Hey guys, my dad has an '02 Ram 1500 with the 360 V8 in it, anyways he's been getting 11mpg on a good day and with gas the way it is we're wondering if there's anything we can do to increase his mileage that's not too expensive or is he basically just screwed?

 

I have the same truck. My all time average is about 12.4 (30% highway, 30% town, 30% towing). I can get 14-16 on the highway at 65mph. Otherwise in town it just plain sucks gas.

The other day I was pretty impressed went to Montana about a 700 mile round trip, pulling a 2100lb uhaul car hauler and got 12.6, hauling the car back (probably 5400lb total)got 11.5. This waskeeping the speed around 60-65 except on hills, and there were alot of hills. I was running performance on my Superchip on the way there, and the tow mode the way back.

Go with a throttle body cleaning and a CAI. Mostly he's just screwed.

 

I had a '98 RCSB 4x4 with the 360 with a 3" body lift and 35" tires, cai & exhaust. Averaged 11.8 in combination driving till I sold it in '02. I think it's pretty well where it's gonna be...

 

the hypertech max energy programmer will give you 2 or 3 miles more to the gallon. thats if you stay out of the throttle.

 

I had a freind with a 2002 5.9L Ram and he installed a MSD-6A, Blaster Coil, Electric Fan and a few other mods and they made a big difference in HP and fuel economey. Im not sure on what exactly his gains where but I do know he would not stop talking about them.

SPEED SAFE, AIR RAM

 

Thanks for the advice guys, sounds like the electric fan and the programmer might be worth looking into, I think he's had the TB cleaned recently but I'll ask him. He's thought about getting something with better mileage but even my Dakota only gets 14-15 average so it doesn't seem worth it (he likes the mileage on the new Chevy's but I'm trying to keep that from happening). Anyone know if the electric fans off the 92-96 Taurus' or Continental's work well on the Rams?

 

My dads rolling around in a 99 with a 360 in it. I managed to get the best mileage out of it when I borrowed in once to move some stuff at college a couple of years ago and that was 14mpg. I think the 360 is just a poor mileage engine all together, I think that is part of the reason why Dodge developed the new Hemi and the multi-displacement system.