Anyone else getting REALLY crummy gas mileage?

[PropMan]

Just got back FROM a 700 (99% freeway) mile trip in my RT and now have about 4000 miles on the car. Never went over 68-70 mph the entire time (excep ta few times to pass). No mountain driving. Weather was warm and sunny. Avg. MPG? 18.1. Best tank? 18.9.

WTF? I keep reading about you guys getting 24 mpg and I just don't get it.

[hemi dawg]

On my last freeway trip, with ac on high, and driving like an idiot, i averaged 20 at best.
around town, about 35 mph ave, ac on high, i get 11.2 at best.
I don't know what these other guys are smoking.

[schmeky]

My mileage has slowly but steadily increased. I now have 12,000 miles on my RT and the last trip I took (1,000 miles) went like this:

65-72 mph, combo of hills and level road, A/C on - 22.5 to 23.0 mpg

68-80 mph, same as above - 20.5 to 21.5

89 octane, cruise control on most of the time, carrying about 700 lbs in passengers and luggage. Used to get 18.5 to 19.8 under the same conditions with about 4-5,000 miles on the car.

I'm not tellin' you what I smoke

[gone2vegas]

PropMan,

How are you getting your info? Are you going by what the computer says? In my experience the MPG seems to be pretty low if you go by that. I usually do the total miles divided by total gallons pumped whenever I fill up.

Try this, while you're cruising on the freeway, reset the MPG and see what it's at. Around 70 MPH I'm usually around 22-24 MPG, but as soon as I stop or do stop and go driving that figure drops quickly.

I do about 90% city driving and get about 18 MPG, using the formula NOT the computer. Computer usually shows around 12-14 MPG.

[MagnumFreak]

Not sure what we are doing different. I know for me I am getting around 21.5 back and forth to work. Mostly highway.

I wonder if your MDS is working?? No easy way to tell other than take it to the dealer. They can hook up to it and tell if it is in 4 cylinder mode or not. CHECK plug wires to make sure all of them are seated properly. There are 16 on this car and it is possible that one or more could be loose or not firing and you wouldn't notice much of a difference.

Just some ideas.

[Greeneyej]

Have you had the oil changed? If so, you better CHECK the paper
Work and make sure they did refilled the oil with 5-20w oil.

The wrong oil will cause the MDS to NOT function.

Even if you have not had the oil changed and have 4K on the clock it
might be a good thing CHECK off the list.

J

[7thS0N]

I do about 90% city driving and get about 18 MPG, using the formula NOT the computer. Computer usually shows around 12-14 MPG.

I've done both, and the computer has been pretty close to the formula. I never see city mileage that low... usually around 15-17 MPG. Highway I've hit 20 on a long trip avg speed 75-80 MPH, but never more than that, and frequently less. This is with A/C on nonstop.

That is my experience in the first 1800 miles anyway...

[Bob W]

I have 3000 miles on my RT and on a recent 350 mile trip I averaged 24.8 mpg going and about 22.4 on the return trip. Going to work which is 50/50 highway/city I get 18 to 19 mpg.

[PropMan]

All of my calculations are done the old fashioned way.

One oil change at 3000 miles at the dealer.

I dunno.

[KintlaLake]

I don't know what these other guys are smoking.

Not the tires. (Not often, anyway. ) At 1,800 miles, my RT is getting 21-24mpg highway and 14-17mpg city.

[E55 KEV]

I am only getting 12/13 on RT.

[Blanchman]

Mileage is usually directly related to driving habits....

The cars all should be fairly close FROM the factory.

Pressing on that accelerator is directly proportional to dumping fuel INTO the engine, of course. The more you press, the more that is dumped.

I am constantly amazed at the Suburban drivers that complain about mileage and I see them out-dragging my Magnum at lights. WTF?? What the hell do you expect ??

To get good mileage, you have to stay off the accelerator, which I've noticed is rather difficult in my Magnum !!

Mine is pretty new, but some preliminary tests shows hi-way at about 21, and city at about 15. Sounds reasonable to me for this type of car. I usually accelerate gently as possible unless there is a rice rocket next to me !!

[1cobrakid]

Wow, that is a lot of variation.

I recently got just under 21 mpg (according to the computer) on a highway trip with speeds FROM 60 to 85, mostly in the high 70s.

I typically see my computer settle INTO about 15.5-16 mpg around tome. My around town in strait line to 4 way stop over and over, so probably pretty low.

I checked my tire pressures and the dealer had them at 28psi, so I wonder if I would have picked up a couple by keeping the tires at 30 psi.

[hemi dawg]

Well...my first oil change is due soon, so I'll fill her with 5W20 Synth and keep track of the mileage by hand and see if it improves. But I refuse to drive around town at "Dad speed"--I mean, the thing does say HEMI all over it, SHOW some pride!

[thuffman03]

I started out getting 19 combo driving. Now I am getting about 15 combo. I have allmost 5k on my car. Noticed the gas milage problem after my first oil change. Talked to the dealer and they said that they put in the correct oil but I think they did not. I am going to do my own oil change this time and see if I see a difference.