Diesel Bombers - Is 25mpg/city possible in a full size pickup?

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Fuel milage is primarily a factor of vehicle weight and gearing. With what ever motor you choose; you will get better milage in a lighter vehicle with taller gears.
I would love to see a 6BT or D-Max in an S10 truck or S10 Blazer.

You know they did make a 4bt ISB engine for a couple of years.

I think if you could come across one of those it would run quiter and smother while also getting better fuel economy and even more power.

Just a thought if you have time to search for one in your area.

p.s I am currently averaging around 27mpg with my 97 f-150 4bt swap

I'm getting 28-30 mpg freeway on my 2wd 82 Chevy Suburban with the 6.2. It has 3.08 gearing and overdrive transmission and cruises along at 1600 rpm at 60 mph. Some of the mods I have done that increased gas mileage was headers, free flowing exhaust, ported heads and installed a timing gear. The trick to higher gas mileage on with these engines is to use the older 82-84 heads with smaller precombustion chambers, no turbo and tall gearing.

Ford Ranger or S-10 + 4BT Cummins + ZF 5-speed (gasser version for lower first) + GV overdrive unit + Ford 9" rear with 3.00 gears + good tuning + smart right foot = every bit of 25 mpg and probably much more :yeah:

Just my opinion...:w2:

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F-150 ex-cab short box would probably work too

well guys there are a few trucks with monster mileage that I can think of...a 4BT and a 600hp 50mpg 12V I think from the diesel power mag site. thats just to name a few. If you throw a 4bt with any kind of power in a moderately light vehicle there is almost no reason to get less than 25mpg imo.

oh and sorry the 12V 50mpg machine was 700hp

2007 Dodge Ram - Cummins Diesel Engine - Diesel Power Magazine
take a gander at this

and here is the Bronco I was thinkin of
1966 Ford Bronco - Photos - Diesel Power Magazine

There are quite a few high mpg machines out there even some with big power numbers

Quote:

Originally Posted by wes-in-nc (Post 424307)

Is 25mpg/city possible in a full size pickup?

Answer is still no - not without extreme modification. I don't believe the OP was going for engine swaps and resto-mod conversions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NadirPoint (Post 476794)

Answer is still no - not without extreme modification. I don't believe the OP was going for engine swaps and resto-mod conversions.

I disagree... Mileage has a LOT to do with driving style. If one were to obey all the tips and tricks to "hypermileage" then it might be possible.

What the reality is, it's probably not very possible for a "practical everyday" fullsize to make 25+ mpg...:nope:...not without some good modification, like NadirPoint said

Quote:

Originally Posted by wes-in-nc (Post 424307)

Hello all. My current ride is a '95 Chevy k2500 with the 7.4 gasser/auto. This truck has been a very good truck and tows well. The down side is that it gets 10-11 mpg hwy and probably 8-ish in the city. I will be selling/trading this truck in the near future and I'm trying to plan ahead and start gathering parts for a swap. My question is; can I get 25 mpg in the city from a full size truck with some sort of diesel engine? I'm not really interested in the popular cummins swaps but I don't know what all engines are available to swap. I'm not going to hot rod the truck but it will need to be a daily driver in the city. My only requirements are that it be smooth running and not real loud. Any one have any ideas on what a good engine would be? Am I asking for the impossible? Don't hold back on your thoughts on this. My goal is to have a nice truck that gets great mileage. Thanks!!

PS.
I'm open on make and model of truck as long as its a full size 4x4.

You'd have to do a 4 cylinder diesel swap into something like a Ford Ranger to get that kind of mileage. I'm sorry but IMHO there's no way in hell you'll ever see 25mpg from a fullsize pickup truck in city driving. The old 6.5 Chev half tons were pretty good. IIRC my uncle's 94 was getting about 19mpg city and ~29mpg highway. I haven't seen a single full size pickup truck do better than what his truck did...

Oh, sorry - you ARE looking to do an engine swap! :ouch:

Still not thinking it's possible. The problem is with a 3+ ton vehicle it just takes too much energy to start and accelerate. In "city" driving you are assuming alot of starting and acceleratring, where the most fuel is consumed in any type vehicle.

The reason the early manual 2wd Dodge Cummins trucks were so good is because they had the right combo: Relatively light (for the 3/4t class) with a very efficient drivetrain in 5sp trim. But that peak 25mpg number is a "highway" number.

That's what I'd be driving if I wanted a dedicated tow vehicle or DD for the street. Add 4x4, weight goes up, mpg goes down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Edahall (Post 476716)

I completely agree! My 82 Burb 4x4 gets high 20s as well and is a sure starter. I just don't understand why more people won't consider this swap, since these engines are incredible in my opinion. Hell, even the old HMMVs ran them...

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In fact, I am thinking of replacing the 350 in my 89 GMC 4x4 with a 6.2 for the economy and coolness factor. Then I will have only one gasser in my fleet to worry about poor mileage.