Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) great fuel mileage

[AKaiser]

I do tend to drive the posted speed limits, and especially in town (kids) and two-lane highways (other hazards). Some time back, I got my first speeding ticket since the one 16 years previously, and decided that, barring an emergency, there was no place that I needed to be that justified the cost or hassle. So I drive the posted limit now; if you don't like it, pass. Just don't whine to me when the state trooper or sheriff's patrol writes you a ticket.

Two questions: where (State/type of road[country, city, interstate or two lane, etc. ]) and speed limit/how much over. Depending on where you are, you might get a 3-9 MPH fudge factor. Where I live, they really don't even look at you on the interstate unless you're pushing the 10-over mark. Five over is almost expected on the interstate here, and I've driven past two troopers in the median and they don't bat an eyelash. They're not looking for speeders for the most part unless you're just stupid and asking for it. They've got bigger fish to fry, and those fish don't drive anything with a bed or trailer, or apparently black muscle cars . Keep it sensible (flow of traffic) and it's generally not an issue.

 

[grimesja]

I dream of getting a consistent 16-18 mpg. I average 14 mpq and nothing seems to make a diffeence.

 

[BSMcCauley]

I dream of getting a consistent 16-18 mpg. I average 14 mpq and nothing seems to make a diffeence.

Admittedly, mine is a 12 valver, but to push my average down that far, I've either got to tie on a trailer, and/or push the speedo above 80. The worst entry in my log book now 225500 miles old was my wife's turn in the saddle from Cheyenne to Buffalo WY towing a trailer with a car strapped down to it through all those twisting mountains and valleys while I was napping. I woke up somewhere around Casper thinking that the turbo sounded like it was wound up pretty tight, looked over and saw the cruise control set on 85mph. Her philosophy as relief driver is that she runs her segment as fast as she thinks she can get away with so that she can get back to her book. She got 12. 5 mpg, and the truck was bone stock at the time.



Pretty much back to the ongoing argument in this tread:-{}: either you can save time, or save fuel. But it should be your choice alone which of those it will be in your case.

 

[tolmsted]

Her philosophy as relief driver is that she runs her segment as fast as she thinks she can get away with so that she can get back to her book.



I got a LMAO thrill from that! Your relief driver and my wife must be sisters and don't know it.



Best Regards.

 

[Troubleshooter]

Two questions: where (State/type of road[country, city, interstate or two lane, etc. ]) and speed limit/how much over.

It was on a 2-lane highway, maybe five miles from the nearest town, perfect weather and visibility, and not another vehicle in sight for at least two miles. In fact, I think only one or two vehicles went past the whole time that he was writing the ticket. State trooper came around a corner about a mile ahead of me, hit the "instant on" radar, and got me fair & square doing 65 in a 55mph zone. Did his job in a calm and professional manner.



Since my most recent ticket was 16 years prior to this (almost to the day) and I said "no excuse", the prosecutor suspended the case for 90 days. If I went w/o another ticket during that time, he would dismiss it entirely (so the insurance company would never see it and raise my rates). And that is what we did. Still all in all, between the fine, court costs, processing fee, and taking a couple of hours' time off to drive back there and deal with those folks, it essentially negated the day's wages. So like I said, there ain't noplace that I need to be that fast.



Back to the original question about fuel efficiency though, what gear ratios are y'all running in the rear diff to get those 25+ mpg results?

 

[lgill]

You guys got me singing the blues. I regularly get 17 to 19 mpg @ 60 mph no load and 12. 5 to 13. 5 @ 60 mph with the camper (Lance 1191; big & heavy) Mine is a 01 3500 dually, auto, 4:10 rear end. It is stock except for a Banks 4" turbo back exhaust and the Vulcan lift pump relocation kit from Genos. Maybe I need to look into one of them Smarty thingies. ... LT

 

[cArNiVaLwOrKeR]

I get 16MPG and no better, mixed driving higest speed 80MPH Im gonna try 65 tops one of these days but seem that I just can't do it



JoeLee...

 

[BSMcCauley]

Back to the original question about fuel efficiency though, what gear ratios are y'all running in the rear diff to get those 25+ mpg results?

3. 54 axle ratio and LT235/85R16 tires (1" taller loaded radius than stock) and using distance traveled from GPS (Dodge boys have never been able to get my factory odometer closer than 3%). Basically, 2000 rpm as per the factory tach = 72 mph and 1500 rpm = 55 mph in my truck.



Another point to ponder when calculating mpg: Is the fuel pump ripping you off? There are several around where I live that meter about 10% more fuel than what actually goes into your tank. Guess that's how they cover the "loyalty" discount, but I usually come out ahead paying 5cents/gal more across the street and get a more accurate measurement. (might even be getting better fuel as well) You might want to take a couple 5 gal cans with the "5 gal" level marked on it to a couple different stations and get a rough idea if you're getting what you pay for.

 

[Crash&Burn]

Man I have never got any of that 24 to 28 stuff. The best ever was 20 to 21 and that was before the ULSD, which dropped me 2mpg.

I have a trip coming up and am thinking of making a plywood tonn. cover and see if that helps... .