Well I am very close to getting my 1st gen (yay! ) and I've been hearing stories (ok maybe BS lol) of 1st Gens getting 20+ mpg. I've seen a few of you guys saying that all you can get is 16-18mpg empty and I'm a little confused on what the verdict is... Can the 1st gens actually get 20+mpg and still be somewhat powerful/modded?
If it helps any I'm looking at a 92 Ram 250 4x4.

Thanks!

 

well ok first i get between 550 and 650 km on 80 liters of fuel thats like 18 to 20 mpgs
look in my gallery for pics of my truck i got it on 36 inch tiresand played with it a little but no too much cause mpgs went down the things that helped my mpgs the most is holes in the air box,k&n filter,pump timing up 1/8 granted if i play with that pedal and make it smoke black it will go down to 16mpg depends on the right foot

 

For some reason the 12 valves, first gens in particular, seem to get very respectable fuel economy, given the weight and purpose of the vehicle. My last two tanks, both hand calculated, were 21mpg. No towing. 50/50 highway/byway. Right foot has a lot to do with it, as well as pump setup. Still, very respectable fuel economy is not at all uncommon or hard to get with a first gen. I don't know how my engine stacks up as far as power...it's was built in '87 so it's one of the first and it's got over 400k on it, but for a 7000 pound truck, she sure gets 'er done for me---goes like a scalded dog as far as I'm concerned

greg

 

Not too sure about milage. I've been on the same tank of fuel for a month now. I do alot of around town driving and full throttle take offs too.

 

just finished a round trip from TENN to NY to TENN... no mods that would effects mileage... i was carrying myself and my wife along with approx 1000lbs of tools. on top of that i had a hightop cap on the truck (probably weighs 300 pounds? that's a guess) i stuck the needle at around 69 the entire trip.. (about 1800-2000rpm) and observed a constant 23mpg... a friend of mine has an 01 2500HD chevy gasser that gets 8-10 unloaded.... so i am pretty pleased.

 

I get a constant 15 to 15.5 with mine, but it has stacks and a lot of black smoke, and I like a lot of black smoke, so I'm probably not the one to tell you about good fuel mileage.

 

I have been getting 800- 850km per tank when I keep my foot under controll. That's with timing and some pump mods and 16cm housing.

 

My grey truck in my sig gets around 19 mpg the green one is around 16 because of the weight (8000 lbs empty) and trans (stock auto). I think I could do 20 if I didn't have to drive down the 2 lane state hiway in stop and go traffic.

 

I'm getting 600 miles per tank @ 28gals per fill up = 21.43mpg mostly hiway at ludicrus speeds. It does change alot with your right foot. My first tank after the mods was like 17mpg but I had a that hurt for a week! So fuel good mileage can be yours in these great first gens.

Michael

P.S. I just took a trip with by bro in law '00 sport gasser and he had to fill up after driving 325 miles @ 24.5gal = 13.27mpg and his truck is only 6125lbs

 

A few years ago my dad got 26mpg all highway from Colorado to Ohio, with a completely stock 93 W250. But mostly it all depends on your right foot, type of driving (highway/city) and a little on mods.

 

The best I can do with my '89 Cummins is about 17 mpg if I am really gentle on the accelerator. Most of the time I get 16 mpg but I have tons of black smoke and lots of hp. Not sure what mods have been don to my truck. They were done when I got it. When you apply pressure to the pedal you can watch the black smoke roll!

 

It also depends on your location, i'm in Colorado so the altitude is going to drop my mpg, depends on your tranny, if its an auto the shape its in and O/D. I average about 16mpg between highway/city. I like to put my foot down alot though, and on the highway I go 75mph. If you only went 65 on the highway your mpg would be up 2-3mpg. There are so many factors but even a moderately bombed CTD still gets good mpg. Try that with a gasser!!

 

my 90 ctd will get 21 empty on interstate at 75 all day long, even after being moded slightly. in fact that is 2 mpg more than the previous own ever got stock. did get one run from chattanooga to atlanta and back of over 24 but never could back it up so i kinda discounted that one.

 

As far as mods that help - advancing the pump timing will help. Also, if you run on the highway a lot, don't go too small on the turbine housing, run a 16 cm at a minimum. Free flowing exhaust and intake will help as well.

 

wax your truck. it will look good as well. dont know how much good it does but im curious.

lots of air pressure in the tires.

drive it nice. also, cruise control is a good thing.

22mpg here for a best, and an average when on the highway.


Pat