(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

Truck mileage question?

A

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member
Need some ideas from you guys. I have a 2005 Dodge Ram 1500 with the 5.7l hemi. My mileage has dropped off pretty significantly recently. I am gonna change the plugs next weekend (all 16) and put in a new air filter. The fuel filter I guess is in the tank with the pump. Was looking at O2 sensors but there are 4 and they are $25 each. Thought about putting a cold air intake system in it but they are pretty expensive for a total upgrade.

Got any suggestions or ideas that might help me.?

THanks
 
Try a new air filter first, and gas filters. One of the biggest power robbers on any engine is a clogged air intake....
 
Sounds like you need to see a mechanic with a good test tool. They can diagnose things that the computer won't necessarily tell you with a "check engine" light. They can check performance of those oxygen sensors. Otherwise you're just throwing parts at it.
 
i have found on my 06 that it is important to keep a clean air filter friend called the other day about a 2010 with bad milage told to change air filter he called back a few days later said milage had came back with the drought this yr. easy to overlook.made dusty conditions
 
I put the K&N cold air intke system on 6.0 chevy. It got me 3mpg and noticable more horsepower. it was $279 bucks I think. I would recomend it.
 
It's a Mopar the fuel filter in integrated into the fuel pump can't change one unless you want to change both
 
I just changed the air filter today.

Not sure if putting $350 for the K&N is a good idea. I can put a lot of gas in for that and not for a huge improvement.

I thought about taking it in to have it checked instead of just throwing parts at it and that make sense. The only issue with that is that I would have the mechanic bill on top of what ever parts I may need. Kind of like a rock and a hard place.

Are there differences in air filters?
 
My guess is the mass airflow sensor, which is a little wire in the air intake tube, just inboard of the air filter. Don't touch it, it's very sensitive (ha!). No really, don't touch it. You buy a special type of spray to clean it.

That's my guess...

Troy
 
Justin...did you put in one of these?
http://www.knfilters.com/cold_air_intakes.htm

What was your mileage before and after putting in the K and N air filter?
 
Sometimes, doing a good injector cleaning will help mileage on the Hemi engine. Also, depending on how many miles on the truck, I replace the plug wires. I do not recommend KN air filters under any circumstances. I have seen way to many problems from using them over the years. Bad news!!! Unless there is a verifiable problem with the O2 sensors, I don't recommend changing them.
Ted
 
A spark plug has to misfire to affect gas milage.Friend just bought a truck like yours,gas milage is poor.The air filter for my old Ford cost 5.50.Dont get fooled by magic devises, it takes fuel to haul a 5000 lb truck around.Dodge is noted for lousey gas milage here.My 96 F150 got 19 mpg on 2 milage tests.Your driving habits affect gas milage.
 

I would want to make just one change at a time and monitor the mileage for at least two tanks so that I would know what made a difference and what didn't.
 
Had I not seen it with my own eyes, I wouldn't believe it - and even so I'm still a little skeptical - but my brother brought his suv to a jiffy lube and got the full injector cleaning which was guaranteed to increase mileage by something like 10%.

He's fanatical about tracking his mileage - and I'll be damned if his mileage didn't increase about 4mpg.

I'm certainly not promoting jiffy lube - just saying a real cleaning of the injectors can make a huge difference.

Other than that - just routine tune up stuff is needed. new plugs/wires air filter, clean the mass airflow sensor (use the proper crc cleaner) etc - as others have said.

It's usually a game of tiny improvements with every little thing you fix/replace.

Also - check your tire pressure. Very often overlooked, but has a huge impact on mileage.
 
I am gonna change the plugs for sure. Was debating on the wires, mainly do the costs. Has 135,000 miles on the truck. Some say that when you do the plugs you need to do the wires and some say just plugs. A cousin of mine who is a mechanic says not to worry about wires at this time. They look in good condition so thought about just plugs.

Can I take it to just any place for the injector cleaning or does it matter where I go?
 
On the plugs Dodge uses champion copper core and they are rated at 30k miles. I've had the 318, 360, 4.7 and Hemi. I really got @#$%^& about this limited mileage since I have been with the product since '84 with the exception of one Ford. I scanned the www for an alternate that would last longer and couldn't find anything substantial....lotta well I do this and I do that. Personally I think they do that to get you back into the dealership to sell you a new truck.

Recently bought a new truck and it was from the nearest dealer which happened to be a Chevy dealer. It has Iridium plugs and the maint manual doesn't mention them for 100k miles. That's more like it. Oh, and when it is time to change, you can get to them and can do it yourself.....try that with the Dodge on the left rear, under the brake vacuum chamber.

On cleaning the injectors the chem cleaners you can buy at the auto parts store works fine for me. The one from chevron works fine. Besides that's what they put in their gas, just a lot more of it.

On the O2 sensor, they can be cleaned. We did that for my son. Failed his smog test for that reason, cleaned it and he passed. He didn't have the $125 the auto parts store wanted for a new one.

Air filter is a no brainer and at ww. Pull it off, hold it up to the sun and if you can't see light through it get another.

HTH,,
Mark
 
I'd put a code scanner on it before I did anything. You could be having problems that would not neccessarily kick the check engine light on. That should be OBDII, and can be checked easily. Anything else you do is just throwing money away. Find the problem, then fix it.
 
My truck has the iridium plugs. There are a lot of manufacturers that hide plugs and make it difficult to change. Not just a "Dodge" thing.

Wasn't sure if over the counter injector cleaners were the same as taking it in to be done.

How did you clean the O2 sensors.

