Wow , some of the MPG's listed are really low , I'm surprised . I have a 95 5.2 4x4 short box reg cab with 180K and a manual trans . It's probably the best on gas I've had with a V8 in some time . 1 tank of pounding the piss out of it in the city and I get just shy of 400 miles , I'm only on my 3rd tank since buying it . I have the same engine in my Grand Cherokee and that thing is lucky to get 12 on 32's , the truck was running the same but now on 33's with no difference . Perhaps the 3.55 ratio and the 5 spd manual have lots to do with it .
Seafoam is great stuff , but , even better is mopar CCC(combustion chamber cleaner) . The application method is easier , simpler and you get to clean the throttle body while doing the treatment . Did I mention it's cheaper too !
If your pinging , it could be the plenum leaking , or , as was my case , a clogging cat . Since hollowing it , I can't get it to ping in 4th gear and doing 20 mph . Before it would play quite the tune with the rockers , lol . I was planning a plenum teardown , but I guess it can wait .
As far as I can tell , I'm getting 17-20 in the city and loving it
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ya, a manual trans gets better mileage than an auto at least from my exp. i think it has something to do with the fact that you can shift earlier if you wanted to, and you can go into a higher gear at a lower spead, which lowers your rpms, and burns less fuel.
but anyways, im seeing about 13.5mpgs on valvoline synpower, fullsynthetic oil, k&n drop in filter, tonnau(sp?) cover, on a 5500lb ext cab 1500 4x4 5.2 auto.
Manual trannys get better fuel mileage because they are more efficient. Less power is lost in the clutch. Autos have a torque converter which is never 100% efficient causing lots of lost power (why lockup torque converters were designed for cruising- to maximize efficiency).
The shift points/RPMs do play a role one way or another, depending on your shifting patterns. Some people shift really early, others at the red line, and this does have some effect on mileage, but you also have to consider # of RPMs vs. rate of acceleration. Slow acceleration is not necessarily more efficient just because of lower RPMs. It takes more time to go the same distance.
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1997 Dodge Ram 1500 Club Cab 4x4 Laramie SLT
318, 46RE, 231HD, 9.25 w/ 3.55, Dana 44
Black Truck Club #146
depends on how im driving
anywhere from 11 to 17
so far i got the biggest boost from the 14x3, gained nearly a mile per gallon if not more, plus it uncorked the 318, and just sounds cool
