Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) 15 mpg 3500 4x4 5spd 4.11 is that it? 97 200k

[GMichaels]

I posted about a year ago stating that no matter how I drive, hard, easy slow, fast I got 15 mpg, no better, no worse. when I tow 16k behind me I get 13+ mpg.



from what I have read I figured to get 17 mpg. had a 350 5spd 3. 5 2wd that got 22 so it was a bit of a shock to see such low numbers.



I have added the following mods 10 plate and 3gsk. did not affect milage.



The only thing i have not done is check timing. the cost of the tools makes the payback if it is slipped a hard call. So is this 15 mpg in the ball park?

 

[JSienkowski]

I'm getting that around town with mine, a friend with a 2001 get's 10 when towing his 5'ver, 15/16 is what I was getting with my 87 S-10 Blazer, so with 3 times the vehicle and the same mileage, I'm happy

 

[jtwcummins]

Had mine for nearly 10yrs. Average 13-14 town and 17-20 hiway. To get 20 hiway need to drive around 60mph, faster and mileage drops fast. Large heavy barns take pwr to move.



Only thing that added to mpg was DTT auto. Increased about 1 mpg. Right foot can really lower mileage, even more than a gasser.

 

[az]

So is this 15 mpg in the ball park?

Yup, now matter what I do thats where mine is

 

[Got Smoke?]

With 4. 10 gears unfortunately that is about correct. Try a taller tire the next time you need tires to reduce the overall gearing and bring your RPM's down that may help a little.



I previously owned a 97 2500 that the within 140K miles the timing had slipped down from stock 13. 25* to 10 or 11*. Boosting the timing on that truck brought the mpg up a solid 1. 5.

 

[KYOUNG]

Mine does about 15 on highway, 11-12 pulling enclosed trailer... ... . thats it!

 

[moparguy]

If I drive 70/75, I get about 15. My truck has 4. 10s.



However with the timing bumped up, the TAG (yeah I think it helps a small bit), and drive 60, I can get a honest 20mpg. Sometimes just a hair more.



Pulling a 10k gooseneck horse trailer at 65, I get about 13 to 14. The trailer (both the CM and TrailsWest) has a aero nose, with a much cleaner profile than the big rv's.



You would likely pick of some mileage by bumping the timing to 16 or so.



All you've really got to have thats not common is the dv socket. I think it's like $30 from Snap-on. If you ask around you can usually borrow a dial indicator and magnetic holder. If it's not metric, just do the conversion.

A steering wheel puller works on the pump gear just fine.



Lot's of verbage on this site telling how to do it.



Good luck, RR

 

[WDixon27]

i get mid 16s in my flat bed solid front axle barn door with my lead foot, i haven't really gotten squat for mpg out of any of the stuff i've done but it's gotten a crap load faster since i bought it 10k miles ago, and it runs much better with the timing set up to 16. 5* from around 11* (the goober tried a pump and got it wrong and i got rid of the 160 injectors that were put in on a attempt by the guy i bought it from, fixing the countless fuel system and afc air leaks and total lack of fuel pressure that were the actual cause of the crappy running

 

[RDelissen]

what size tires are you running?

Because with the 4. 10 gears with 'smallish' tires the mileage will suffer.



But I got the Dodge for towing and it does that alright ... and like others stated -> there ain't much of a difference between empty (15) and towing (13) on mine :-laf

 

[hdtrukn]

Just add a aftermarket air cleaner and a set of 275 RV injectors.

Pull and clean all sensers.

Gain 2-3 mpg easy.

Just need to figure if cost is worth it. total about $450

Good Luck