Thanks
 
I ran original Champion plugs to 88,000 with no problems, put in NGK plugs and have 227,000+ (5.7L Hemi/2500,QC,4wd,auto) with no drop off in milage or performance.

Good gas, clean air filter, injector cleaner every 4th or 5th tank of gas.
 
Berryman's Chem Tool in the aerosol can. Then I used something to rub the porcelain clean, probably sand paper. Don't remember but I wanted something that wouldn't leave a residue on the porcelain. Went back and forth on it several times.

I read up on how it works in a motor repair manual, Chilton as I recall, and understanding how it worked, cleaned it up. Took about 30 minutes start to finish for whole job.

Didn't look squeaky clean, but was cleaner than it was. Trying to recall, I think the porcelain looking part of it absorbs exhaust gasses, in doing so measures the O2 and with a layer of exhaust residue over it, it was unable to do that.

HTH,
Mark
 
there's a tool you can buy to do it yourself, but in the $150 plus range so I've never bothered.

Plugs into the injector rail and puts cleaner directly in.

After seeing the improvement to my brother's vehicle, I've been considering - just haven't made the move yet.
 
There is a huge difference between a "code reader" and a "scanner" such as my Actron cp9580. Mine can read in scan mode real data, throttle position, milivolts from the O2 sensors etc, and percentage of load.

My "03 1500 4x4 hemi gets 15-15.5 on the relatively flat interstate with a family of four in it and the trunk loaded at 72 locked on the cruise. At a slow 55-60 it will do 16.5. A roll up soft tonneau cover made nearly half an MPG improvement at highway speeds.

In town with my lead foot in it don"t expect more than 11. Truck is 5780lbs with me in it.
 
Wish I knew of someone that had a scanner close by. Maybe a family memeber might have one? They are probably pretty expensive for no more than I would use one. I have been doing pretty good on my "lead foot" especially with gas prices so high. I try and keep it around 2000RPM on acceleration.

Thanks
 
I agree with one of the others it should be put on a code scanner. You say the truck has a 135,000 miles on it. The life expectancy of an oxygen sensor is a 100,000 miles with some going bad as soon as 70,000 miles. I have a GMC 5.7 vortec that did the same as your Dodge on gas mileage. I had engine light come and go out twice (only 61,000 miles). Had it coded and both front o2 sensors coded bad. I had them replace all four O2 senors ( at $52.00 for 2 and $72.00 for the other 2) and mileage went back what it was before sensors went bad. Six months after replacing them one went bad and had to be replaced ( covered by manufacture ).
 
Unless you are buying the cheapest gas you can injector cleaning is a waste of money. The more expensive stations, BP, Holiday Ect put more additives in that keep the system clean. So an injector cleaning may be a waste of money. Jiffy lube can make all the promises in the world. You would have to be able to prove in court that your mileage didn't change. That may take more than your word. Besides most people who go for that are not going to admit to their friends that they were took. THIS IS NOT SAYING AN INJECTOR CLEANING WILL NOT HELP. It can but it's a coin toss.

One thing that can cause bad mileage that many people overlook is fuel pressure. Your injector is supposed to spray in a cone shape pattern. When the filter is plugged or the pump is getting weak the injector doesn't spray right causing a poor mixture in the combustion chamber.

So basically where you are at now is trouble shoot the problem. It's a computer controled engine. You can throw a lot of money at it before you find the problem. Take it in and have it run on the computer. If you know it's due plugs and an air filter try that it's needed anyway. But don't just start thowing parts at it.

Look up air filter and the air filter guy. According to sever reviews I've read on air filters lately the reason the K&N filter gives you more power is because it allows more stuff to pass through the filter. That translates into more upper engine wear. Face it. To make more power with just an air filter change you have to flow more air. Only 2 ways to do that. Make the filter bigger with more surface area or make in to where the media surface pores are larger allowing more air to flow. The 2nd option allows you to used the same size filter but also allows more dirt to get past the filter.

Rick
 
Turn the key on-off-on-off-on. If there are any codes stored it should give them to you in the digital odometer. Call the local dealer to see what they are. Some will give codes, others won't.

The Hemi has 8 coil packs and 16 plugs. You could have a bad coil or plug, and wouldn't know it because the other coil/plug are still firing the mix. Plugs would be a good place to start, if you are getting up there in mileage.

The first two (upstream) O2 sensors are what the computer reads to adjust the mix. The other two (downstream) are there to monitor the catalytic converters.

Is it dusty where you live? Before spending money on an air filter pull it out and tap it lightly on something with the engine-side up. See if much dust comes out. Do that til none comes out and see if it helps any. If you use compressed air only blow it on the engine side. If not you can force some of the dirt through the paper. I've also seen air filters that had leaves and twigs and who knows what all sitting on top of them. My sister's neon was so bad it was pulling all it's air in through the PCV system and cam seal. I think she used a gallon of oil per 100 miles til it was found.
 
Thanks for the tips, will have to check it out. It has 131, 000 miles and still original plugs so probably need to change them no matter what.

Just can't decide on which plugs to get yet.
 
Think you are right about just take it in to have it checked. Just hate giving the garges money, you know.

Plugs are a definite since they are original. Just trying to figure out which ones to get.


Thank you
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Ford 3600 Diesel Loses Power/rpm Under Load
2
Replies
26
Views
2K
jedoga
J
T
TO-20 Oil Bath Filter question..
Replies
8
Views
2K
tmar78
T
N
Discovery and R&R
Replies
19
Views
2K
Nyquil Junkie
N
E
Super 55 (gas) won't fire
Replies
3
Views
246
greg krush
G
A
Need advice 2N purchase
2
Replies
27
Views
3K
Caryc
C
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top