Skip to Content

Are Dodge Rams Good On Gas?

Are Dodge Rams Good On Gas?

Do you love the look of the Dodge Rams but want to make sure that they aren’t gas-guzzlers? Well, we took a look into it to see how well the MPGs are so you can know for sure. 

Compared to other similarly-sized trucks, Dodge Rams have an average to slightly less than average fuel efficiency. However, the differences in MPG are often as little as 1-2 MGP.

Want to know more about Dodge Ram’s gas mileage? Well, we will take an in-depth look within the last five years of models to see how they stand up against others and what makes them not so good on gas. 

Dodge Rams Throughout the Years 

Taking a look at the last five years of Dodge Ram models can show you how they have maintained very similar fuel efficiency with their trucks.

With multiple models coming out in some years, there are differences between the models with larger engines, but most of these trucks are around the same gas mileage. 

Dodge Ram Gas Mileage by Year

YearEngine Type Gas Mileage 
2020 Dodge Ram 15005.7 L, 8 cylinders 15-city, 21-highway, 17-combined
2019 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 L, 8 cylinders 17-city, 23-highway, 19-combined 
2019 Dodge Ram 15005.7 L, 8 cylinders 17-city, 22-highway, 19-combined 
2018 Dodge Ram 15003.6 L, 6 cylinders16-city, 23-highway, 19-combined
2018 Dodge Ram 15005.7 L, 8 cylinders 11-city, 16-highway, 13-combined
2017 Dodge Ram 15008 cylinders15-city, 21-highway, 17-combined 
2016 Dodge Ram 15003.6 L, 6 cylinders 16-city, 23-highway, 19-combined 
2015 Dodge Ram 15003.6 L, 6 cylinders 16-city, 23-highway, 19-combined 
2015 Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 L, 8 cylinders15-city, 21-highway, 17-combined 

Compared to other trucks of the same years, like the 2016 Chevy Silverado that gets 24 MPGs, the Dodge Ram is actually one MPG behind. This can also be said about the 2017 Ford F-150, which gets up to 26 MPG on the highway, compared to the Ram that gets only 21. 

There is not a major difference between these trucks, but because gas can add up quickly, the Ram does not come out ahead of the other models of each year and is commonly one or two MPGs behind.

This isn’t the biggest difference, but it is enough to say that the Dodge Ram is not the best truck for gas mileage. However, it wouldn’t make a bad option to drive since it is not that far behind the other truck models.

Are Hemi Engines Better on Gas?

You might think of a Hemi engine as a heavy-duty option for trucks that would not get the best gas mileage, however, these engines are actually great on gas mileage because of their combustion chamber. 

The design is smaller than that of a typical engine so that a smaller amount of heat escapes during the process of combustion. This means that hotter fuel will be able to burn better and as a result, you will get better gas mileage in your vehicle. 

The circular shape of the Hemi cylinder head is where much of the difference in power comes from, and considering the term “Hemi” is short for hemispherical, that seems to make sense.

This engine is also able to make use of all the gas in the engine. 

This type of engine uses all of the fuel and burns it better, which allows you to get the most out of your gas and be able to have better gas mileage. 

An average Hemi engine will get 25 MPG on the highway even with the largest vehicles, which is often higher than the highest MPG with a regular engine. This gives it at least a few miles more per gallon than the average Dodge Ram model. 

So, when compared side by side, a Hemi engine is better on gas than a regular engine!

What Kind of Gas Should I Put in My Dodge Ram? 

If you drive a Dodge Ram you want to ensure that you are putting the right type of gas in the engine to give it the smoothest ride and best performance.

If you put gas into your car that it can run on, but isn’t the recommended option, you could get less fuel efficiency and lower performance.

You don’t want to lessen the performance that you get, especially when you have a high-performance truck like the Dodge Ram.

So, you want to follow the recommended gas type that is in the owner’s manual of your truck so that you get the best performance and gas mileage out of your car at all times. 

The recommended gas to use for Dodge Ram is the 89-octane gas when it comes to filling up the 5.7 L models. However, this is just the recommendation, and these engines are still able to run on standard gas as well. 

Though they can run on standard gas, you will likely lose some of the high performance that you would get with the recommended gas. If this is not an issue for you, like if you typically only drive it on the city streets, then this will not be a problem for you as it will save you money. 

However, if you have a Dodge Ram that comes with a 3.6 L engine with 6 cylinders instead of the 5.7 L engine, then you will want to use the standard oil for your vehicle. But, if you have the 8-cylinder version of the 3.6 L engine, then you will want to use the 89-octane gas. 

So, no one type of fuel will be the best option for every Dodge Ram model because it depends on the type of engine that is in the vehicle.

Take a look at your engine to see what is the recommended fuel choice for your specific vehicle model is, this will ensure that you will get the most power and performance out of your vehicle while also going the best gas mileage. 

Approaches to Getting Better Gas Mileage in Your Dodge Ram

Without changing the engine, there isn’t a whole lot you can do to make your truck get better gas mileage, but there are some small things that can add up to a bit of a difference.

So, here are some things you can do to help get better gas mileage!

  1. Make sure your gas cap is tightened properly, this will make a small difference, but at least it’s something. If it is not tight enough, this will start to affect your gas mileage. 
  2. Keeping your tires at the same pressure as much as possible will let you gas go a bit farther on the gas that you have in your tank. If they are not as filled as they should be, your vehicle has to work harder to move them the same distance, which will slow you down and use up more gas.  
  3. Take extra items that you don’t consistently need out of the truck so that you are putting less weight on your engine. This will not make a larger difference, but if you have large pieces of equipment, this can affect your performance. So, lighten the load. 
  4. Get oil changes as often as recommended. This will let your truck run smoothly and have better performance. This will ensure that the oil that you are using is clean, which will allow the engine to not have to work as hard. This will allow you to get more gas mileage. 

So, if you want to boost your gas mileage so that you are getting the farthest on the gas that you have in your tank, try to implore all of these suggestions to get the best gas mileage possible.

You may not see a big difference, especially right away, but you will see a change when you start spending less to fill up your gas tank. 

Conclusion on Dodge Ram gas mileage

A Dodge Ram truck is a great vehicle when it comes to many of its features and functions, but it is not the best option for gas mileage. However, just because it has slightly less fuel efficiency than some of its counterparts, it is not that far behind.

There are also small ways that you can help your Ram vehicle get a little better gas mileage that you might not have thought about before. These can add up in small amounts to help you get a few miles per gallon more than you would normally. 

However, even if you choose not to do these suggestions listed above, you will not be too far behind other trucks on the road. With some Ford and Chevy trucks, you might get only one or two miles per gallon more.

So, although the Dodge Ram is not the most fuel-efficient truck, it’s not far behind others in its class and makes up for the loss in fuel mileage in other ways.

Recommended Reading

Before you go, make sure to also check out these other awesome truck-related resources!

Zach Reed

Hi, I'm the founder of VehicleAnswers.com! Having owned a wide variety of vehicles in my life, I was astounded at how hard it can be to find answers to common automotive questions. Rather than sit idly, I decided to create this website to help others!