300 SRT8 Fuel

[lovemydurangohemi]

Hello everyone. First post on the forum. First let me say I'm in love with Chrysler's line up of cars. I'm sad that the Durango, Aspen and who knows what else is gone or going. My wife's 05 Durango Hemi Limited is fantastic and I keep it looking better then the day it we bought it new off the lot. Anyway, I'm switching jobs and thinking I might take a shot at the 300 SRT8 or maybe the Magnum SRT8. My problem is this high octane requirment. Frankly, until now, I didn't know we were supposed to be or should be running 89 in our HEMI. I never have and I've never heard any knocks and this thing moves like a bastard when you stand on it. So my question is, what's the real deal on what has to be put in the SRT8. What happens if you run 89 or even 87? I mean is it a performance thing or an engine protection thing? Are there tuning devices that allow you to run a lesser octane? It's not really the amount of money more then it is the difference in money. I'm looking at a V6 powered car (a competing car maker) and my monthly fuel bill would be 242.00 less then the SRT8. And finally, what is the real deal on fuel mileage in the SRT8. I'm going to be running 800-1000 miles a week, 85% highway miles .I've read so many conflicting reports of 14 miles mpg to averaging 16 mpg and I'm just curious what real SRT8 drivers are getting. Thanks

[loudrims_inc]

Welcome to the forums...and this topic has been discussed over and over again...the "search" feature is a handy tool, but here's one of the plenty links out there:
Regular or Premium GAS

[stevesrt8]

across over 40,000 miles including road course track days, drag strip passes, and tons of haulin' ass my car has averaged about 17 mpg.

You can expect low 20's on the highway.

And just an aside here from a guy who owns too many cars, DO NOT buy an SRT8 for its mileage. Buy it because you love to drive it!

[GoofyTimL]

WELCOME from our West Virginia LXs in the beautiful Mid-Ohio River Valley. I'm with Steve in saying that you don't buy the SRT for fuel economy... you buy it for the performance it gives,, and the pure joy of driving it hard... or knowing you can.

In our case we have both the 5.7 MDS Hemi in the 300C and the all out V8 in the MagnumSRT8. I can tell you that our local driving average is about 15-16 with the 300C and 14-15 in the MSRT8 (my daily driver)... and I don't ***** foot the thing, but I do use autostick when slow cruising to keep it to the highest available gear (RPMs remaining >1k). On the highway, the 300C pulls 23-26 mpg depending, and the MSRT8 provides 20-22+ ... again depending! LOL

In terms of using 89 octane in the 5.7... you won't hear any knocking with lesser octane because the knock sensors work that good and will pull timing to prevent knock. Nonetheless, why would you spend what you did for such a vehicle and then chimp on a few cents of gas? We don't drive as much as you, but for us the difference in fuel cost is negligible... we just try to fill up the cars on alternate weeks from each other...

In our case we use 87 octane, but add a fuel additive to boost the octane and provide an upper cylinder lubricant to protect the engine. Net cost is greater than 89 octance (if we could get that at Sams Club), but I'm after long-term engine protection as I plan to run these vehicles until they return to dust!

[lovemydurangohemi]

All good information guys. I'm not looking to skimp on the car, but I'm also not looking to drop a bunch of money that could be going in my stock portfolio to help ensure I can drive a car like this when I'm retired. I'm also not looking to hammer this car either. My parents got me a IROC 5.7 back in the day for graduation and I don't think I smoked the tires once. I'm looking for a comfortable, stout sedan to entertain customers, impress customers and something to enjoy for 1000 miles a week. I'm a big guy at 6'2 285 pounds and the idea of a Fusion or a Impala for 1000 miles a week seems rather sickening. Frankly, it's not really the octane but the mpg. I was estimating 16 miles a gallon based on 58 gallons a week. Based on what you guys are telling me and have read on this forum, I can probably get a much better mpg then that. Not to mention, living in VT, theres the $900 in snows to consider too. At any rate, good information guys to make some decisions.

