Survey About 3.5L Magnum Fuel Economy

**Lburou** · 11-14-2005, 01:57 AM

Please post your fuel economy for city and highway mileage before and after the 10,000 mile data point....I'm not ashamed that I chose this car for the 3.5L engine

The styling and platform versatility were big points for me as well. I'm assuming the engines loosen up at some point and fuel mileage increases, that is the thrust of this thread.

Please participate, I'd like to know how the real world compares to the Gov't tests.

Thanks

Question: What city and highway mileage do owners report below 10,000 miles and the after 10,000 miles? Where does this V-6 'Break-in'

**sweeper6** · 11-14-2005, 10:50 AM

I got 12360 on mine and got around 18 city and 22 hwy up until about 9k then I started getting aroun 19 city 23-24 hwy, the engine really woke up at around 10k. Not a big improvement but I'm not complaining, I believe if my foot wasn't so heavy and this car wasn't so much damn fun to drive I could probably squeeze a few more miles out of it. But hearing that zoomers exhaust on take off is just awesome.

my .02 worth

**FOHN_JARGO** · 11-14-2005, 11:16 AM

I havn't reached 10k yet but my mileage is about the same as sweeper6...for the same reason. No zoomers but the stock exhaust is fine with me.

**Lburou** · 11-14-2005, 11:30 AM

We bought a new LHS in 1994. The best car we've ever owned. We drove it 135,000 and it still got 28 mpg on the road at the speed limit. That engine was basically the same as the 3.5L Magnum. The LHS weighed three hundred pounds less than a RWD Magnum.... :smile:...It tickles me to look forward to similar gas mileage when a lot of people are spending big bucks for tiny cars that hardly do better on fuel

We've only driven our new (to us) Magnum 200 miles, but that is far enough to know we made a good decision. :smile:

P.S. One secret I learned with the Chrysler is to use Chevron Techron or BG's 44K in the tank to clean the injectors periodically. Whenever my mileage was down 10%, I'd put a bottle through the fuel system and the economy would rebound to 27 mpg at least by the end of that tank. That car was capable of 30 mpg on long trips. Our last long trip from Colorado Springs to Toronto and Niagra Falls averaged 27.5 mpg. Our Magnum should be capable of almost the same performance!

**l1tech** · 11-14-2005, 04:16 PM

I have about 9500 miles on my SXT and the mileage is horrible, get about 14 around town and 20 on the freeway. Dealer swears nothing is wrong. When I get the car back from the body shop it is going to another dealer to be looked at being that I got kicked out of the last one :-)

**Red Zeppelin** · 11-14-2005, 04:34 PM

I usually measure mine when I get gas, and my last fill up was on Sat. so I know exactly what I get. My last tank ran at about 18.5, mixed highway and town, mostly highway though. I have had tanks go upwards of 26 (completely, 100% highway) normally though I am at about 20.

Not as great as I had hoped, but no worse than my last vehicle so I consider that a plus. Oh, I have 5100 miles, engine and exhaust are bone stock.

**ZMagnum** · 11-14-2005, 05:04 PM

Mine is pretty much the same as yours Red Zeppelin. I haven't done 100% highway yet. I'm burning mid-grade 89 octane fuel. I have around 20,300 miles on it. I've added STP fuel injector cleaner. If things don't improve I will try the STP fuel system cleaner. I believe most of the STP fuel products are the same just more and more concentrated as you go up in price.

Originally Posted by Red Zeppelin

I usually measure mine when I get gas, and my last fill up was on Sat. so I know exactly what I get. My last tank ran at about 18.5, mixed highway and town, mostly highway though. I have had tanks go upwards of 26 (completely, 100% highway) normally though I am at about 20.

Not as great as I had hoped, but no worse than my last vehicle so I consider that a plus. Oh, I have 5100 miles, engine and exhaust are bone stock.

**Lburou** · 11-14-2005, 05:52 PM

Originally Posted by zxlwno

Mine is pretty much the same as yours Red Zeppelin. I haven't done 100% highway yet. I'm burning mid-grade 89 octane fuel. I have around 20,300 miles on it. I've added STP fuel injector cleaner. If things don't improve I will try the STP fuel system cleaner. I believe most of the STP fuel products are the same just more and more concentrated as you go up in price.

