Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Fuel Economy Mods?

[nwilliams98]

Hi everyone,

I just bought a 97 2500 with 4. 10 gears in California. I'm only getting about 16. 8 mpg in town driving conservatively. Seems like this is lower than most and I was hoping to get better. Anyway, I've decided to try and get better fuel economy. I don't really care that much about power but any extra is a bonus. So far I've decided to do the following:



1. Get rid of the EGR. Replace with 49 state intake and block off hole in exhaust manifold.



2. Get the fuel pump timed for 15. 5 to 16 deg.



3. Get higher profile tires to reduce rpms at given speed (i'll do this when my current ones wear out).



Any other suggestions? Am I barking up the right tree? It seems to me that the above mods should add economy and reliability. Anyone think differently?



Thanks

Nate

 

[ablakemore]

Fuel Mileage

Nate.

I believe your mileage is just about right on for your setup. Your 4:10 gears is your limiting factor. I also get 16-17 mpg around town.

Allen

 

[illflem]

Sounds like you have a good course of action figured out. Bigger tires will help the most.

 

[Got Smoke?]

(guessing your truck is stock) If you lived closer to Tennessee we could work out a swap my 33's for your stockers!:-laf That would put me and you BOTH in the better mileage department since I have 3. 55 gears. Even with my 33's I still get 18MPG if I can keep it below 2000RPM on the interstate. 18. 5 If I only had to drive around town



So far it sounds like your on the right track to a little bit better mileage that you can squeeze out of it. I gained 1. 5MPG when I timed my pump to 16* with the help of Drees1. Factory timing is supposed to be 13. 5* and mine was at like 10 or 11*:--) Like Illflem said bigger tires will help, but I wouldn't go over 33's or 305's without 2" Skyjacker coils