Hello,

I just purchased a 1989 Dodge Conversion Van, 8 cyl, 5.2 L, Automatic 4-spd, Regular Gasoline with overdrive. I'm getting 9-10 MPG and I drive highway 90% of the time. According to fueleconomy.gov I should get 16MPG highway and 13MPG combined.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Steve

 

How many miles since it's last tune-up?
Have you done a compression test to see if the cylinders are leaking?

 

A couple things which have at one point or the other contributed to less than Ideal mileage on my '89.

O2 sensor. Do not use Bosch. NTK/NGK agrees with mopars.
2 wire coolant temp sensor out of whack
vaccuum leak.

Other things which have not effected me.

Dragging brakes, poor compression, lack of overdrive or lock up.

Bad wires/plugs distributor cap and rotor.

Use brass contact on the dist cap only. Aluminum is sub sub par.

 

I have no idea when the last tune-up was done, and no idea how to do the compression test. Sounds like a good place to start though - Thanks!

 

How's your mileage now - are you getting a higher MPG than 9-10?
Thanks for the help!