My neighbor is a fuels expert. Served in the military as the fuels guy aboard an aircraft carrier, and then in the civilian community....40 years experience. He shared a professional journal with me. In it, were several articles pertinent to the fuels industry. One of the articles reported that of ALL the fuel system/injector cleaners, only two actually made any measurable difference: Chevron Techron and BG's 44K. Its advice from an infallable source

**blackmagsxt** · 11-14-2005, 06:44 PM

Before 10,000 I got 28 hwy, now I get about 26 hwy. Don't drive much in the city so can't help there. I drive the speed limit with cruise on.

**infernomagnum** · 11-14-2005, 07:24 PM

I have about 9200 miles on my SXT. I get about 20 on average. My worst has been 16 (once) and my best has been 23. Sounds like it's not much better than what the RT gets with MDS. Much better than the 97 Grand Cherokee I traded in!

**ZMagnum** · 11-14-2005, 07:43 PM

I'm willing to try anything but all I know is from experience. When my Durango starts a bit of rough idle and hard starting STP brings it back to normal. It now has about 41,000 miles on it. When my Magnum had a gas tank gasket leak (and I didn't know it) adding STP made it leak a lot more. Enough to know there was a leak, not just the smell of gas. I found a small puddle of gas on the ground after work.

I have heard good things about Techron though. I will give a try next time. I have a Chevron station right up the road from me. I don't buy gas there because it's way overpriced.

Originally Posted by Lburou

My neighbor is a fuels expert. Served in the military as the fuels guy aboard an aircraft carrier, and then in the civilian community....40 years experience. He shared a professional journal with me. In it, were several articles pertinent to the fuels industry. One of the articles reported that of ALL the fuel system/injector cleaners, only two actually made any measurable difference: Chevron Techron and BG's 44K. Its advice from an infallable source

**Dan-o** · 11-14-2005, 07:57 PM

the best we've managed for highway was 27mpg...but as far as average per fuel up i hover between 20-23 depending on how rough i am on it.

**Lburou** · 11-14-2005, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by zxlwno

I'm willing to try anything but all I know is from experience. When my Durango starts a bit of rough idle and hard starting STP brings it back to normal. It now has about 41,000 miles on it. When my Magnum had a gas tank gasket leak (and I didn't know it) adding STP made it leak a lot more. Enough to know there was a leak, not just the smell of gas. I found a small puddle of gas on the ground after work.

I have heard good things about Techron though. I will give a try next time. I have a Chevron station right up the road from me. I don't buy gas there because it's way overpriced.

Advance Auto, Checker, and other parts houses sell Chevron Techron (be sure to get the 'Fuel System Cleaner.' The BG's 44K is just as good, but costs twice as much....Easy choice for me. We've had our Magnum for 120 miles and the odometer is coming up on 10,000, I'm going to add a bottle tomorrow.

**ZMagnum** · 11-14-2005, 11:55 PM

Thanks. I wonder if it's cheaper at Chevron or at Checker. I'll have to check it out.

Originally Posted by Lburou

Advance Auto, Checker, and other parts houses sell Chevron Techron (be sure to get the 'Fuel System Cleaner.' The BG's 44K is just as good, but costs twice as much....Easy choice for me. We've had our Magnum for 120 miles and the odometer is coming up on 10,000, I'm going to add a bottle tomorrow.

**Red Zeppelin** · 11-15-2005, 02:08 AM

Originally Posted by Lburou

My neighbor is a fuels expert. Served in the military as the fuels guy aboard an aircraft carrier, and then in the civilian community....40 years experience. He shared a professional journal with me. In it, were several articles pertinent to the fuels industry. One of the articles reported that of ALL the fuel system/injector cleaners, only two actually made any measurable difference: Chevron Techron and BG's 44K. Its advice from an infallable source

I used to put injector cleaner in my truck regularly, but haven't done it in the magnum yet. I may look for some of that techron (sp) stuff and try it.