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3.5L Fuel Economy

9.3K views 34 replies 17 participants last post by  LHS  
#1 ·
I was curious to see how the 3.5L fairs in a lighter car such as the Avenger R/T and it gets a lousy 16 mpg city. This is with a 6 speed auto and it just shows you that its not the weight of the car that makes this engine a fuel drinker but a poor design.

www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG/noframes/29497.shtml

Can you believe a 2010 Avenger R/T with the 3.5L FWD (500 pounds lighter) is the same 16 mpg city as an 2010 Charger R/T?
 
#3 ·
It looks like they might have sacrificed a few miles per gallon to get that "best" on the green house gas emissions. :biggrinjester:

Maybe the avengers have a really tall first gear? That would require more power to accelerate from a stop.

Or you could chalk it up to that fact that it's an avenger and not a charger :cowsmile:
 
#5 ·
Yeah... I am definitely not getting all that great of gas mileage with my 3.5L. I got 20.5 mpg once, but only because I spent most of it on the highway. Typically, I'm getting about 18 mpg. I don't drive like a grandpa, but I don't have the thing constantly buried either...

What's everyone else experiencing???
 
#9 ·
I'd be super interested in know what mods are needed to achieve 30 mpg!!! That would be amazing for any V6 though in my opinion... Not just a Charger!!!
 
#11 ·
Let me do some reading and researching and if I find anything worthwhile on this subject I'll make a new thread about it.

My thoughts are that fuel economy is a balance between driving style, power, and weight. So a diablo predator and intake would help, possibly exhaust. Again, I need to do some reading to give something more substantial.

If you're interested in getting gas mileage from the 3.5l I would highly suggest talking to Brian at BND, his fluids are expensive but they increase the efficiency of the system. Increased efficiency means less wasted energy and better mileage. I guess that would make them in-expensive considering the money saved? :biggrinjester:
 
#10 ·
The one and only long drive I took in my Charger, I averaged right at 26mpg with only mod being a Daytona R/T exhaust bolted on, and Aces IV on 87 octane. That was from Omaha, NE to Alexandria, MN and back cruising at 70MPH most of the time. Around town we average between 16-18mpg.
 
#13 · (Edited)
You're absolutely right. But remember, Chrysler mass produces these cars. What might be cheap for an individual to install is probably quite expensive to install on thousands of vehicles for Chrysler. Also, Chrysler has to balance emissions, noise, and overrall vehicle comfort.

This is all pure speculation on my part, based on claims and personal experience of highway mpg's over 27. Also, I believe the EPA gives a range of 25-29mpg for the 3.5l charger?

I think I may start a new, in depth thread discussing how to get the best mileage out of a charger. Would be interesting to see what kind of mileage people can get up to :beerchug:


Just so we don't get too far off subject... Charger's are better than Avenger's :alfdance:
 
#15 ·
I've been averaging 19-20 mpg with about 45% city and 55% highway. It's dropped down to about 18, but I think it was from some crappy gas.
 
#16 ·
I don't know, but maybe it's the winter gas mix. I was getting about 24-25 mpg mostly highway miles and now its 22-23 mpg. I did add a dual outlet exhaust and CAI. The car seems to have noticeably more power, (no its not my imagination ;) ). It could be because she's getting broke in--just over 12k on the clock.
 
#17 ·
im getttin between 27 to 29 hwy depending on gas type and speed. When my parents drove the car home from florida after i bought it they were pullin 28 most of the time :bigthumb:
 
#19 ·
Im getting 19-20MPG city and 24-25 highway. I do mostly city driving and im only on the highway about 30% of the time.
 
#21 ·
Me and my 3.5L get about 11-13mpg average :( all city driving tho haha but still would rather pay the extra then drive a damn hybrid
 
#24 ·
I really don't know what the exact MPG is for me, but I get 250 per tank on almost every fill up. I think I fill up at around 17 gallons or a little less. I think one thing that kills it more is I can't stay away from the shifter I always mess with it, I'm sure my tank would last longer if it wasn't touched....
 
#26 ·
Synthetic is better for the engine! :bigthumb:
 
#27 ·
The one time I calculated the mpg on my SXT I got 23. I pretty much stayed off the pedal and my driving was mixed between city and highway.
 
#32 ·
My bone stock 08 SXT has been averaging 22-26mpg in the last month...

However, I drive almost only highway speeds, and have been setting the cruise control to 55mph and letting it roll. Takes 5-10min longer to get where i'm going, but I am getting quite a bit more out of a tank. Best so far was 362 miles on 1 tank.

This is my 3rd car equipped with the 3.5L Had a 95' Concorde and a 01' LHS. Both them under normal conditions averaged in the 18mpg range.
 
#33 ·
This will be your last 3.5L unless you buy used since production will end this year for the LX cars. What do you like about the Chrysler 3.5L? It doesn't prove to be very reliable with some ticking occuring in some due to rocker shafts breaking and power/fuel economy isn't good if driven in the city.
 
#35 ·
After 11 years of running a 3.5L, the only problem I had was a stuck valve on the 2001 LHS. It managed to free itself after I ran some seafoam through the intake. Other than that, this motor has been perfectly reliable for me, and I used drive it HARD.

My Concorde burnt up 3 transmissions at under 117K miles. After the 3rd tranny lost 3rd gear, I drove an entire summer in Limp mode - at highway speeds, running down the road with the v6 holding about 4500rpm.

Lost count on how many tires the LHS tore up at 122K miles. Hell, I burnt the Chargers tires off at under 30K :D

Actually as a whole, the cars have been very reliable, save for the Concorde's trannies. I lost the A/C in the concorde, the PCM/TCM in the LHS, and so far the Charger has a clean record. Hell of a lot better track record than the Ford's and Chevy's I used to buy.
 
#34 ·
My Dad and Mom just took their first Hwy trip with his 06 300 3.5L. He came home all thrilled that he was getting 31 Mpg. The only mods he has are 225/60/17 tires and my old Mopar drop in hi-flo air filter. He ran 89-91 octane fuel, 89 mostly.
My Mags best mileage was 33MPG Hwy. I ran cruise at 115 km/hr /about 68MPH had an RT exhaust with suitcase and x pipe deleted and that Mopar drop in filter on 17" stock wheels, 89 Octane. Now that's with the imperial gallon so its a bit larger than the US gal so maybe its the same result or close, But I think that's awesome!