So I did a non-scientific test yesterday on my way home from Birmingham.

2011 SV Sport all stock. 12000 miles on it.

I gassed up RIGHT by I-20 and reset all my meters.

While there are a bunch of hills leaving Alabama, most of the damn state on I 20 is a construction zone, so I was able to be as light on the pedal as possible. I was trying to roll around 70, and ended up averaging 68.1 MPH (remember I gassed RIGHT by the highway) ETA: I ended up doing a lot of 55 MPH stints.

NO AC running, just open vent and fan.

For a very taxing first half of the trip, trying to manage my RPM and speed, I got 28.2 MPG.

For the second half of the trip, I said, the hell with it, and was doing 80-82 mph through GA, and ran into slow / stop-and-go traffic on the last part of my trip on 75 and 575. As I hit the off ramp on my last exit, my mileage was 27.9 and an average of 66.9 (THANKS ATLANTA TRAFFIC!)

But for that second half I was accelerating harder and going faster when I could.

My trip to Philly over 800 miles running AC the whole time was 23.5 running about 80-82 most of the way.

All trips have been done with 93 octane.

My conclusion: Keep your tires aired up, don't run the AC when you don't have to, and enjoy your car. Driving like a gramps to maximize your mileage is POINTLESS, just don't drive like a total lunatic either.

 

Nice man. Yeah I find if I am on a highway trip averaging 60 MPH, keep RPMs under 2k I'll see 30-31 MPG. Driving like a "gramps" definitely helps for mileage, anytime that tach needle bounces above 2k RPMs you'll see a dip in mileage. Also something to note is speeds above 65 you'll start seeing a decrease in mileage due to wind resistance.

 

I can imagine that the under 2k is better, and another 4 MPGs would be nice. I should qualify my statement, that in the Atlanta area and on long trips, driving at that RPM level will get one killed. Most of the highway speed limits outside of the city are 65-70 and so traffic flows at about 80.

For the Philly trip, I drove overnight north, and running 80-82 saved me (averaging about 75) saved me about 2.6 hours versus averaging 60... so for me the time benefit outweighed the fuel cost. 12 or so hours straight, overnight, after a full day of work... oh yeah, I needed my beauty sleep...

 

This is what 8.9 MPG Looks Like...



I will take my 24 mpg avg in my Max all day long after driving my pickup which averages 9.5 mpg not towing with her... First time I checked my gas mileage in my beast since I owned her cause I didnt want to know... lol This past Sunday I drove her 130 miles to pick up my buddies chevy.... Without the trailer and truck I avg. 11.4 hwy.

 

nothing can beat that 5.9L down... that is still worth some dough. people love that motor.

 

Hard to keep the rpm under 2000 with the max, it just wants to be pushed harder

 

Below 2? It's just starting to be fun at 2k....its not a yarius lmao

 

Nice looking truck, jjklongisland.

The MPG may not be great, but that truck can do heavy work. I bet it isn't too bad in winter conditions, either.

 

right, but like any car you can either drive it gently and get good mileage or dog it and get terrible mileage. people asked how you get good mileage in this car, under 2k is how. i average 16-19 with my commute/driving habits cause i love gettin on the pedal

 

5.9 Liters are for Wimps, real men drive 8.0 Liters. lol More torque and power than the Cummins that year...



the 360 is a good motor but I like my 488 CI monster.

Thanks lightonthehill. Its a 97 with only 79k on her. I also plow with her. She pushes snow real good. I just put a new exhaust on her and now she wakes up the neighborhood. Sounds nuts...

 

We all need something that is 'outside the norm', fun to play with, and that also can be very useful. This Ram qualifies on all counts.