[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Is 10 mpg normal? (Page 1 of 2)
Posted: 12/4/2006 11:48:03 AM EDT
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Alright, I've got a 98 dodge 4x4 with a 3-inch lift, BFG All terrains (when it's not wearing mud terrains), and only a piddly little 318 5.2 V8. I get 9.9 miles to the gallon always. Uphill, downhill, AC on/off, hauling ass or driving like a grandma. 9.9. Always. Is this normal for a truck such as mine or is something kinda wrong? Also approaching 100,000 miles if that matters. I run lucas injector cleaner every tank and usually run midgrade, if not premium. (I also installed headers & exhaust thinking I might run a little bit more efficiently but it only brough me down from 10.5 mpg to 9.9) So whatcha think? Normal? ETA: Running on 285/76/16, so I think it's about a 32' tire. |
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Sounds good to me. Mine, without the big tires or anything, straight from the factory in 1996 gets about 17 on the hwy if you set the cruise on 60 and about 12-13 in town or if you are doing any passing or anything. Sounds like with the big tires and all you are about right. Dan |
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I didn't think anyone who drove lifted trucks calculated their MPG. Buddy of mine did it once, and immediately undid all the work. He got 7 mpg. You are not going to improve on that much, and even if you change your gear ratio the changes will be small (think 10-20%, or about 2mpg best case). shooter |
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I would say STOP using the cleaner. The few times I have used it I noticed a decrease in MPG for that tank. Stop using medium grade gas. You engine either needs low or high grade, and I doubt it needs high. Big, heavy tires will not be good on gas either. Did you get a tune for the headers and exhaust? If so I would say 99% certain they went for power and not economy. With a good econo tune you might get to 11-11.5mpg. |
About what my all-time awd Grand Cherokee got w/ Pro Comp Mud Terrains and 175k on it. |
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I have a 1998 Ram 4x4 with the 360. The engine has: JBA headers and a three inch pipe after the cat with an Ultraflo muffler JET stage one chip Electric fans K&N Intake The truck has a six inch suspension lift and a three inch body lift, with 4.56 gears turning 37 inch Parnelli Jones Dirt Grip tires. I get ten miles per gallon. |
Fisrt of all your rig doesn't get that mileage and second of all your engine is the newer style. Smaller and more HP, but less Torque and less off idle power. |
+1 BEST I ever got in my Dakota was 19-and-change mpg highway. City driving I won't even go into because sometimes it is like 10 mpg. I average 14-16 mpg in mixed driving. Edit: 2003 Dakota Quad Cab 4x4 4.7l V8. |
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Lucas is good stuff, keep using it - it has actually improved mileage on many vehicles of family and friends. I have a 1997 Dodge Ram 1500 4WD, with the V8 Magnum 360 (5.9 liter) as a BOV and I usually get around 14mpg. The lift and huge tires is probably what's making the difference. |
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+2 on calling that BS unless your truck has magical gas mileage fairies in the engine. you must have miscalculated. Also, the people here comparing their non lifted rigs to the lifted rigs are giving false information, lifting a truck ALWAYS has severe mileage penalties. the aerodynamic drag of a lifted truck at highway speed is enormous.
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You can be thankful that you get that good. If you regeared it you could improve it some but then you would have more power and you would be in the throttle more so it would offset!  The 360's would get better mileage than the 318's on the 4x4's from veryone I have seen. BigDozer66 |
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I have a 360 in my 96. I get 13 usually. I was getting 10 but then I replaced the 2 o2 sensors. My mom has a 98 with the 318 (the 5.2) and she gets 17. Is your MIL on? Your o2 sensors may be trashed. Have you ever replaced the wires,cap,rotor,and plugs? Stop buying midgrade gas. Your owner's manual says to use 87. Stop using all that cleaner. You are pouring snake oil in your tank. You can use a cleaner every oil change if you think you need it. I do sometimes. |
IDK, thats what the ovrhead display says, i dont really have any way of checking otherwise... |
My 92 Dakota 4x4 extra cab with the 318 and auto tranny would get about 11 around town and 20-22 on the highway at 80 mph . The 00 Dakota 4x4 extra cab with the 4.7 and 5 speed I had would get about 9 in town and about 14 on the highway . My old 98 Grand Cherokee with the high output 360, full time 4x4, 3.5" lift and 32" tires would get about 13 around town and 18 on the highway.
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Um,,Miles traveled divided by gallons used equals MPG,,,It is really that simple  300miles/30gallons=10mpg Was that 6th or 7th grade math
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Listen to this guy. Using higher grade gas can actually lower your milage. I had one car that would get 30mpg+ on cheapo gas, 22mpg on premium. I get 15MPG out of my 'burban 4x4 with 265's on it. 18 mpg out of my stock '98 JGC. |
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your mileage isn't that off. lose the lift, if you can't run 32s at stock height than get the sawsall. if you don't want to get the sawsall then run smaller tires. give your truck a tuneup. (plugs, wires, air filter, oil filter, oil, cap, rotor, etc) run it on regular 87 octane gas. start planning ont he 360 swap. you're already getting 10 miles per gallon, might as well have some power. have fun. ask questions. |
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something else to consider- Are you using 10% alchohol "oxygenated" gas? I know my mileage would soar when I bought gas outside of the big city areas and dive when I bought gas in areas where smog laws mandate the 10% ethanol crap that the owners manual in my 98 Jeep's owners manual specifically stated to never use. 
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| Sounds a bit low, but not that much. I have a 97, with a 5.9, 3/4 ton suspension, and BFG 295 ATT/As. I usually get 13 around town. It goes up slightly on the highway. A likely culprit for poor performance in these magnum engines is a leaking intake gasket. Does it burn inordinate amounts of oil or smoke? |