How to Get Better Mileage on Dodge Cummins

by Robert Kohnke

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In 1989 Dodge offered its first Cummins diesel engine in its Ram line of pickup trucks. The Cummins engine had superior performance over the competitors' diesel engines of the time, such as direct injection. The Cummins has continued to be a part of the Ram family ever since. The average mpg of a Dodge Ram with a Cummins diesel engine ranges from 15 to 22, depending on the year of the vehicle and the load you are carrying. You can increase your fuel economy and keep it near what it was when it was new.

Step 1

Keep your truck tuned-up by keeping all of the filters clean and changing them regularly, from once a month to every 30,000 miles, depending on your vehicle's exact specifications and the load you place on the truck. A clean air filter can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.

Step 2

Inflate your tires to the PSI specified on your truck, not on the tire. The vehicle's manufacturer has a label with the suggested pressure for the tire with varying loads. This label is usually found on the inside of the driver's door jam. Properly inflated tires can save three to five cents per gallon of fuel.

Step 3

Combine small trips into one large trip. A cold engine uses far more fuel than a warmed-up engine, so by combining your small trips into one large trip, you avoid letting the engine warm up for each individual trip

Step 4

Drive more conservatively. By accelerating and decelerating slowly, you can save as much as 49 cents per gallon, which can be a savings of up to 35 percent.

Step 5

Do not speed. Every five miles per hour that you travel over 60 is equivalent to paying an additional 10 cents per gallon. Leave yourself enough time to get where you are going so that you don't need to speed. It will save you gas money and may keep you from getting a ticket.

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