Depending on the configuration (and it can sometimes be hard to tell), the 2016 Ram 1500 pickup truck comes with a 26-gallon or 32-gallon gas tank.

Oh no! Gas prices have gone up for the weekend and you forgot to fill up last night. Getting to your job site and back requires a quarter tank of fuel and you don't want to buy more than you need—how many gallons should you put in?

In cases like these, it’s helpful to know your car’s gas tank size, so

Jerry

wrote a guide. Join the App Store’s most

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for

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as we take a look at the 2016 Ram 1500’s gas tank size.

How big is the gas tank of a 2016 Ram 1500?

Fuel tanks for the 2016 Ram 1500 come in two sizes: 26 gallons and 32 gallons. It seems simple enough, right? Not so fast—it depends on the powertrain and box size.

Rams with a 305-hp 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine get a 26-gal tank while those with an eight-foot box get a 32-gal tank. But, just to complicate things, trucks with a 240-hp 2.0L EcoDiesel V6 get a 26-gallon tank regardless of their box size. Finally, Rams with a 5.7-ft or 6.4-ft box can choose a 32-gal tank unless it contradicts the rules above.

And that’s before you consider trucks with a 395-hp 5.7L HEMI V8 engine. At least choosing between 2WD or 4WD (or a six-speed or eight-speed automatic transmission) doesn’t make a difference.

For your convenience, we've put together a crib sheet. Here’s a rough guide to every configuration with a 26-gal gas tank:

Trims	Powertrains	Cabs	Boxes
Tradesman	3.6L Pentastar V6, 5.7L HEMI V8	Regular, Quad, Crew	5.7 ft, 6.4 ft
EcoDiesel HFE Tradesman	3.0L EcoDiesel V6	Quad	6.4 ft
Gas HFE Tradesman	3.6L Pentastar V6	Regular	6.4 ft
Express	3.6L Pentastar V6	Regular, Crew, Quad	5.7 ft, 6.4 ft
EcoDiesel HFE Express	3.0L EcoDiesel V6	Quad	6.4 ft
SLT	3.6L Pentastar V6	Regular, Quad, Crew	5.7 ft, 6.4 ft
Rebel	3.6L Pentastar V6, 5.7L HEMI V8	Crew	5.7 ft
Big Horn, Lone Star	3.6L Pentastar V6	Regular, Quad, Crew	5.7 ft, 6.4 ft
Outdoorsman, Laramie	3.0L EcoDiesel, 3.6L Pentastar V6	Quad, Crew	5.7 ft, 6.4 ft
Laramie Longhorn, Limited	3.0L EcoDiesel V6	Crew	5.7 ft, 6.4 ft

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Here’s every configuration with a 32-gallon gas tank:

Trims	Powertrains	Cabs	Boxes
Tradesman, SLT, Big Horn, Lone Star	3.6L Pentastar V6	Regular	8.2 ft
Outdoorsman	5.7L HEMI V8	Quad, Crew	5.7 ft, 6.4 ft
Laramie Longhorn, Limited	5.7L HEMI V8	Crew	5.7 ft, 6.4 ft

And here's every configuration with a standard 26-gal tank that can be upgraded to 32 gals as an option:

Trim	Powertrain	Cab	Box
SLT, Big Horn, Lone Star, Laramie	5.7L HEMI V8	Crew	6.4 ft
Sport	5.7L HEMI V8	Regular, Quad, Crew	5.7 ft, 6.4 ft

Of course, it's not just the size of your gas tank that determines how far you can go. Your driving habits, powertrain, and gas mileage all play a role.

MORE:

Dodge Ram 1500 Tradesman V6

How to check your 2016 Ram 1500’s gas tank size

We don't blame you if you're not sure where your 2016 Ram 1500 fits into the tables above. If you bought it used or don't remember which options you selected at purchase, that's okay! Here are three more ways to find out how much fuel your truck needs.

Measure the gas tank

For this method, you only need a measuring tape and a calculator. To begin, measure the length, width, and height of your truck's gas tank. You can get the tank's volume in gallons by multiplying your measurements and then dividing by 231—the result should match what you see at the pump!

Check your owner’s manual

Along with

how to choose the best gasoline or fuel for your car

, the owner’s manual should tell you your truck’s gas tank size. If you can’t find your copy,

the MOPAR website

offers a digital manual for every Ram—but how do you know which one you’ve got?

Easy: find your truck’s VIN (on the driver’s side windshield or your proof of insurance) and then enter it into

the NHTSA's online decoder

. The results will include your vehicle’s model, trim, and engine size.

Drive until the gas gauge reads empty

With this method, you get to discover your vehicle’s gas tank size and answer the question, “

How far can you actually drive on an empty tank of gas?

” Ideally, you learn the truth by running out of fuel right at the gas pump and then seeing how much it takes to refill. Otherwise, you're going to find out more than you wanted to learn about the

average tow cost

MORE:

What happens if you put the wrong fuel in your car?

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How to save on fuel costs in a Ram 1500

The most efficient fuel train is the 3.0L HFE EcoDiesel V6 and the least efficient is the 4x4 5.7L HEMI V8. Check out the full results from the EPA’s website below:

Powertrain	Transmission	Fuel type	Miles per gallon (combined/city/highway)
3.6L HFE V6	Eight-speed automatic	Regular	21/18/25 mpg
3.0L HFE EcoDiesel V6	Eight-speed automatic	Diesel	24/21/29 mpg
3.6L Pentastar V6	Eight-speed automatic	Regular	20/17/25 mpg
3.0L EcoDiesel V6	Eight-speed automatic	Diesel	23/20/27 mpg
5.7L HEMI V8	Six-speed automatic	Midgrade	16/14/20 mpg
5.7L HEMI V8	Eight-speed automatic	Midgrade	17/15/22 mpg

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Adding 4WD to any truck configuration will usually drop its score by up to one combined mpg, but that’s a small price to pay for some jobs. You can make up for it by following Jerry’s three fuel-saving tips:

Maintain your vehicle. By servicing your truck, you don't just keep it going, you keep it running at its best.

Step off the gas. Forgive us for stating the obvious, but pressing the gas pedal uses more gas. Whenever you come to a stop sign or a red light, try to accelerate gently and take your time.

Wear a sweater. The only thing worse than sitting in a cold car is getting a huge gas bill. Warm up your car by driving gently rather than idling in cold weather.

How to optimize your Ram 1500’s insurance coverage

You might have trouble figuring out the size of your pickup truck's gas tank, but it's never been easier to find cheap auto insurance. Just leave it to

Jerry

Jerry compares thousands of products from over 55 top insurance companies, including Allstate, Nationwide, and Metromile. All you have to do is sign up—which takes 45 seconds—and wait for Jerry to find you the best five to seven quotes—which takes less than a minute! And if you ever have any questions or want to cancel your old policy, just give our customer service experts a ring.

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