Better gas mileage please!
Grand Champion
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 7,055
Likes: 7
From: Lee County, North Carolina
I am getting 7 city 12-13 hwy in my 1994 dodge ram 1500 4x4 Reg cab LB with the 360 auto. I have a bunch of upgrades but am still getting this awful milage. The truck has 285/75/R16 on it that are pretty worn down. The O2 sensor is about 3 1/2 years old. It hasn't had an alignent in a long time (no point when the steering is shot).
Mods:
Engine Mods:
K+N FIPK II, Ported and Polished Intake with Hughes plenum fix, Polished TB, 180 degree T-stat, Harland Sharp 1.7 RR, Summit CD ignition (not working), Taylor Cable Wires, Accel cap and rotor, Summit Shorty Truck Headers (cleaned up), Magnaflow Cat, Flowmaster collector on Y-pipe, duals out back
Drivetrain:
PosiLock on CAD, TCI Pro Super kit, Transgo Shift Kit, B+M trans pan, 5 pinion planitary, 30K GVW summit trans cooler
Suspension:
Summit 2in coil spacer, Suplerlift 2.5" AAL
It also has a headache rack, HD rear bumper (3/16 steel), tool box, and CB whip (108"?)
Is there something that I am overlooking that is causing the bad milage or am I just screwed? I have a feeling its the latter.
Mods:
Engine Mods:
K+N FIPK II, Ported and Polished Intake with Hughes plenum fix, Polished TB, 180 degree T-stat, Harland Sharp 1.7 RR, Summit CD ignition (not working), Taylor Cable Wires, Accel cap and rotor, Summit Shorty Truck Headers (cleaned up), Magnaflow Cat, Flowmaster collector on Y-pipe, duals out back
Drivetrain:
PosiLock on CAD, TCI Pro Super kit, Transgo Shift Kit, B+M trans pan, 5 pinion planitary, 30K GVW summit trans cooler
Suspension:
Summit 2in coil spacer, Suplerlift 2.5" AAL
It also has a headache rack, HD rear bumper (3/16 steel), tool box, and CB whip (108"?)
Is there something that I am overlooking that is causing the bad milage or am I just screwed? I have a feeling its the latter.
Grand Champion
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 7,055
Likes: 7
From: Lee County, North Carolina
slap on some stock tires for a tank of gas (if you know someone with a ram that you can borrow their tires for a week) and see what your mileage is, then think about getting the 4.10 gears.
Record Breaker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
I have acutally been thinking about getting 4.10's. I don't know anybody that has stock tires unfortunatly and I don't have any sitting around anymore. Are you saying that with lower gears my milage may improve?
Banned
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,816
Likes: 4
From: Los Angeles, CA
Depending on how large your tires are, yes, regearing can help get some mileage back. Too high a ratio (low numerically) combined with an oversize tire can cause you to use more energy to get things rolling and to keep it there. The right gear ratio matched to tire size results in less engine strain and fuel consumption. It is a fine balance, though. Remember that when you increase tire size you are not only increasing the diameter of the tire, but the weight and the contact patch since there will be more rubber. This makes them take extra effort to turn and if your gearing is too high your engine has to work harder.
Last edited by Miami_Son; Feb 9, 2010 at 01:02 PM.
Record Breaker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,048
Likes: 1
From: Wisconsin
Depending on how large your tires are, yes, regearing can help get some mileage back. Too high a ratio (low numerically) combined with an oversize tire can cause you to use more energy to get things rolling and to keep it there. The right gear ratio matched to tire size results in less engine strain and fuel consumption. It is a fine balance, though. Remember that when you increase tire size you are not only increasing the diameter of the tire, but the weight and the contact patch since there will be more rubber. This makes them take extra effort to turn and if your gearing is too high your engine has to work harder.
