Give your truck a tune up. No reason for 11MPG.
 

I posted a short time back that I was getting almost 15 MPG on my 99 quad cab 4x4 2500. I drove it 197 miles today . Half that was empty and half was picking up an 18 foot davetail car trailer and coming home. Only about 50 of that was interstate, The rest was backroad 60 MPH driving. My lie o meter is saying 15.7 and my math has it a tad higher. My truck was eating fuel when I got it, but I did a tune up with quality parts and fixed the intake plenum. Now I am pretty happy with the mileage. And I have 4:10 gears. These trucks have a bad name for poor fuel economy and I can only assume theyere are alot of them out there that arent running well, Or are jusr worn out. I cant see any other reason for getting 11 MPG around town other than stomping the heck out if it at every take off.

guilty

Are you saying it has nothing to do with my V10?:icon_doh:

By the way, I find your insensitive display of nyah, nyah, nyah nyah nyah to be highly insulting.:icon_no:

Ya I need to do the plugs and wires but the plugs cleaned up nice and their gaping was still correct. The wires on the other hand are factory and now being held by a couple of zip ties instead of the properly arranged "Dodge said so" way. As noted per the link below

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1998/18-48-98/18-48-98-v8.htm

And I believe them. IMHO it just would make better since to use better wires and don't think about it again.


I replaced the valve cover gaskets and destroyed the factory wire holders. But it hasn't used, lost, or burned any oil at all according to the stick. Over the last 800 miles give or take. Reports no codes or change performance wise as far as I can tell in the seat, but seems to have slipped in the mileage department watching the trip o' meter. I haven't actually done the math either after the wire position change. Could just be my led foot finally knocking the new off my old new truck though.

Anyone care to offer their take on better more insulating aftermarket plug wires verses the damn factory wire holders blocking access to the valve covers. Not that I really want to go back there. Just thinking some nice quality wire and a set of the clam shell type holders.

"Anyone care to offer their take on better more insulating aftermarket plug wires verses the damn factory wire holders blocking access to the valve covers. Not that I really want to go back there. Just thinking some nice quality wire and a set of the clam shell type holders."

I have MSD 8.5 mm wires on both of my trucks and I like them. They're like $80 so not sure if their worth it compared to regulars but every little bit helps.

That explains why my mileage is so bad. :icon_playing:

Well, then you're one lucky sob. My little 1500 318 5spd is lucky to get 12 in town. And I drive like a grandpa with a heart condition. I tune it up completely every two years, run seafoam twice a year, have removed the deathflash, cleaned TB, new O2 sensor, KN filter, and Hughes kit. I guess there IS a reason for 11mpg.

I put the recommended Champion plugs it back in May, going from the autolites. I took a trip from Mt to Ca and was sadly disappointed at the lousy fuel mileage I got. It Was at 13 MPG no matter what I did on the HWY and 11 City. I'm used to getting 14 City and should have gotten 18-19 HWY. As last year I got 17 pulling a trailer with a very non aerodynamic load in the bed. I had put a cab high topper for the may trip also. I recently changed back to the autolites and have gotten my fuel mileage back.

All the plugs were clean and still gapped to the proper gap. Therefore I would suggest trying the autolites just for the heck of it. Alot of the guy's here like them and that's just my experince.

I pay for MY gas, so I'll burn it as I please.

i get like 8 mpgs and thats not beating it ;)