Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Fuel Economy, new owner

[DonTX]

I am in the process of buying a 1997 3500 dually automatic extended cab, 3:55 rear gear, two wheel drive, supposed to have not been turned up for more power. I have been following this forum for some time, but am totally confused as to what fuel economy I can expect. I have seen figures from 10 to 27 mpg thrown about, apparently there are no "official" figures by EPA or the sort.

From people that have one, what would you say for empty highway and loaded MPG?

 

[tp0d]

27mpg is definetly a fake. Max unloaded on my truck, 3. 55 4x4, is about 21-22mpg. Thats driving on flat road, max of about 60-65mph. Anything over that, it just goes downhill. Cruise control helps a lot.



A 2wd will get better mileage, but the extra tires in the back add rolling resistance, so it might not be as good as a 2500 truck. But probably better than a heavier 4x4.



I`d give a guess at a max of 22-23 on flat road, max of 65mph. First thing I`d do though is upgrade the air filter to a BHAF, the stock airbox sucks.



good luck



-j

 

[DonTX]

2nd Gen for Dummies, part 1

OK, just done a search for BHAF, lots and lots of talk, but for the life of me I cannot figure out just what it is or where you get one! (OK, I know it is some sort of air filter mod).

 

[bgilbert]

OK, just done a search for BHAF, lots and lots of talk, but for the life of me I cannot figure out just what it is or where you get one! (OK, I know it is some sort of air filter mod).

NAPA, any big truck dealer, www.fleetfilter.com, Cummins, any Donaldson, Fleetguard, or Wix distributor. Just give em the correct BHAF part number. Fleetguard AH19037, NAPA 2790, any others, a search will be necessary. Expect to pay anywhere from $35-$50. That fleetfilter outfit I think sells Wix filters and has a decent price last I checked.



Does this mean that D350 in your buddies yard, you're not gonna buy?

 

[EKlem]

I can't give you an exact number for mileage since I don't have the same truck as you bought but the above numbers seem reasonable. The biggest variable is the driver though. Keeping the speed down and avoiding accelerating and braking is the best way to get good mileage. My roomate and I have also found that in both of our trucks, we get our best mileage on B20(20% biodiesel).



bgilbert gave some good information on the BHAF. This is definitely worth it. It took me maybe 5 minutes to install including popping the hood. Essentially you remove the stock airbox and the bolts that hold it and tighten the end of the intake duct over the end of the filter and you are done. A lot of people like to add a prefilter cover by outerwears.com which helps deal with any water that splashes on your filter and also extends the filter life. The easiest thing to do with them is simply to call them and say it is for a bhaf on a dodge.

 

[DonTX]

BGilbert: I never gave up on him, he just never could decide to sell it to me long enough for me to peel off the bills! He just lost his job in that town, gonna have to move to a new job a couple hundred miles away. I am hoping for a "moving" sale real soon. He seems to think he will find a blown engine Dodge someday for free, and this engine will be worth thousands.

The one I bought is more what I needed anyhow, with lockup TC and extended cab, and even more nice, ready to go NOW!, It is for sale on this site in fact, R Nichols in Michigan.

OK, gotta get me a BHAF now.

 

[WDixon27]

i get around 16. 5 with my 5 speed 4. 10 geared flatbed 2wd solid front axle dually, my round trip to work is 40 miles 32 of which is 65-70 mph interstate and the other 8 is with a healthy dose of smokey starts, lotsa flogging and smoking everywhere else i think it's fairly crappy mileage till i think what id be getting with a gasser driving the way i do and then i feel much better

 

[DonTX]

BIG air filter

Well, don't even have the truck yet, but got my BHAF filter as recommended. WOW IS THAT THING BIG!!!! Does anyone have a photo of an installation they would share with me?

 

[WDimig]

do the obvious, change all fluids, and filters first so you get a good base line, a free flowing air intake, and 4" exhaust system will definately help alot, bump you timing up to about 16*, that will help as well, run a quality cetane additive, all the above will help you get the best mileage, but once you get that bite from the bombing bug, come back and see us about some more power... . youv'e got a good truck to make some power with, and fairly cheap i might add. Oo.



wes

 

[BigPapa]

Don,



Mileage can vary greatly with where, how, how fast, and what your hauling/pulling. My mileage runs from 16 mpg (pulling a trailer weighing @ 9K lbs with a large tailgate/ramp at 75 mph) to 25 mpg (driving empty, no trailer, 50 miles to work over the river and through the woods at an avg speed of @ 40 mph). You can see in my sig how it's setup. As mentioned the high of 25 mpg is achieved at an average speed of @40 mph. Running empty but at an average speed of @70 mph on the interstate yields 20-21 mpg.



As for the BHAF, I run a fleetguard AH1141. Compared to the ones I've seen others run it is slightly longer and not as big around. I pay @ $30 for them from a friend at a GM/Volvo dealership. Here's a pic:



#ad




Scott

 

[SEmerson]

I get 15-16 with both of mine. I have done as high as 19 with my 97 but that was slow freeway driving. My 97 got 13's all the time when it was stock. My DTT and timing at 16 brought it up to the 15-16.

 

[DonTX]

I happened across this old thread, thought I would update. I drove the truck home, mpg was 22. 89 from Detroit to Florida, running 65-70, interstate, cruise on all the time, when I put on the 4000 lb camper I was at 10,660 gross and dropped the mpg to 16. 5 to 17 for the rest of the trip.

I don't think I have ever gotten over 2000 rpm the whole trip, and am wondering with my driving habits the way they are, if putting on the BHAF filter I bought would be of any advantage, or is it only needed for the 3k bursts of gulping lots of air? Comments welcome.

 

[DamonL]

My 97 trucks average about 18-23 MPG all according to my right foot. Damon