I use to have a 1976 Dodge Van with a stock 318 2bbl that I added dual exhaust to (I will post a picture as soon as I can upload to my photobucket account) but gas was cheap back in 1988 and I can't remember what kind of mileage I use to get.

I'm going to buy another Dodge Van in the near future, something around 1999-2002. I'm hoping to score one with a 5.3L which I think is a 318 but don't these vans have TBI?

Kind of was wonder what kind of mileage a short-mid size 150 would get with a 5.3L auto trans, dual exhaust or cat back into dual pipes off the converter.

If you have a Dodge Van like this, please post the kind of mileage you get.

Does anyone make an aluminum intake for a 5.3L with a spread bore carb mount? I'm thinking a Q-Jet might get better gas mileage over the TB injection, any thoughts, has anyone done this before?

Thanxs

Putting a carb in place of fuel injection will lower mileage, it can't compete, the newer engines are designed for the fine mist fuel injection.
My 99 E-350 ext 5.4 V-8 gets 10 MPG city, 13 HWY lately, I've lost 2 MPG somehow, no codes, so I've no clue other than it has 140,000 miles on it.

BTW my 99 Dakota 318 had a throttle body, but fuel was injected in the runners thats not a TBI.

My '89 b250 will get 9 to 11 city, and 14.5 to 17.5 highway averaging low 16's at no more than 68mph.

318 TBI. After 93 or '4 they went with multiport fuel injection. these engines have higher power ratings but I have not heard of them getting much better mileage than I experience. Doesn't mean they can't though.

I carry a bunch of extra weight in tools, and other gear and have a raised fiberglass roof.

the 318 is a 5.2 i think is how it goes. fuel injection is always better i would think, more precise. i have a 75 shorty 318, AT, headers, dual exhaust, 4 barrel and i get 14 mpg. thats my everyday driving, in town and highway mix. not thinkin your gonna get much better with a newer van whether its a longer one or not, however.

My 87 lwb van with a /6 is only getting 11-12, but i have seen as good as 17-18 out of some of the dodges if driven nicely. Good to see another person interested in vans in central Fl! Welcome!

I sure would like to put an O/D in my shorty behind the 3.9, as i only get 14.7 at Best.

My old 78 w/ 318 carb would get 10-12 mpg

I used to have a 90 with 3.9 v6 FI 22mpg

When running, my 85 w/ 225 1barel carb was getting 18-22mpg but slow as hell.

Some how going and coming home from the Beverly beach van in I got 21.5 out of my 90 Ford hi top.But the average is 15 - 17.5 mpg

Back when I owned my 78 Dodge 318, I put a Holly Ecconomaster two barrel carb on it and got it to 19 mpg and still had plenty of power. It was a 3/4 ton so had no catalytic converter and I disconnected the air conditioner (hey, I was younger then and didn't care about the cool, wanted the power. A newer one will not be the same though with the injection instead of carb.

Thanks for the replies.

I'm thinking my shorty got around 13-14mpg City very light on the gas petal and timing my speed to hit the traffic lights when turning green and maybe 18-20mpg highway going 55 mph.

Gas was only about .88 cents a gallon in 1988 too so it could of been worse and I didn't feel it in my wallet.

Here's a pic, I'll try to upload a couple more in the next few days.



I plan on duplicating the van above but without the silver stripes and I plan to airbrush a mural on both sides.