Mercedes Mullins
With diesel fuel prices surging, maximising fuel economy is a priority for many drivers. Owners of Dodge Cummins diesel vehicles can take several steps to improve their fuel mileage. Basic vehicle maintenance, such as regular oil changes, filter replacements, and tune-ups, can help ensure optimal performance and fuel efficiency. Additionally, modifications such as improving airflow with a cold air intake, using a tuner, and upgrading the exhaust system can further enhance fuel mileage. Maintaining proper tyre pressure, avoiding oversized tyres, and driving at optimal speeds can also contribute to better fuel economy.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Engine type | Diesel |
| Vehicle type | Pickup truck |
| Engine model | Dodge Ram Cummins |
| Fuel economy improvement methods | Regular maintenance, including oil changes, filter changes, and tune-ups |
| Replacing fuel and air filters | |
| Increasing air density with a higher-flowing performance air intake | |
| Using a tuner | |
| Upgrading injectors | |
| Using a cold air intake | |
| Using a performance exhaust system | |
| Maintaining proper tire pressure | |
| Avoiding larger tires and heavier wheels | |
| Driving at speeds below 65-70 mph | |
| Gradual acceleration | |
| Using hard tonneau covers or keeping the tailgate up |
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What You'll Learn
Regular maintenance and oil, filter, and tune-up changes
To improve fuel mileage on a Dodge Cummins Diesel, regular maintenance is key. This includes routine oil changes, filter changes, and tune-ups. By keeping your engine well-maintained, you can ensure that all your systems are performing at their highest level.
Oil changes are crucial for engine health. Diesel engines typically require oil changes at longer intervals than gasoline engines, but it's important to check your oil level regularly and top it up if necessary. Consult your owner's manual or a certified mechanic to determine the recommended oil change interval for your specific Cummins engine.
Filter changes are also essential for optimizing fuel mileage. Fuel and air filters play a vital role in ensuring proper fuel combustion and engine performance. Old and dirty filters can hinder your horsepower and fuel economy, so it's recommended to replace them at the intervals specified in your maintenance schedule.
Tune-ups involve various adjustments and services to fine-tune your engine's performance. This can include tasks such as inspecting and replacing spark plugs, checking and adjusting ignition timing, inspecting and cleaning fuel injectors, and verifying the engine's fluid levels. Regular tune-ups help ensure that your engine is running efficiently and can contribute to improved fuel mileage.
In addition to these regular maintenance tasks, there are a few other considerations to keep in mind. Firstly, tire pressure plays a significant role in fuel economy. Maintaining proper tire pressure in your Dodge Cummins Diesel is crucial. Underinflated tires can increase rolling resistance, leading to higher fuel consumption. Ensure that your tires are always inflated to the recommended specifications.
Another factor to consider is the weight of your vehicle. Heavier wheels and larger tires can negatively impact fuel economy due to increased rotational weight and rolling resistance. If maximizing fuel mileage is a priority, it's best to avoid upgrading to heavier wheels and larger tires.
By following these maintenance tips and considerations, you can improve the fuel mileage of your Dodge Cummins Diesel and potentially save money on fuel costs in the long run. Regular maintenance is a simple yet effective way to keep your vehicle running efficiently and extend its lifespan.
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Avoid heavy wheels and bigger tyres
When it comes to improving fuel mileage, one of the key considerations for Dodge Cummins diesel owners is tyre choice. It is a common misconception that larger-diameter tyres are more fuel-efficient. In reality, the size of your tyres directly influences your vehicle's performance and fuel economy.
Bigger tyres and heavier wheels can negatively impact your fuel economy. Larger tyres result in more rolling resistance, which is the friction between the tyres and the ground. This increased resistance means that more energy is needed to propel the vehicle forward, leading to reduced fuel efficiency. Wider tyres have a larger contact patch with the ground, which increases traction but also increases fuel usage.
Additionally, larger tyres demand more energy to move, as they are larger objects. This means that bigger tyres require more fuel to run at the same RPM, reducing engine efficiency. Heavier wheels also contribute to the overall weight and inertia of the vehicle, requiring extra power during acceleration.
To improve fuel mileage, consider choosing narrower tyres with thinner sidewalls, lower weight, and shallower treads. This will reduce the rolling resistance and improve fuel efficiency.
