what is DIESEL MPG ? on 4wd

They can get around 15 to 17 depending on how much you rod it. Some people claim to get over 20 with a chip, but on a 12 valve, its all mechanical, so you can't put a programmer or tuner on it. But thats just a rough value of what you can get with your Cummins.

I found a website Fuelly.com where it lists all Ram 2500 Diesels-every year and the average mpg. So for 1995 average for 10 people is 16.5mpg, 1996 for 18 people average is 16.8mpg but 1997 for 7 people is average 12.6 mpg ! Shows every person and their 5-10 fillups recording the gallons and mileage.

There are many people stating average of 18 mpg, and some claiming 20 or even 22 mpg for their 1995-1996 Ram2500 Diesel. Question- Is there a difference in MPG for Manual vs Automatic (5 speed stick vs 4 speed auto) ? And is there a difference between 2wd and 4wd on highway mpg ? I also read that in 1994-1997 some 2500 Diesels are light-duty at 5,200 lbs and some are heavy duty at 8,200 lbs(Dodge made both models for first few years) ?

The 12 valve trucks tend to get about the best mileage of all the Cummins powered trucks Dodge has released. In stock form they don't make a ton of power but will get the job done. I have owned 3 common rail trucks as well as one VP truck, and the mileage between all of them has been pretty consistent. They have all been 4wd, two stick and two autos, and on average they run about 18mpg empty. I have never noticed any significant difference in economy with a stick vs. an auto but there is normally a difference in a 2wd vs. 4wd. A 2wd truck will normally get a few mpg better.

Found out specs are: 1995 Ram 2500 Diesel is 160hp for Automatic and 175hp for Manual. 1996 is 180hp for Automatic and 215hp for manual. 1997 Ram 2500 Diesel has same horsepower for both manual and auto. Wikipedia stated that first few years 1994-1997 Ram 2500 was made in both light duty and heavy duty models which were around 5,000 and 8,000 lb vehicle weights. Later they kept only heavy duty.

Diesel power magazine had 'Project Triple Threat' where they worked on a 1995 Ram 2500 Diesel. Made the stock 160 hp to over 200 hp for free by just moving the fuel plate all the way to the front. Then after Dodge reps told them- they removed the fuel plate for even more h.p. and made torque levels over 500 pushing the factory torque converted to its limits !

Clay- Did you ever own a 1994-1997 Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel ? Need the 4wd as will drive in snow in winter, but was wondering if air intake and exhaust or headers would add some MPG ?

Yes you can make more power by removing the fuel plate, gutting the afc and turning the star wheel in the injection pump, but your sacrificing a lot of mpg's there. I have personally done this to one of my own trucks, and the fuel pump went out in less than a month. If you do these modifications, I recommend not turning the star wheel too much and getting an EGT gauge. Your exhaust will be much, MUCH hotter now that your adding more fuel into the equation. Just a heads up.

Question- Does air intake and exhaust help for horsepower and gas mileage on the 1994-1997 Ram 2500 Diesel ? (was told that can't use a programmer on these inline 6 engines)

Jeremy- Don't want to loose MPG or create mechanical problems, so will not do that. Heard people moved fuel plate 1 inch ...

Yes it does. More power than mpgs. You'll gain like 12 HP I think? And maybe a mile per gallon or two. And you can move it forward, but your still sacrificing some mpgs though. You shouldn't have any mechanical problems there, just injecting a little more fuel into the engine. It will blow some smoke, if that's what your looking for, and give you power, but not the mpgs your looking for.

I was looking to make my own fuel from WVO that costs me around 80 cents a gallon (as need to blend). But still would like to get 15-18 mpg or more. I heard the Banks Monster and bundle kits get massive HP for diesels BUT are for newer models as can use Programmer or Chips. For 1994-1997 Ram 2500 Diesel heard it's a straight 12- can't use a computer programmer, but guess air flow would help ?

No a 12 valve cannot use a programmer because it is all mechanical. Yes air flow would help. An air intake and an exhaust will increase mpgs and power at the same time. Not to mention, with a straight pipe, the old Cummins sound great and give you a free flowing exhaust to cool down EGTs, increase power, and give you a little bit better fuel mileage.

This magazine article shows 1997 Ram Dually Diesel getting 30 mpg on highway http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/general/0708dp_1997_dodge_ram_ 3500_dualie_cummins/viewall.html

It wouldn't come up for me, but that's a claim, and sorry to say, I don't believe it. I've never heard of a diesel TRUCK (not car, because they can get amazing mpgs) getting anywhere close to 30 mpg. If you have an 2003 and up with the average mpg and are getting ready to say "well mine gets 27 going down the highway," maybe downhill, but you have to do all the math. You can't hardly trust those things because it varies so often. But back to the original topic, I've never heard of a truck getting 30 mpg, and probably never will.

