This old clunker, which - I'm trying to fix up - really surprised me today.

I've had this truck for a week now and filled her up last weekend. I zeroed the odometer to check the gas mileage and didn't know what to expect, until today...

When I pulled in to fuel up again, I checked the trip meter and had put 466 miles on her, leaking injector and all. I was hoping for 10 miles to the gallon.

It took all of 26.3 gallons to top her off again and when I did the math, I came to just less than 18 miles per gallon. This blows my mind.

Granted I'm not pulling or carrying anything, but this put a bit more faith in this ole truck than I had last week when I bought her.

I'm starting to like this.

 

your running kinda low from what I have heard on those late 90's models... I have heard rumor of closer to 25 mpg.. If you get a chance, you might want to check the valves and cylinder wall to see what kind of shape they are in.

 

My 89 got 18.6 last fillup with mostly town driving and lots of start/stop short trips.

Edwin

 

my 90 gets 19 mpg if i stay at 65 or less. the best i got was 23 the worst was 11 ,running in 24" of snow all day long

 

So, hypothetically, if I change all my fluids to synthetic (oil, trans, diff), make my planned mods (4" turbo back exhaust, scotty II, 10# plate, 3k gsk) and new tires, what kind of approximate mileage improvement (normal driving/no lead-foot) can I anticipate?

 

I got 14mpg on my last tank... I blame it on the plate and the GSK, and what it does to my right foot...

 

I get, when i stay off of it mind you..

Approximately 16-17 in the city, and 20-21 on the highway with 285 Liberators, maybe just a slightly leaky filter... i think... But no diesel smell, and im happy with the mileage... Oh 3.54 gears, 2000 RPMS at 69 mph, at 70 its a lil over, not too much. hope this helps increase your faith in your ride... if i aint gettin 25 mpg, its cause of all the goodies i have, and 4wd dont seem to help that much either... as long as im gettin that mileage, im happy...

Tx

 

25 mpg is a bit of a pipe dream and won't happen on average in real conditions with most trucks.

Maybe rolling downhill with a tailwind.

All those mileages are pretty good when compared to similar trucks (ford/Chev)

 

Enjoy that increased mpg over a gasoline engined vehicle!
Mine is much better than my old gas clunker P/U...
Just keep reminding yourself that at the diesel pumps nowadays

K.