Ram 1500 w/HEMI at 70 mph with air and cruise set i get 19 mpg if I use my foot it goes down, if I drop the tailgate it drops way down below 14, but I usually drive highway with cruise on and city driving I hardly ever do.

[circuit19]

and make sure you are using the right oil in it mine is 5w20

[DLGolder2]

I have a 2wd 3.7 that gets about 18 on the highway. any ideas on how to improve the mileage. Will Amsoil help?

[mrjordan2u]

and make sure you are using the right oil in it mine is 5w20

Royal Purple Oil:D

[circuit19]

I thought about using synthetic so I called the dealer asked them about amsoil and they told me cause I'm still under warranty I'd have to change it every 3-4000 miles cause of where I live so I'll just keep 5w20 in it till my warranty runs out in 35,000 miles which is about 4 years or more the way I use the truck.

[RACERAM9]

I thought about using synthetic so I called the dealer asked them about amsoil and they told me cause I'm still under warranty I'd have to change it every 3-4000 miles cause of where I live so I'll just keep 5w20 in it till my warranty runs out in 35,000 miles which is about 4 years or more the way I use the truck.
how is the dealership going to know when and what kind of oil you use unless you take it to the dealer? oil brand synth,or conventional sould not be able to void any warrenty on the truck

[circuit19]

The type of oil wasn't the problem , the dealer would still back the warranty , the cost difference wasnt worth it to me. I ran synthetic in my 97 ram and it was cost effective then but not now.

[Bamataco]

I just bought an 07 black laramie with 13k miles...thing is immaculate and I love it. Im far from being new to big engines and fast cars, but something's not right here.

I just picked it up on saturday and im averaging 8-9 mpg on the overhead console thing. I am a lil harder on the gas that normal driving but nothing drastic. Even cruising to work at 75mph, i was gettin 9 mpg. Truck is a 4dr laramie with a tonneau cover and mopar dual exhaust.

Is this normal?? I understand its a big engine and a big truck, but 8mpg highway is dissapointing...i was expecting atleast 14 highway.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated and I look forward to talking to you guys in the future...

A couple of questions,is your truck 2 wheel drive or 4 wheel drive. Is your truck a 1500 or a 2500. I guess you can see where I am going here. These trucks are heavy, mine is a 07, 1500, 4X4, quad cab and weighs almost 6000 pounds. 2500's are even heavier
What rear gears do you have? mine has 3;92's. But I still manage about 17 MPGs on the highway & around 13.5 to 14.5 around town.

[dragon]

I would recomend some fuel system cleaner cause god knows what kind of fuel was used in it before you got it, cold air intake and free flowing exhaust system, my mate used to have a hemi ram and the best he ever managed was 15mpg , my V6 dont get too good a gas mileage but i love my ram and as my first pickup in america it has potential.:D