This post is basically a repeat of one I sent in a few minutes ago but something screwed up on me & i can't find it now so if you come across it, ignore it please. So, here we go again...The mileage for my '98 Ram 1500 w/5.2L is about 11 MPG around town. I've been told by the Parts guy at Canadian Tire store ( ya, I'm a Canuck ) whom I have grown to trust that these "E3" spark plugs are the cats *** for power & mileage increase. Have any of you guys had any experience with these?? Thanks Guys!!

 

They don't do what they claim to do. Your car parts guy just told you that do he could sell them to you. I had them and they didn't increase my mpg.

As for 11mpg in the city, that's pretty good still.

 

Depending on how you drive, 11 MPG may be normal for you. However, the 5.2L engine normally gets a little better than that.

Questions that may lead to some help:
-Last time it was tuned up? (spark plugs, wires, distributor cap, distributor rotor)
-What fluid is in the differentials? Synthetic, such as Royal Purple, helps a little.
-Size of tires?
-Plenum gasket fixed? (If you are drawing a blank on this one, do a search for it on the forum.)
-Timing chain ever changed?

11 to 12-ish MPG in town is pretty normal for 5.9L engines. 5.2s get slightly better, usually. Don't expect much better results with any/all of this, just small bits. These are heavy trucks with engines designed back when gas was cheap. They are never going to get the gas mileage of the newer 4.7L and 5.7L V8s (and even those aren't a whole terrible lot more anyway).

 

What exactly does "its the cats ***" mean? I have heard it before. Why is the cats *** the best. Who made up this saying. Its weird!!

 

What about "bees knees"?

 

11miles? Got decent tires and when was your last tune up? I've got a bit of a lead foot and I manage a average 14 city, 17-18 highway. My wife some how managed 16 city and 21highway. --- no clue how that worked --- Note my truck has 193k miles on the original tranny and motor 5.2L.


---- Think this might change things, I have a Ext cab with the back window open along with all the rest.

 

I'd like to know how your figuring your milleage? Cus they seem a little high.

 

Well after flushing the old gas out since it had been sitting for awhile. I put in 17 Gallons, reset the trip. On that I managed to get 242 miles before filling up at the gas light.

Beings that I just bought the truck I don't know what it's got in it completely, so I couldn't tell ya of mods that could be helping out.

I think with the mileage I get, I'm running about 13/17-18 at 40/60 city highway miles. Now my wife on the other hand gets more then I do by about a 4-5% increase in miles.

Like I said might have something to do with me being in Texas not using Heat/AC during the summer, just opening that back window along with the ext windows and taking the tailgate off until I need it. ---- Premium gas is only .30$ per gallon more also using it.

Only other thing I can think of is being out in the country area the gas I get isn't constantly pumped, meaning not being moved as fast all day to turn to literal "gas" as quickly.

 

ok...heat and A/c wont really effect your gas milage, nor will the tailgate thing...that together might bring it up 1 mpg.....and using premium doesnt do anything either since the engines are tuned for 87....

do a full tank of gas, do all city driving...calculate
get another full tank, do ALL highway....calculate
another full with 50/50 highway city....calculate...

cant get an average off one tank of gas...

 

My gpas 5.2 has pulled almost 21 before. He checks his mileage every tank.