It is important to note that while tyre choice is important, there are other factors that can also impact fuel economy. Regular maintenance, such as oil changes, filter changes, and tune-ups, can help ensure that your engine is performing at its highest level. Additionally, driving style can impact fuel economy, with diesel trucks performing better when speed limits are increased gradually rather than punching the accelerator.
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Increase air density with a higher-flowing air intake
The 6.7 Cummins engine relies heavily on airflow. The more oxygen that is available, the better the combustion, resulting in a quicker turbo spool and improved throttle response. The stock intake on the 6.7 Cummins is restrictive, limiting the airflow and causing the air to heat up.
Upgrading to a higher-flowing air intake will increase air density, which is the weight of air in a given volume. The denser the air, the more oxygen there is. This means that less fuel is required to ignite it, improving fuel mileage.
A cold air intake is one of the simplest and most effective upgrades you can make. Aftermarket intakes from companies like S&B, AFE, and Banks use larger-diameter tubing and high-flow filters to increase airflow while maintaining proper filtration. The Banks Ram-Air Cold Air Intake, for example, flows 50% better than stock while maintaining higher air density at the turbo inlet than competitors. This results in better throttle response, more efficient combustion, and lower EGTs (exhaust gas temperatures).
The cost of upgrading to a higher-flowing air intake can be a few hundred dollars, but it can quickly pay for itself through improved fuel mileage. For example, the Boosted Performance 6.7 Cummins Intake costs $299 and is estimated to pay for itself after 10,000 miles of driving.
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Use a tuner for power gains and better fuel economy
If you're looking to improve the fuel mileage on your Dodge Cummins Diesel, one of the most effective methods is to use a tuner. A tuner can provide both power gains and better fuel economy, and when combined with an intake, can maximise mileage increases.
Tuners are particularly effective for highway driving, with some tests showing gains of up to 5 mpg when driving with cruise control at 65 mph. City driving will typically result in smaller gains of around 1 mpg. To maximise cost savings, it's recommended to opt for a budget-friendly tuner like the MADs Smarty Tuner, a handheld tuner specifically designed for the 6.7 Cummins engine.
Other popular tuners include the Bully Dog GT, which offers multiple power settings, and the Smarty Senior, which is a good option for 2003-2005 trucks. The MM3 programmer/monitor is another tuner with excellent reviews, offering a wide range of gauge setups and PIDs, as well as cooling fan options.
When choosing a tuner, it's important to consider your specific vehicle model and year, as well as your driving habits. While tuners can significantly improve fuel economy, it's also crucial to maintain regular vehicle maintenance, such as oil changes, filter changes, and engine tune-ups, to ensure optimal fuel efficiency.
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Accelerate gradually and avoid punching the accelerator
To improve fuel mileage on a Dodge Cummins diesel, it is important to accelerate gradually and avoid punching the accelerator. This driving style is often referred to as "nice and steady". Accelerating gradually means increasing your speed limit slowly and smoothly, rather than stomping on the accelerator pedal as soon as the light turns green or when trying to merge with highway traffic. This aggressive acceleration uses a lot more fuel and can significantly reduce your fuel economy.
When you accelerate rapidly, your engine has to work much harder, and as a result, it consumes more fuel. By rolling into the throttle gradually while accelerating, you can keep the boost linear with no spiking, which helps to improve fuel efficiency. This is especially important when driving a heavier vehicle like a diesel truck, where the rotational weight of bigger tires and heavier wheels can create more roll resistance, leading to increased fuel consumption.
Additionally, the impact of aggressive acceleration is compounded when driving at higher speeds. While driving on the highway, maintaining a steady speed within the range of 55-70 mph is ideal for optimizing fuel mileage. Deviating from this speed range, especially by accelerating rapidly to speeds above 70 mph or 80 mph, will noticeably decrease your fuel economy.
By avoiding hard acceleration and maintaining a moderate speed, you can strike a balance between power and fuel economy. This driving style is particularly beneficial when driving in the city, where there are frequent stops and starts. By reducing the frequency of rapid acceleration, you can minimize fuel consumption and maximize fuel efficiency in your Dodge Cummins diesel.
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