2011 Ram 3500 DRW Fuel Mileage When not Towing

[JCGibson]

Hello All,

I am wanting to get info from current owners about their highway fuel mileage while not towing. I get about 15MPG on average (with a tonneau cover) which I think isn't very good. My setup is Magnaflow exhaust, AFE air intake and most everything else is stock. I have about 38K miles and it really has gotten any better since day one of ownership.

My previous truck was a 2008 Ram 3500 megacab and I got about 17MPG+ or so on the highway. I got similar mileage for both while towing a 15K 5th wheel.

What does everyone else get?

[sk734]

ksss wrote:
I get an honest 16 mpg out of my LBZ 3500 DRW and never any better than that at Interstate speed unloaded. Pulling my Fuzion, I get 9 mpg at 65 mph.

I wondered what the 6.0 gasser was getting in mileage these days. You are also pulling a super big load with that truck. GM's 6.0 Has been a great motor.

[Bionic_Man]

C Schomer wrote:
What's the mpg for deleted 2010-12 CTDs?

Cumminsforum would be a good place to get an answer. But I would take the answer through a filter.

Not sure why, but it seems hard to find honest answers to the speed a truck will pull a load over a pass, and the MPG it gets while doing it.

[C_Schomer]

What's the mpg for deleted 2010-12 CTDs?

[Cummins12V98]

JCGibson wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:
So, not to nit-pick, but those are two completely different trucks. The 5.9 ceased production in 2007. 2007.5 changed to a different auto transmission, but also to the 6.7. The new engine had a higher output, but also significantly different (more restrictive) emissions equipment.

So, your new truck has at least 25 more HP, close to 200 more lb/ft of torque, and runs clean enough that you no longer can smell the diesel when it is running.

The mega cab is a larger cab, but only by a few inches than the new crew cab. And you gave up a 6'4" bed in favor of a 8' bed, picked up new fenders and two more wheels.

The late year 5.9's were FANTASTIC engines for a balance of power and MPG. The 6.7 in the pre-def years is NOT known as a strong MPG engine.

Just a long way of saying that with that many changes, it doesn't surprise me that you would have lower MPG. The trade off is a much improved cab, among other items.

Don't get me wrong the newer Rams are much nicer on the inside than previous model we had. I have had this one since new and really like it except for the recall problems with the front tie rods, but that is better now. Mine is a year before DEF was needed, but I still do smell diesel in the cab if sitting at a light.

I wasn't complaining, just wanted to know if I was in the norm with my fuel mileage.

If you smell diesel or diesel exhaust fumes I would suggest a trip to the dealer.

The recall was foe ONE tie rod. Was there more to your "recall problems" experience than taking it to the dealer having them replace one tie rod and align the truck?

[JCGibson]

Bionic Man wrote:
So, not to nit-pick, but those are two completely different trucks. The 5.9 ceased production in 2007. 2007.5 changed to a different auto transmission, but also to the 6.7. The new engine had a higher output, but also significantly different (more restrictive) emissions equipment.

So, your new truck has at least 25 more HP, close to 200 more lb/ft of torque, and runs clean enough that you no longer can smell the diesel when it is running.

The mega cab is a larger cab, but only by a few inches than the new crew cab. And you gave up a 6'4" bed in favor of a 8' bed, picked up new fenders and two more wheels.

The late year 5.9's were FANTASTIC engines for a balance of power and MPG. The 6.7 in the pre-def years is NOT known as a strong MPG engine.

Just a long way of saying that with that many changes, it doesn't surprise me that you would have lower MPG. The trade off is a much improved cab, among other items.

Don't get me wrong the newer Rams are much nicer on the inside than previous model we had. I have had this one since new and really like it except for the recall problems with the front tie rods, but that is better now. Mine is a year before DEF was needed, but I still do smell diesel in the cab if sitting at a light.

I wasn't complaining, just wanted to know if I was in the norm with my fuel mileage.

[ib516]

The last test (of a 2010 drw Ram) I read was about 15 mpg unloaded on the hwy.

[Bionic_Man]

JCGibson wrote:

Bionic Man wrote:
Was your previous truck DRW?

Previous was SRW, but it was a megacab so I believe weight was similar. However, it had the 5.9 Cummins vs the 6.7 Cummins. I have read 5.9 were better with the fuel economy. So I guess that is my reason then.

So, not to nit-pick, but those are two completely different trucks. The 5.9 ceased production in 2007. 2007.5 changed to a different auto transmission, but also to the 6.7. The new engine had a higher output, but also significantly different (more restrictive) emissions equipment.

So, your new truck has at least 25 more HP, close to 200 more lb/ft of torque, and runs clean enough that you no longer can smell the diesel when it is running.

The mega cab is a larger cab, but only by a few inches than the new crew cab. And you gave up a 6'4" bed in favor of a 8' bed, picked up new fenders and two more wheels.

The late year 5.9's were FANTASTIC engines for a balance of power and MPG. The 6.7 in the pre-def years is NOT known as a strong MPG engine.

Just a long way of saying that with that many changes, it doesn't surprise me that you would have lower MPG. The trade off is a much improved cab, among other items.

[PRodacy]

Not a Ram, but I just got back from a 1000 mile trip and averaged 17.1 mpg. Most was 75 mph highway driving. 2012 DRW GMC diesel. Get about 14 with the camper on the truck.

[ksss]

I get an honest 16 mpg out of my LBZ 3500 DRW and never any better than that at Interstate speed unloaded. Pulling my Fuzion, I get 9 mpg at 65 mph.

[JCGibson]

Bionic Man wrote:
Was your previous truck DRW?

Previous was SRW, but it was a megacab so I believe weight was similar. However, it had the 5.9 Cummins vs the 6.7 Cummins. I have read 5.9 were better with the fuel economy. So I guess that is my reason then.

[Bionic_Man]

15 really doesn't sound out of line for that truck. Speed really drops the MPG pretty quickly.

Was your previous truck DRW?

[Robin1953]

I have a 2011 3500 ST CC DRW LB 4x4 with the 6.7L Cummins 6 SP auto and a 3.73 RE. No addons...strictly stock. I bought it used with about 36K on the meter. Mine averages 14 - 15 mpg not towing. I have only seen 19 mpg one time. I am an OMH so I generally do the speed limit. It has about 59K on the meter now and the mpg has improved very little.

[Cummins12V98]

My truck is basically the same as yours, see sig below. Is yours a HO? Mine is. Not that makes any difference in mileage.

I get around 15 freeway also. That's just the way it is. I average 9-9.5 hand calc towing a combined load of 29K West Coast towing.

Two things that were a waste of money but that was your choice to do were the cold air intake and the dual exhaust.

[ScottG]

donn0128 wrote:
Rear end ratio? One thing you have to remember, to make more HP requires more fuel! Between 2008 and 2011 there was a big jump in horse power.

Not necessarily. Mostly it takes better technology.
HP and torque doubled over the years for Ram/Cummins trucks and fuel efficiency din't change much until the latest emissions.
My own truck has twice the stock HP of my previous Cummins but gets the same mileage.