Help with new 2015 RAM 1500

[ShaneRoss37]

Just bought a 2015 RAM 1500 4x4 with the 3.6 gas V6. Looking for mods to increase mileage. Before any comments start with why I bought a 4x4 but want decent gas mileage, I need a 4x4 truck for work. So far there doesn't seem to be much out their to modify this motor.

So far I've been getting around 27MPG (Canadian), which is pretty good for a full size truck. I ordered it with the highway gears and 8 speed automatic so can't be improved in that area.

Does anyone on here have any advice/thoughts??

[Fat Charlie]

Did you get the one with the active grille?

[ShaneRoss37]

Yes ... I'm pretty sure they all come with that now. Either way, mine definitely has it.

[Fat Charlie]

What was I thinking? The first two changes are tire pressure and ScanGauge/UltraGauge.

[ShaneRoss37]

I forgot about upping my tire pressure. I am new to this site still (kinda) and don't really understand the benefit of the Scangauge? The truck already tells me my mileage. Or is the Scangauge more accurate??

[Fat Charlie]

You can calibrate the aftermarket gauges, so you can trust the numbers.

I can't speak for the ScanGauge (I have an UltraGauge), but you can set it to show trip (tank) mpg and short trip (since you started up) mpg. Huge benefits in getting results- instead of looking at tank numbers for feedback, you can tell how you're donig on particular trips: I got XX mpg on the way to work, that's better than usual, etc.

[ShaneRoss37]

Oooh ok. I can do all those things with the truck computer already. But maybe there is more to the Scangauge than we realise...

I just got an email back from Chrysler letting me know that the wheels on my truck weigh 25lbs (they are 17"). Which is actually very light for truck wheels, so not much chance of saving weight there. I could spend hundreds of dollars on cheap aftermarket wheels that would weight two pounds less and probably get worse mileage because they would be out-of-round or unbalanced all the time. I guess Chrysler just did a decent job engineering this truck...

[aerohead]

Can you describe the driving environment the truck is most likely to see?
In town,nothing is going to help more than synchronized traffic lights and momentum driving.
Ram has the lowest drag of production pickups,but if you're doing a bunch of highway miles drag reduction can help if it doesn't interfere with loading and unloading materials,tools,and equipment.
AeroStealth's 2014 F-150 EcoBoost is returning up to 30-mpg with just a Brett Herndon AeroLid.
He's got a Herndon boat tail which is going to modified for a swing-away mount.
With the tail,his truck is around Cd 0.30,down from Cd 0.403.
Spirit of Ecomodder.com measured Cd 0.268 in the tunnel,down from Cd 0.44.

[ShaneRoss37]

Looks like that Brett Herndon Aerolid isn't being made anymore. Which is a shame as it's actually pretty nice to look at and meets my needs pretty much perfectly. And I completely disagree with the in-town statement. A few years ago I had a 2005 F-150 4x4 5.4 V8 that I managed to get nearly 27 MPG(Canadian) in the city with LRR Tires, solid tonneau cover, Air intake, immediate exit exhaust, high flow cats, underdrive pulleys and an electric cooling fan, along with a ton of other small things. But either these things aren't available for my RAM or it already has them... which is why I'm on here

[vskid3]

Originally Posted by ShaneRoss37

Air intake, immediate exit exhaust, high flow cats

The benefits of these mods is disputed, but generally considered to be low, if any benefit. Likely not enough to pay for itself unless the stock part was complete garbage. If installed mainly for the performance gains, they're not too bad. DIY aeromods for your new truck will definitely give you the best bang for your buck (probably the biggest gains, as well).

Scan/Ultragauge lets you keep an eye on more data, such as throttle position and engine load. Newer vehicles with built in MPG displays make another gauge a little harder to justify, but the Scan/Ultragauge is helpful when you're doing hardcore hypermiling and/or mods.