Posted by Keith in Washington on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 at 12:47PM :
In Reply to: crewcab fuel mileage? posted by Kevin Sullivan on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 at 12:01PM :
Gas mileage is so dependent on so many things. Being a W200 I assume you are not turning the front axle or transfer case when you say 6 MPG. The lack of lock out hubs can really hit gas mileage. How heavy of a lead foot do you have? When did you last have a tune up? Yes the carb could need adjustment or rebuilding. Tires make a big difference. If you are running large or agressive tires forget about getting good mileage. Check the alignment. There are alot of factors that play into gas mileage. Is you exhaust system restrictive? If you are really serious take it to a good carb shop and have them put is on a scope and exhaust analyzer and have them take a good look at how the engine is running. DO NOT TAKE IT TO ONE OF THE CHAIN TUNE UP SHOPS. Take it to a good shop that knows what they are doing and have a reputation to protect. They are far and few between. (I currently have on and it is the only shop that I would trust with any of my vehicles. If you were in western Washington I would recommend this shop). Lastly Dodge has never been really great on gas milage but I suspect that you should be able to get it up a few MPG and possibly just over 10 MPG if all goes well.
Interesting side note: The texture of the road can make 2 to 4 MPG difference. I have tested this over and over with a computerized fuel flow meter. Smooth cement roads give you better mileage. Rougher asphalt roads decrease your mileage. Apparently the exposed aggregate in the asphault causes a lot of extra friction/rolling resistance.