I've done a share of searching yet can't seem to find a trend with all the conflicting comments.

First off, in terms of gas mileage and the 5.2l vs 5.9l. I've seen a lot post that they practically get the same, some say the 5.9l actually gets better gas mileage, others say the 5.2l gets significantly more. I'm very confused. Quotes such as "both 5.2 and the 5.9 have same mileage but the 5.2 is more reliable of a motor" << true?

Furthermore, I've read that the 2wd model gets about 2mpg more than the 4wd(running in 2wd of course) and has slightly more power. Is it due to a slightly different transmission or is this simply not true.


Thanks for all the help!

 

Yr going to get better mpg's out of a 2wd. There is no t case and the 2 gens 2wd's don't have a solid front axle. With = less weight. The trannys are the same if you went with an auto 5.2 and 5.9. The 5.9 didn't have an option for a manual. It also depends on how you drive as well. City/highway, pissed or happy. The best i have gotten out of my 1500 5.9 4x4 is 17 highway I was doing the speed limit and babying it. Around town is about 12.

 

5.2 and 5.9 get about the same. 4x4 is a couple worse. my 5.2 4x4 gets 12.5 to 13 average with 255/70/17 tires, i used to get 13-14mpgs with my 285/70/17s and the best i've ever gotten was 15 but i think i had the wind at my back.

my dads 5.9 2wd gets 16-17 average. so what you've read is pretty much the way it is.

his is stock with a k&n drop in being the only aftermarket item, mine breathes easier with the round air cleaner and just headers and a cat on my exhaust and i have 1 size over stock tires, but mine lost about 1mpg with the setup i have now, so the 2 mpg difference is accurate for our trucks.

 

It's hard to say now, because all these trucks are kind of old at this point, and not everyone has their motor running at maximum capacity.

I get around 13mpg around town, and 15 highway. Highest ever was like 16.5-17mpg.
You also have to take into consideration that's a 5.9 in a Regular cab short bed 1500. You add an extended cab onto that and an 8 foot bed, you're gonna lose some mpg.

On average it seems that 1500 4x4s get about 12mpg city 15 highway.

You also have to take into account the vast number of people who get like 9mpg because their engine is beat, they have leaking plenum gaskets, they have clogged catalytic converters, or 70,000 miles on their spark plugs, or cracked distributor caps, cracked wires etc... that bring the average down.

So on the EXTREME side of things i've seen
9mpg seems to be about the absolute worst, and 18mpg is the extreme best.

 

As the last poster said, the age makes a big difference. My 98 4x4 5.2 short bed gets as low as 7 in the winter and about 11 in the summer living in this city (all short trips of <5 miles each way and spirited driving). Yet when I drove out to Montana last summer towing a fully loaded uhaul (the largest size) I got 19 for quite a while.

 

1997 Ram 1500 318 4X4. K and N drop in filter, FM 40's dual exhaust, autolite 3293 Plugs, MSD 8.0mm Wires, OEM replacement cap and rotor.
If I am hotrodding around town I will see about 11 MPG
Babying it in town I see about 13-14 MPG
Straight highway run at 75~80 MPH, I will see about 17MPG.
I am a firm believer in the fact that the most fuel efficient range on these trucks is at 2000 RPM. Being that I have a 5.2 and 3.21:1 gearing, I run about 70-75 at 2000 RPM

 

wow i did know that you could get them with a 3.21 gear

but like killer said +1

i got a 95 5.2 2wd with 3.92 gear and 245/75/16 tires and get around 15city but i keep up on tune ups and tires presure and the truck is alway waxed ... sorry i don't hwy

 

Yea, Jasonw and I had an argument about that not too long ago. Finally had to go get the build sheet to prove it. From what I have seen it was offered in the 1997 and under truck. I just knew that's what it was when I had to rebuild it...

 

Wow... you really got boned on the gearing. I guess I don't feel as bad about my 3.55s anymore.

 

i think the 3.21's come with a manual trans, so its a whole different final drive gear ratio thing. i think the 3.21 w/manual is actually a lower final drive gear than the 3.55 w/OD