They said they got 30.9 but they taped the hood, fog lights, put windows up- no air or ac, folded the side mirrors in, duct-taped the rims so no air gets through, turned off the engine electric fans until gets 215 degrees or hotter- they say diesels like to run warm ... Will try to find the "google search terms for you to see article"

1997 Dodge Ram 3500 Dualie Cummins- Diesel Power Magazine type that on Google Search and click on the website for Diesel Power Magazine to see article

My brother has a 1994 Toyota Pickup 2.4L 4 Cylinder and it gets 25 mpg on highway and 20 city. Tires are 225/70 14. With factory 195/75 14 it may get 27 mpg on highway. But it is also paper-weight truck compared to Ram 3500. 20 mpg highway for Ram 2500 Diesel is pretty good !

Yeah, anything over 18 is damn good. But you'd be lucky to get 20 honestly.

And well I guess if you taped everything up and turned most of the stuff off, yeah you maybe could get 30.9 miles to the gallon. But are you really gonna do that every day? No.

Do you know if in 1994-1997 the Ram 2500 Diesel was made in both a 5,000 lb. and 8,000 lb. model ? Wikipedia said it was but not sure if they referring to the Gas engine 2500's .....

Honestly, I'm not completely sure. But I wouldn't trust Wikipedia for anything. Anybody could change the information. If I was you, I'd just search it on Google and see what comes up.

Found out Curb-weight is 4,800 lbs for short bed and 5,200 lbs for long bed-give or take 40 lbs. The GVWR means the curb weight(empty) Plus the maximum payload and capacity of passengers=8,800 lbs.

I had a 2001 with a programmer (tuner) and got 23.5 mpg at 65 mph freeway on cruise control. Keeping it at 55 mph I could get as high as 27.5. Never any higher, that's driving it to those speeds like a little old lady. Driving normal, accelerating normally I get around 22 mpg

My '98 6bt 12 valve cummins gets close to 28 mpg on long trips. 5 speed manual, on the highway. Under load....considerably less. As a daily driver? Mid 20's. In the winter I throw about 800lbs of sand bags in the back for weight, and I get roughly 16 mpg.

95 dodge ram 2wd stick reg cab , I get 25 mpg on road at 55 mph. The heavy duty ratings that you are referring to are the cummins with the auto trans. that had a Dana 70 axle and the manual 5 speed that had the Dana 80 which was the same axle that the 3500 dually had. The designation with the 2500 single axle stick was 2500 hd

I have a 1995 12 valve cummins 2500 heavy duty 8800 lbs ext cab 2 wheel drive. It has the exhaust brake 4 speed auto, pyro, turbo, and oil temp gauge. overloads in back for a 5th wheel hitch. I took my stock airbox and tubing completely out put a cold air intake air filter directly onto my turbo, and cut my exhaust in front of my baffle, although pipe is still in place with a gap increased my horsepower and torque by an extreme amount. I live in central CA. drove to Los Angeles round trip at 75 mph on less than half of a tank of fuel. Engine has 204,000 original miles on it still going strong. Total cost $27 for the filter and about 10 minutes to cut the pipe, because 1998 and newer diesels in CA have to be smogged. Any comments Mike

Hey Jeremy what did you think of my post on my 95 2wd. I got ridiculed on the diesel forum, saying it's ridiculous that I couldn't get those good milage readings. I would like your opinion. As you well know the mid 90's cummins the fuel gauge isn't accurate so you have to go by milage. I also found out that it can be dangerous if your take out your injector plate the throttle can get stuck and it could cause an accident.

I had 2 dodge diesels...both extracab automatic years 94 and 96 2WD.....LIGHT LOADS with light foot I got 20-22mpg consistently ...pulling loaded flat ground.. 25 foot 5th wheel got 13mpg easy...fuel mileage never varied.....

I get 18 + a little at 70-72mph, 93 2wd auto, get 20 w/ 90 4wd with a gear vendors splitter and 3.08 gears. Ive dialed in the odo over many miles so these are accurate mileages. Hauling my single axle trailer with about 1000 lbs added, mileage drops to 14 with either truck. The 93 has a performance pump and injectors 3200 rpm springs , big exhaust all done by previous owner, and the 90 is bone stock.

2001 2500 4wd/ 5 speed, 289,000. Cold Air Intake, 5” straight exhaust. Sounds crazy but I SWEAR it’s true... 70 mph interstate 22.7 mpg and 18 mpg in town.

i have a 98 mechanical 12 valve dually and get 17 pulling a 44 foot pace enclosed fifth wheel with 17 Harleys in it running lowpro 19.5 toyos 3:73 with a 5 speed and yes it has a electronic programmer and yes its a mechanical motor 4 inch to a 5 inch tail humming and rolling coal

it has more to do with your foot and what type of driving you do