[GoofyTimL]

If you're looking for long distance/hours comfort more than performance, then I'd recommend the 300C Heritage Edition... new or low mileage (compared to you) used. Of course I am biased aren't I?!! LOL Plenty of power and comfort and exceptional ride quality. My wife still says it's the best furniture we have.

The SRT8s have performance suspension and ride more roughly. It's not a bad ride by any means, but it's not the glass that is the H.E.

[07BBSRT8]

I can get 24-26 MPG on the highway with my SRT8, just cruising of course...but thats pretty damn good for Large sled like an LX...And if i want to pass some slow goer...Just put the pedal down and away you go...Trust me, if you go SRT8 you will forget all about the 242.00, once you Drive a SRT car...You can putz around like an old man, or you can go buck wild, like you were a teenager again, and the car just begs for more...Asking any SRT owner for advice about buying a SRT car, will all net the same results...we will all tell you the same thing LOL...I went from a 5.7 car to a 6.1, and i will never go back...once you taste SRT, thats all youll ever need**...

SRT8=Best Bang for you Buck vehicle lineup out there IMHO.



** only applies for some...some want and need more!!!

[freemanjc]

Originally Posted by lovemydurangohemi

Hello everyone. First post on the forum. First let me say I'm in love with Chrysler's line up of cars. I'm sad that the Durango, Aspen and who knows what else is gone or going. My wife's 05 Durango Hemi Limited is fantastic and I keep it looking better then the day it we bought it new off the lot. Anyway, I'm switching jobs and thinking I might take a shot at the 300 SRT8 or maybe the Magnum SRT8. My problem is this high octane requirment. Frankly, until now, I didn't know we were supposed to be or should be running 89 in our HEMI. I never have and I've never heard any knocks and this thing moves like a bastard when you stand on it. So my question is, what's the real deal on what has to be put in the SRT8. What happens if you run 89 or even 87? I mean is it a performance thing or an engine protection thing? Are there tuning devices that allow you to run a lesser octane? It's not really the amount of money more then it is the difference in money. I'm looking at a V6 powered car (a competing car maker) and my monthly fuel bill would be 242.00 less then the SRT8. And finally, what is the real deal on fuel mileage in the SRT8. I'm going to be running 800-1000 miles a week, 85% highway miles .I've read so many conflicting reports of 14 miles mpg to averaging 16 mpg and I'm just curious what real SRT8 drivers are getting. Thanks

Love

Get the SRT 8, I was concerned about the city gas mileage too, three weeks ago when I purchased my USEd 2006 SRT8. However, the performance by itself made me totally forget about gas mileage. In short this is a mans car and men are not concerned with gas mileage. Also, when I do stop to put gas in my car usually on the 9th day after filling up, I get allot of conversation about m car that let's me know allot of men and women only wish they could afford or find a SRT8 for themselves.

Additionally, I had an 86 IROCZ and I can tell you that is exactly the same type of gas mileage your going to get IMHO. I sold my 2006 BMW 330I for the SRT8 and I can tell you that my BMW used allot of gas too. I was not impressed with BMW gas mileage at all for such an expensive car.

As my dear old dad used to tell when I was just a little private 18 years ago "(RIP) pops",

Quote 1

1. Son, if you want to play, you got to pay

Quote 2.

Son, first class is just $5.00 more. If you can afford it, get it.

r,

Julius

[greenspandan]

the SRT8 is a phenomenal vehicle but frankly its purpose is not to get good gas mileage or provide a soft ride. no offense, but why are you looking at a 425hp car if you "never smoked the tires" of your previous ride?

[viper3ez]

my EVIC usually says 12-13 mpg and i get about 250miles on the 19gallon tank. i mostly drive around (oversized) houston and even when i hit the freeway, i do everything but cruise.

i also went from a 5.7 magnum to a SRT magnum. and from my calculations, MDS never kicked in on my old magnum with my driving pattern.

you really are not going to care about the difference if you get aa SRT. then all you think about is how to increase your Smiles Per Gallon by investing in mods.

but if you are really just trying to cruise, get a 5.7 Hemi. i did 23k miles last year in my SRT and thats because i did not have it for almost 2 months.

if you really care about fuel economy, you really should not ask SRT owners cos they dont care about it