wat year do u run? does it really help to run synthetic oil? mines 89 3.55 4x4 5sp any ideas? i get around 11-13 it seems, maybe the 0,2 sensors or somthin i dont know

 

I have a 95. It has stock sized street tires on it, which probably helps. I also drive pretty conservatively. You have to look at the little details to get the most out of your fuel. If the truck pulls to one side it's going to waste gas. If you have "truck tires" they might not be as efficient. If you have an old O2 sensor it's going to adjust your fuel more slowly.

 

Other things as well, like cleaning the MAF sensor, cleaning the throttle body, and using some injector cleaner all can help.

 

its all the little stuff that kills mpg. more to add to my to fix list lol

 

Until I get that tank selector valve replaced, it's hard to tell ... when I bought my 90 3 months ago I got about 15-16 on the 300 mile drive home at between 75 and speedo buried. I don't think I can do 60-65 .... in my car I am still in 3rd gear at that speed ... and the Turbo is cranking out about 16PSI .... I look at FPG in the Beetle .... that's Fun Per Gallon ... the only way to measure the extra cost of premium fuel.

 

You might want to switch that to GPF...the way you have it (FPG)- a lower number is better, and that just doesn't make sense. switch it up to gallons of gas per fun, and it will make a lil more sense. haha

 

My 4.9 doesn't get gas mileage at all! Guess it's because I don't have overdrive.
-Matt

 

Wow, 0 mpg. That must be expensive.

 

Yeah, it's pretty expensive. Just kidding, it gets about 13-14mpg. Plus we drilled my fan cluch where it would not slip and it hurts the mpg. It helps the truck stay cool on hot summer days.
-Matt

 

Not a whole lot you can do to squeeze from teh stock engine build, period.

Since that engien has been around a while, probably not much over time was done to keep up with the times. So, it probably could use better head flow--porting/polishing, a cam and some rockers, probably a higher compression ratio...but let's find the specs first...

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/sp...-150&trimid=-1

Engine Specifications
4.9L 145 hp I6
Horsepower 145 (at 3400 rpms)
Torque (lb-ft) 265 (at 2600 rpms?)
Valves/Valve Configuration No data
Displacement (cc) 4917
Bore X Stroke (in.) 4.00 X 3.98
Compression Ratio 8.8:1
Fuel Type/System No data/MPFI
Turbocharger No
Supercharger No

So, you've got an engine that has a good compression ratio for forced induction, but no forced induction. Bad. The engine needs revs to reach its peak ratings, but doesn't like to rev. Bad-Bad. You get the idea. For any real impovement, you have to get past cold air intakes and TB spacers...

 

When we bought our 95 new, it got 23MPG. It has a 5 speed, 2WD and a 2.73 rear end.

 

2wd right?

 

2.73s are great for mpg but forget trying to tow or haul anything. Kinda defeats the purpose of a truck.

 

my cousin got a 89 a lot like mine for haulin his dirt bike around, its a 4sp 2wd so wat would his rear gears be? im thinkin 2.73s.

 

yeah, the 2:73's suck for pulling, but i wouldn't go much higher. I'm wanting to put something like 3:08, or a 3:25. If you go too high you can't really utilize the torque in the lower rpm's. I'm suprised how the 2.73 rear end does, but it's way too low of gears in the 300....it's hard to outrun go-karts and scooter's. Old women out run me in the wall-mart parking lot.