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I have a 318 half ton auto dodge (just as big of a pig) and can top a little over 20mpg in the summer time with slow and carefull driving.
Your Dodge gets the best MPG with
1. No stops
2. With Quick Acceleration (approx 3/4 throttle) but not excessive accel if you will be stopping right away (conserve) momentum.
3. Driving steady around 35-45mph
4. Cost in neutral to about 8-10mph before stopping
5. Use standard stock size tires air to about 50psi.
If your tires are bigger than stock your odometer and speedo WILL be off, you will need to use this to determine your REAL FE. Also my dodge lost about 25% fuel economy with big tires.
Anyway Dodges your vintage always have bad intake gaskets ($50 fix +3-5mpg once fixed) and the transmissions electronics are always screwed up, also the rear pinion angles screw up and should be changed if they are near binding (this removes 33% of your power if they are wrong) Brake drag is also a big problem on 99-03 Dodges, align the thing, fix the intake free up the brakes as much as possible and set the driveshaft angles to the most fuel efficient position and post back here.
Other than that Dodge Autos are POOR for MPG, the transmissions have terrible shift points and are slushy and your idle speed is way higher than it should be. Your truck with an MT and 2WD would be 180degrees opposite on gas mileage. (15mpg summer without trying)
Might be worth 250-$500 in parts plus your time and effort to put in a 5sp stick.
Good Luck
Ryan
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