Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) Horrible fuel mileage while towing

[JOdell]

I drove my truck to Toledo, OH from Indianapolis pulling a emty U-haul car transporter and returned with a 67 Nova in tow. On the way back I checked my Mileage with the Nova on I got 10 1/2 MPG. I was running 70-75 most of the way. This can't be normal is it? The truck has a Auto transmission with 3. 54 or 3. 55 rear end. I have noticed bad fuel mileage since the VP44 was replaced in June. Has anyone else had this problem?

 

[Doughboy21kd]

you would be surprised about your mileage if you dropped your speed down to 65mph or so... . I do on my 3rd gen and also on my 2nd gen that i had... just mu . 02

 

[JOdell]

I thought that myself. I usually pull around 65. This time I had to be somewhere on time and I got a late start. -Jason

 

[keimmmo]

Speed makes a huge difference in economy... especially when towing. Dropping down to 65 will make quite a difference. Mine has a "sweet spot" for fuel economy at 58 mph. If you are not in a hurry, it will make SEVERAL miles per gallon of difference!!!



I too have lost fuel economy since changing my VP. My original VP failed at about 40k miles. I replaced it with a rebuilt from Scheids. It gave noticeably more power and about 2 mpg more than the factory pump! It failed a while back and I replaced it with a rebuilt from Dodge. Long story... but it was free. The pump is about 3 years old and I suspect it doesn't have all the new updates. I have lost about 4 mpg from what I was getting on the old pump!!! The difference started the day I changed the pump, so I have no doubt what made the difference!



I need to trade the old pump in and buy a spare to carry. It is almost impossible to get a VP-44 down here in Mexico!!! I think I'll get another one from Scheids and put in on and keep the old DC pump as my spare. It runs fine! It just gets terrible fuel ecomony!



Steve Keim