Poor Fuel Milege, More Info. What to do ?

[CEnzien]

Let me try this again with additional information.

I have a 2001 RAM 2500, cummins turbo diesel that only gets

15 mpg. It has a 3:55 rear end ratio and an automatic 47RE

Transmission. The tires are LT 245R-16.

Two questions. What can I do to get better fuel mileage ?

Can I put larger wheels and tires on the truck the way it is

set up without doing damage to the truck ? At least LT 265 R-16

 

[KatDiesel]

Fuel milage gains on each indivdual trucks vary. Your milage is pretty "normal". Is that in town and highway? Or all highway? Is it 4x4?



You can goto bigger tires yes, but will you gain milage with the "addtional" weight of them? Some do, some don't. Some gain milage with injectors, some don't. There is not one thing that "Garentees" you will gain milage other then your driving habit/style.



Do you have gauges? Have you tried driving with EGT's at their lowest point as well as low boost levels? (meaning using less fuel).



How many miles on the truck? My "usual" MPG is 15 to 16mpg, highway cruising at 70mph it jumps to 18mpg or so I can never go that slow for too long.

 

[JJohnson]

Tires

Hello, just wanted to pass along some info. I have an 01 with 16x10 eagle chrome wheels with BFG TAKO's285/16's on them. It looks and great and does not affect anything. My last set of KO's lasted around 25k and worked well in the snow and the mud. My truck also does not get the best mileage with only 2500 miles (14. 5 mpg ) but I am sure they will get better the more miles we rack up!!

 

[D White]

I agree with Kat, every truck varies some mainly due to driving styles. Your mpg seems average compared to all the ones here in town.



As far as bigger tires go. On my 2500 I went from the 265's which were the stock tires, to 245's and gained about 1 mgp with the smaller ones. Figure that one!!! Don't have that truck any longer, but with the 3500 I get about 15 to 16 around town. Much better than any gasser Dually's and Plenty more power to boot.



Some even gain a little with a Power Edge EZ. Haven't got one yet so can't tell you first hand, but someone will probably jump in on that.



Just my . 02 !!

Doug

 

[chuck3]

CEnzien, Did your truck come with 245s on it? My Y2K came with 265s on it. So no it won't hurt anything, I have the same rear end gearing as you do. The only time I don't like it is when towing in OD, to keep the rpms up to 2k Im doing 75 mph, which is a little faster than I like to tow. By the way welcome aboard the TDR express.

 

[Cobra]

Poor fuel milege

You didn't state what milege is on your truck. My 01 has 8500 and is getting just alittle better than you mentioned. About 16. 5. That is all around and empty. When I haul my slide-in which weighs in at 3,000 lbs it gets about 12. 2 to 12. 5. If your truck is low milege just bide your time. I have been told that the truck will get better milege after 15 to 20 K. miles.

 

[LSMITH]

You need to get some miles on them to get the best economy, especially if you don't tow much. I do not tow much and my economy got better to about 50K miles. Mine has never averaged less than 17 on the highway though. Some just get better mileage that others. Give it some miles, at least 20K, then make a decision.

 

[LFarrar]

milage seems low to me,last tank averaged 22 mpg highway,tank before that was mixed town& city was 19. 9 mpg and while towing my 30 ft 5er around 9000 lbs 12. 5 ft tall was 12. 5 mpg,the way I have found to check milage vs driving style is to use the cruise control if you have it. I do have some mods and 4500 miles on truck and gets stonger every day

 

[Big White Beast]

Some seem to be pigs......

I think mine's one of em. I whined about mileage for the first half year I owned it. Took it to the dealers and even Cummins. They all said it was OK.



Then I found the TDR. And I learned the most important thing... ... .



TO HE!! WITH MILEAGE I WANT POWER



Along with that power came 2 MPG so I can't complain. I would have to drive the truck fo the next thirty years to pay for what that 2 MPG cost me but what the heck. I enjoy the power and that's what counts. As it's only got 15K on her now I should pick some up as she breaks in.



Just think gasser and what your mileage verse power would be. You just gained 8 MPG.



Garrett