1997 Dodge Ram 1500 5.2 4x4 UPDATE PICKED IT UP TONIGHT!!! :) 02-02-11

[MrCompton734]

Getting back into the fullsize world on monday. With this 1997 Dodge Ram Club Cab 5.2 4x4!!! She's got 88k on her and I'm paying about 5360.00 after tax/title/plate fees. Have to finance so 1500 down. Paying it off really quick though to avoid the interest.......



1. Is this a good deal guys? (I'm in a pickle so it's the only truck I've found worth the $$)
2. Typical mpg you've heard out of these?
3. Are the trannys as BOMBPRONE as they are in the 360 rams?
4. Good mods to do for mpg?



Says by better lubrication you can achieve smoother drivetrain(duh), temperature drop (around 8-10 cooler), shows that it took 20ft lb less to turn tires, says better mpg.......but I remember when it aired on tv it showed how many mpgs it actually got better......

Any info?

[Flat_Black]

9-13mpg, iv had my 97 club cab for 3 years and the only problems have been ball joints and wheel bearings. just remember the tranny fluid is ATF+4 ONLY dont use any other then that or you will have tranny trouble. change to a aftermarket trans cooler to help also.

[MrCompton734]

http://www.spike.com/full-episode/fuel-saving-street/41109

There it is, they claimed they went from 8-10 to 16.5 mpg.

[Flat_Black]

iv seen it. trust me you wont get much better then 13.

[MrCompton734]

iv seen it. trust me you wont get much better then 13.

Well my 94 1500 4x4 w/360 was getting better than 13. I don't plan on lifting or anything. Just some good tires. My other ram got at least 12mpg and an occasional 16/17 on trips.

[Flat_Black]

sweet. good luck with the new truck.

[marshall]

My buddy had the same year truck and beat it into the ground...must have put 400,000 on it. bought it new and never maintained it, plowed snow, work truck...impressive

[Disturban]

Says by better lubrication you can achieve smoother drivetrain(duh), temperature drop (around 8-10 cooler), shows that it took 20ft lb less to turn tires, says better mpg.......but I remember when it aired on tv it showed how many mpgs it actually got better......

Any info?

I changed everything in the wifes Bravada to Synthetics, both diffs, transmission, transfercase, oil and it went from 20mpg on the hwy 16cty to 20mpg on the hwy and 16cty...did not make any difference in MPG!

Now if you had something like a 1994 GEO Metro that got 48mpg on the Hyw and switched everything over to SYN you might get 1mpg extra, but IMO it dont make a dam bit of difference in a truck!

I was not expecting to get a miracle extra 2mpg though, I run SYN fluids for long drain intervals and better protection.

[MrCompton734]

Well I can tell you I loved Royal Purple in everything I've ran it in. Instantly felt smoother and even took away the tick in my old escort gt I had. I think that the decreased temp is the biggest thing I like. But what are some other ways to get an mpg or 2? I've heard of switching to an electric fan setup can free 1 mile up? Headers. intake? I'm planning on keeping this truck for a very long time. So anything to help it last would be good.

[RIP_K52007]

my 88' ram never got over 6-7 mpg with the 318..... i think it mostly depends on your driving style..

[cnoswalt78]

my dad has one, he says its the best truck he has ever had. on the freeway he gets 18mpg max just never go above 60mph, he also has 33'' tires on it. drives nice but always seems like its guttless but it dose the job.

[MrCompton734]

my 88' ram never got over 6-7 mpg with the 318..... i think it mostly depends on your driving style..

This is probably the most important I think driving style. Vacuum gauge possibly to monitor my driving and figure out whats best for mpg? The truck has 1 task pretty much. About 40 miles a day. 50mph both ways almost no stops usually, and then to be the "band" truck which will haul all of our music gear and eventually a trailer. Anyone ever use a vacuum gauge? What I used to do is set a specific goal rpm to not hit. Like almost idle it up to speed nice and slow.

[dodgeramsport]

i will say im a big dodge guy and have had a few 2 with 318's and one i drive often has a 360 also..in both 318s i could pull 16mpg all day every day when i first got her..it was lifted 5.5inches with 33's it was a 97 sport ecsb so pretty much the same truck your looking at just lifted..and the worst i saw for my first year of driveing it was 15...but then my exhaust rusted and i just straight piped it and the o2 sensors went out and then i droped down to 10-12 mpg..i had 168k on my dodge when i sold it and it had the original tranny and you would have thought it was new..just DONT tow with the overdrive on and it will be fine usually. as far as best rpm's for mpg just wait till iit falls into OD and let it run at about 1800rpms or so(i belive thats where mine ran at 55) but dont hold me to that number. and royal purple works amazeing..we changed a chevy completely over and gained 3mpg and my uncle just did it in his dodge and gained maybe a half mpg(he just did tranny and t-case) but i highly recomend it

[MrCompton734]

Well someone loaned me 500 til monday and I ended up getting it today. And just WOW!!! Just getting in this thing had smiling from cheek to cheek. Like a brand new truck. And I didn't notice while checking it out, but the bed is RHINO LINERED or similar. Truck is from Akron, Ohio or somewhere close from the dealership cards i found in there. I'm thinking I may be the 3rd owner or so. Anyways, I can say I do not miss the 360 at all. It's really not that big of a difference, however I have not gotten bigger tires nor do I plan to, but maybe I'd notice with larger tires? Either way this is by far the nicest truck I've owned and I plan a long and healthy love life. Doing the fluids next month. All RP in everything. Better safe than REALLY sorry lol.