Maximizing Fuel Efficiency in Your Pickup Truck: Maintenance Tips

Everyone wants to get the most from their vehicle when it comes to fuel efficiency. With pickup trucks, the size and engine capacity as well as the frequent heavy loads that they carry can have a real impact on fuel consumption, and it can be hard to get the kind of figures you’d expect from other vehicles. 
There are ways that you can maximize your fuel efficiency. If you drive a Dodge RAM truck, our team of technicians here at RAM UAE have put together a few handy tips to help you get more km/Ltr out of your RAM 1500 or RAM 2500.

Check those tire pressures
This is the #1 piece of advice for any driver. Over or under-inflating your tires can have a massive effect on fuel efficiency, regardless of the type of vehicle you drive. If your tires are under-inflated even by a couple of psi, it can send your fuel consumption levels shooting up. Check your tire pressures regularly, especially if you have to lower them to go off-road.

Keep the weight down
A heavy payload will send your fuel needle heading for the red faster than you can say ‘gas station’. Try to keep your payload or towing weight down as much as possible, and make sure the weight is evenly distributed.

Install a high-flow exhaust and air filter systems
Sophisticated high-flow exhausts and air filter systems ensure that the engine is working efficiently and can ‘breathe’ effectively. This ensures that a greater proportion of fuel is burned efficiently in the cylinders, boosting both the power and the fuel efficiency.

Stay up to date with services
Every vehicle needs regular servicing to make sure it is running smoothly and that there are no undetected issues. Making sure you visit your nearest RAM Service Center and booking an interim or major service when they’re due will keep your truck in tip-top condition. It will also give your vehicle ‘provenance’ and reassure potential buyers that it has been correctly maintained – an important factor if you want to sell your car in the UAE at a later date. 
During a service, your technician will also check the spark plugs to ascertain if your vehicle is running too rich (using up too much fuel) or too lean (not enough fuel). Simply replacing old or worn spark plugs can have a considerable beneficial effect on your engine’s performance.

Regular oil changes
Part of the service will be an oil change. But if your truck isn’t due for a service soon and you’ve racked up the miles, you may need to get that oil changed a little sooner. If you drive a RAM truck from RAM UAE, you can take advantage of the MOPAR® Express Lane Service Package. In just 59 minutes, your local MOPAR service team can carry out an oil and oil filter change, as well as do a brake inspection, tire and battery checks, replace the AC filter, top up your fluid levels and even replace your wiper blades. It’s the fastest way to carry out a ‘mini service’ on your vehicle and is completed in under an hour.

Practice good driving habits
Regular maintenance, lightening the vehicle's weight, keeping a close eye on your tires, and practicing good driving habits can decrease fuel consumption numbers. Keep your acceleration and braking smooth, and if you're on the open road utilize cruise control. 
You can book online for a MOPAR® Express Lane Service at your nearest RAM UAE outlet today or call us and talk to one of our service advisors now.