Fuel Economy Question

[Turbo Tim 1]

Hey guys, I used to have a 93 3/4 ton 4x4 with a slushbox and got 16-17 mpg with it. My 2001 3500 4x4 with a manual gets about the same sometimes better sometimes worse. Anyways I drive 120 miles a day to and from work and recently found a 89 3/4 ton 2 wheel drive with 122,000 miles on it, no rust and not driven in the winter, the truck does have a 5th wheel hitch in it so it has towed. I haven't looked at the truck but it's supposedly really clean. Anyways how were the non-intercooled trucks for mileage? The asking price is $2995 and I figure it might make me a good commuter vehicle that I can dump WVO in during the warmer months. Thanks

 

[19Kgvw]

Tim, you should get 18-21 mpg on the highway w/o any load. Non intercooled restricted power but not mileage. You should've kept the W-250..... good trucks... . two trucks are better than one.

Rich

 

[bgilbert]

Is the 89 a stick or auto? If auto then its a 3 speed direct drive, no overdrive transmission. Do you wanna hear that 5. 9 roaring all day for 120 miles each way? I agree two are trucks are better than one. But you can buy a whole lot of fuel for $2995. How long would you see the reward of better mpg's on that purchase? I imagine it would give about the same mpg's if its auto. Slightly higher if 5sp.

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

I agree the fuel mileage wouldn't be drastically different, at least not enough to pay for itself in that way, but 6 tires at a time get expensive and I don't want to wear out my 2001, I'd like to be able to leave it disabled for a while so I can do things like change the clutch and other major maintenance that would take me a little time to do while working by myself. Last February 25th I had 87,245 miles on my 2001, as of today I am a little over 113,000 miles, that's 26,000 in ten months. I'd rather do that with a different vehicle. 19Kgvw, you're right two are better than one and I kick myself in the butt almost everyday for getting rid of the 93, she was a pretty truck and tough too. With 180,000 miles on the clock and every front end part original the front end was tighter on that truck than it was on my 01 when it was new. bgilbert, thanks for reminding me on the transmission thing, I e-mailed the guy but haven't heard from him yet, I am hoping for a 5 speed and forgot all about the early trucks not having the overdrive, I guess if it's an auto the mileage would probably be lower than my 01.

 

[JLEONARD]

My non I/C 91 2wd 5 spd with 3. 54 differential gets 22-24 daily with an empty bed/fiberglass cap in a mix of 25% city/75% expressway at 70/75 mph.

I can get 26 + on a trip.

Subtract 2 mpg from above when using winter fuel blend.



I would not hesitate to buy it.

Jay



EDIT... and don't worry too much about lack of power since it's non I/C... . more folks see my tailgate than my grill

 

[19Kgvw]

EDIT... and don't worry too much about lack of power since it's non I/C... . more folks see my tailgate than my grill

Jay-- well put, you've got a strong runner

 

[Moose Truck]

My Dead w250 89 had a 727 and she got 19 summer and 17 winter. The 2000 3. 54 auto 4X4 gets 17 summer and 16 winter.

 

[tugboatphil]

Tim,



My 90 D250 with the 727 and 3. 07 rear end, got 20-22 on the highway, 18-20 around town. Unfortunately the rear end turned into powder at 300k and replacement gears are scarcer than my hair.