antknee

I have a 97 CTD 12V 2500 and I get about 20mpg highway. I have an amsoil air filter and change the fuel filter all the time. I also use mobil 1 synthetic oil.

My question is; Is there anything mechanical I can do that will increase my MPG?

Forrest

Do you have any kind of aftermarket fueling plate in there?


Forrest

antknee

I have the original. A lighter plate would help, huh?

Forrest

I was thinking that if you had a bigger fueling plate, then maybe a Valet switch would help. I just installed one & haven't had a chance to check my mileage yet.

Hwy driving with the cruise control will definately try to push a lot of fuel thru, to keep the speed up. The Valet switch will keep the rack from moving, so it might just help on the highway. I'm assumng that the hwy driving includes hills.

Should be an interesting test.

antknee

Sounds good to me. Anything helps; even if it's an extra 2MPG.

I'm guessing I get 19-20 MPG now.

I was looking at those volkswagon diesels since they get 46 MPG, but I decided I could never sell my truck.

WHIFF

Try timing your pump to 15 or 16 degrees BTDC. I'm getting a solid 3-4 MPG from that, but I think my stock timing had slipped a bit before fixing it.

CruisingRam

I noticed that my 93 and 98 have very similar hiway mileage- but the 98 has way worse in city mileage- must be to get the extra 2K lbs moving!

WHIFF

Seriously, Antknee.
If you're getting 20MPG, you should have a from ear to ear. I get about 17-19 no matter what, and I'm pretty happy with that. Could be a lot worse. Ask a Hemi owner.

antknee

Yea,

I guess I'm dreaming of a cummins with 30MPG

97RAM

I have a 97 reg cab and it gets a consistant 19-20mpg per tank.

I love this truck, now if I can just get the play out of the steering box!

Cheers,
Ron

Forrest

Your not dreaming antknee. How does 34 degrees of timing & 31 mpg sound?

http://www.turbodieselregister.com/f...ghlight=dakota

Graeme

Here are some other ways you could improve your fuel milage. Not all of them are economical (wouldn't pay for themselves in fuel savings)

Put synthetic oil in your rear end and differential. Put in a high flow exhauist asystem. Add an auxiliary overdrive. Add a second turbocharger. Change your mechanical engine fan to electric. Port your heads.

Rare1

Your milage is good, indicating you have a good mechanical setup and good maintenance. To improve milage further you must regulate your right foot and keep your speed under 60. Watch your boost gauge closely. Boost equals horsepower equals gulping fuel. Easy cruising at 60 with an empty truck would have your boost gauge about 5 PSI, each time it rises above that you are using more fuel. Keeping your boost only low enough to do the job will sip fuel. This means gradual starts, backing off on throttle (less boost and less speed) when climbing hills, no sudden increases in speed, coast the last 1/4 mile before a stop. Imagine an egg under your right foot. There'll be no thrills, but your wallet will thank you. After you master this technique, you are allowed 80 MPH up the on-ramp once each week, just to remind you that you can.

redramnc

I have to concur with Rare1 - my bone stock 2WD 96 w/3.55s and stock tires has gotten as good as 26 mpg on a slow trip to the mountains. I was driving like a blue haired old lady, running 55-60 with the windows down on a cool Fall day, enjoying the ride. Was really surprised when I checked the mileage and found it so high. I know the exact mileage of the route I took so I recalculated using that number and still came out right at 26 mpg

Some of you may remember the old "Drive the USA with Shell" booklets that full-service Shell stations used to give out back in the day - I have one stuck somewhere that points out that the best gas mileage is accomplished by paying attention to the brake - the less you have to use it the better the mileage will be. This is just a reminder to me that driving easy, gentle starts and stops, coasting up to stops, and glacial take-offs are all part of minimizing the energy required to get moving and stay moving. But that ain't no fun - so I run mine at 70-75 in the left lane most of the time and tease people that try to jump me at lights and want to get over in front of me - and still average 19-20 mpg (my revenge)

With a 4X4 you are getting about as good as can be expected.

Forrest

Boy does the Valet switch help ... wow. 18.something in town to 16.something. Now, I was playing with the new plate a little ... but that's a pretty big difference.