Ok so this will sound weird but I have a '93 W250 that has spent the last several years plowing snow in the Rocky Mountains. I am moving to Texas and taking this with me and I want to know 2 things.

What can be done to increase fuel economy besides the basics of proper tire inflation, a Gear Vendors Overdrive and sensible driving?

Also what would it take to ditch the ecm and go to a real basic setup? Alternator for one and.......?

I am selling my Duramax because I am tired of not being able to work on the truck myself, and the Dodge seems like heaven!

 

Welcome to the board!!

I you could please fill out your "Signature" in the "User CP" with the information about your truck, that would make it easier to help.

These trucks get decent mileage...even without a GV unit. But good highway tires...straight run tread will help. No mudder type tires. This alone could net you 1-3mpg. I run BF Goodrich Commercial T/A's...235/85/16's.

Also keep your road speed down. Your left foot has a ton of control over your fuel economy. Keep to 60-65mph.

Good air flow into the air cleaner helps, and a good free flowing exhaust. No muffler, or a straight through style unit. I have a 4" straight through muffler off a 3rd gen cummins truck. I really like it. Helps stop a lot of the drone, but still sounds good, and very little, if any restriction in flow.

 

What, are we in England???????......Mark

 

Baahaaaaaa!!
The laughter brought on so many tears I can't hardly see to type.

Oh I get it ...left foot could slip the clutch

 

A '93 should already have an over drive tranny whether it's an auto or the Getrag. Unless you drive a million miles you'll never make back in fuel savings what you would spend on a gear vendors OD unit. Do you have 4.10 or 3.55 gears? That will make a difference on the highway. Either case, use your right foot to control your mileage. That's the best and cheapest way to save money.

You can bypass the ECM, there are write ups on this and other sites on how to do it. You can wire up an 89-91 external voltage regulator to get rid of the ECM VR. You will need to wire up an OD bypass switch if your truck is an auto. You can add a manual switch for the grid heaters as well, and then only have to worry about the CC if your truck even has that. Unless your ECM is bad, then I really don't see a reason to bypass it. When it goes out, then do it.

 

If it's an automatic. you could also go and stop, go and stop too much. That would also do it. But, I think that around here, it's the right pedal that does the damage...Mark

 

I think since all you guys are obviously nuts I have found a home! Thanks for the feed back. I will post the truck description as I have been requested to. Part of the hope for the GV is to maybe keep up with traffic a little better and not be a moving roadblock. I think the tire suggestion is the best of the bunch. Given that this truck has been on heavy lugged tires FOREVER I never even considered that part. The last time I checked mileage was after hauling a dozen trailer loads out and it averaged 18. What should. i expect if I take all your advice?

 

So you are movin' to Texas? What part, if you don't mind telling?

 

If your average is 18 you have Nothing to worry about . Running 75+ I can pull down 16 so your doing Great .

 

When my crewcab was a 2wd, and running 3.54 gears...and the NV4500....and the commercial T/A tires. No mods other then no muffler. I was seeing 18-20mpg mixed in-town and hwy. Best I ever got...straight Hwy and running empty, was just shy of 28mpg!!

But 18 with lugged tires is not bad. With a good straight tread tire...running the full pressure, 80lbs, you could see the previously mentioned 1-3 mpg.

And yes I meant the right foot. .....

 

In answer to Twitchy...we bought a house in Fredericksburg. Tharashingcows could u explain what u mean about fuel pressure? Probably something ya'll take for granted but remember I'm the dummy here!

 

Trashingcows, was referring to FULL pressure in the tires [80 PSI], not FUEL pressure.

 

If you're moving to Texas, then the first thing I would buy are these....

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....13674x012-tire

Why ? because I have a set already, and they help me gain almost 3 mpg when I swap them over from my winter / crap weather use tires. They're HORRIBLE in cold / snow / wet weather, but awesome in Hot Dry weather, and the mileage I make up each year is well worth the switching around.

 

Now I know you are a newbie....... We have lots of folks to give ya a run for your money...... We have 52 pages of discussions on dead shrews ( the real thing, not your mother in law ), 40 pages of the best way to install a concrete bedliner, and 37 pages discussing the finer points of an Airplane on a conveyor.......

You have a Loooonnnggggg ways to grow Grasshopper.

Heck, I have been here over 8 years now and have barely cracked into the top 10 dummies on DTR list.

Work hard, you may have a future!

As for fuel economy, get yourself a tach, don't be in a hurry to ditch your ECM, it helps in many ways, including the ability to easily add an accurate tach, and keep your RPM's between 1600 and 2000 ROM cruising, that's the sweet spot for fuel economy.

Anyway, welcome!

 

Thank you


If ya get the air in, (air filter, maybe slight mod on the turbo, like a 60 mm compresser, let the exhaust go, tweak the amazing Bosch VE pump a bit, you'll have the same problem most of us have, that is excessive rear tire wear. If it's an automatic, a shift kit, a few hardened parts, and a low stall torque converter will drastically improve drivability and moderately improve economy, if you can take heed of the right foot mods.

Considering yer pushing 3 tons of mean monster around, 18 ain't bad. If you do all these guys say and can believe them, you'll get into the 30's. Realistically, low 20's is achievable on a regular basis.

You have a long row to hoe to achieve chief dummy, however.