How to Improve Gas Mileage on a Dodge 4.7

by Aaron Reynolds

Improving gas mileage on any vehicle is very easy and takes little time and effort. The Dodge Ram delivers 16 miles per gallon (MPG) in the city and 21 MPG on the highway for the V6 version; but the 4.7 version of the Ram, which has a V8 engine, gets slightly less impressive gas mileage than the V6: 14 MPG in the city and 19 MPG on the highway. The simplest step to improving gas mileage on the V8 is to opt for the V6; but if your heart is set on the V8, you can still take some steps to improve gas mileage.

Step 1

Avoid aggressive driving, which is defined as speeding, rapid acceleration and erratic braking. Aggressive driving wastes gas and is the number one contributor to a lower gas mileage for the Dodge 4.7 (or any car, for that matter). For every 5 mph you drive over 60 mph, the cost of gas will set you back another $0.24 per gallon. Use cruise control with your Dodge 4.7 on major highways to help contribute to a cheaper gas bill--up to $0.81 less per gallon.

Step 2

Reduce the weight in the Dodge 4.7. The general formula is that the more weight the vehicle carries, the slower it will get, and then you need to pump more gas to maintain the same speed. The result is poor fuel efficiency. An extra 100 pounds in the vehicle can reduce the miles per gallon by up to 2%. Remove excess weight that is not absolutely needed for the trip.

Step 3

Properly inflate the tires on the Dodge 4.7. The proper tire pressure for the Dodge 4.7 is located on the tires themselves, or in the owner's manual. You can improve your gas mileage by 3.3% with properly inflated tires. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires.

Step 4

Use the Dodge's recommended grade of motor oil for the model. This will improve the gas mileage by 1-2%. Also, find a motor oil with the "Energy Conserving" label on it. These brands contain friction-reducing additives and will further help fuel efficiency and the environment.

Step 5

Plan your trips more effectively. Instead of running numerous one-stop errands throughout the day, make all your stops in one trip. Several short trips taken from a cold start in a Dodge 4.7 can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. If you commute a great distance to work each day, considering saving money and helping out the environment by carpooling.

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