Please Help!!!!!!!!!!(Horrible Gas Mileage)

I reciently purchased a 1998 showroom new extended cab Dodge Ram 2WD with a 316 and 84,000 miles. It has new plugs, wires, and a K & N airfilter. I am averaging 9 miles per gallon and everything that I have read is telling me that I should be getting 13 miles per gallon. Please HELP!!! Any Ideas? I get 9 miles in the city or on the highway. It doesn't matter if I am hulling a load or am empty. Still only nine miles to gallon.:banghead: :banghead:

Have you checked to see if the plenum gasket is blown? Remove the air cleaner unit and open the butterflies on the TB and look down with a flashlight and see if you have any pooling of oil. A small mirror helps to look around in there too.

Also, have you checked the air pressure in the tires?

Have you checked to see if the plenum gasket is blown? Remove the air cleaner unit and open the butterflies on the TB and look down with a flashlight and see if you have any pooling of oil. A small mirror helps to look around in there too.

I checked the plenum and it appears to be ok..Thanks for the advice...I am stumped the truck runs awesome but it appears to be running a little rich...
I also checked the air pressure in the tires all good....the truck I use for work has a V10..and it gets better gas mileage than my 318..

Sometimes the dealer will offer a 30-day warranty or something. Take them up on it and have them look it over.

You might try a OBD code reader to see if there are any stored trouble codes (some won't set off the 'check engine' light). Rich running conditions usually are associated with faulty MAF sensors (overoiled K&N filters can foul them), throttle position sensor (TPS), air or engine temp sensors, or due to a faulty oxygen sensor (This WILL set off the CEL). These will cause the engine to run in 'open-loop' mode as if it were always cold.

Next, try listening for a vacuum hose leak. A can of fuel injector or carb cleaner sprayed onto the vacuum connections will reveal a leak if the engine stumbles at that moment.

Good luck!

Sometimes the dealer will offer a 30-day warranty or something. Take them up on it and have them look it over.

You might try a OBD code reader to see if there are any stored trouble codes (some won't set off the 'check engine' light). Rich running conditions usually are associated with faulty MAF sensors (overoiled K&N filters can foul them), throttle position sensor (TPS), air or engine temp sensors, or due to a faulty oxygen sensor (This WILL set off the CEL). These will cause the engine to run in 'open-loop' mode as if it were always cold.

Next, try listening for a vacuum hose leak. A can of fuel injector or carb cleaner sprayed onto the vacuum connections will reveal a leak if the engine stumbles at that moment.

Good luck!



I took your advice and I had my local auto parts store check to see if there were any codes..Not a one..I have done some research and have found that the K&N airfilter may be the problem.. I removed it and replaced it with a Fram and it seems to have a noticeable increase in acceleration...Hopefully, this will better my gas mileage. Thanks for all the advice!!!Very helpful!!!