1999 dodge starting

[dodgemuddingben]

My 1999 dodge ram with the 5.9l I bought takes a abnormal amount of time to start. It can take up to 10 seconds to start at times. But once started it runs fine. Its kind of embaressing starting it up in big crowds. wonder if theres a way to fix it? My truck is also getting horrible milelage even on highway 9-11mpg is best i've gotten. Figured a cold air intake and throttle body spacers might help but it didnt.

Thanks Ben

[bradrhale]

the best i am getting is 11.7 from mine. another dude here is getting right there at what i am getting out his. same year and engine.
a spacer is not going to help contrary to what the box says. it is all a sales ploy with over exaggerated results. dont buy into it. i do have a K&N on mine and am happy with the results of it. i do not know if this is going to save you enough money at the pump but does give it a little more pep.
as for your starting problems, lets eliminate possibilities first. have you tried letting the pump pressure up all the way before starting it?? do you hear the pump kick off before you try to start it?? when was the last time you did a tune up?? have you cleaned carbon deposits out of the throttle body on top yet??

[dodgemuddingben]

Sorry for taking so long to reply. But yes i have let the pump pressure up and that still doesnt help. The guy I bought the truck from said he just did a tune up about a year ago from now. So i really dont know if he did or not. I will have to take my throttle body off and look at it. Its a chore though because of my cold air intake was a pain to get on with the throttle body spacer. Thanks for the reply

[Crmzendrgone]

My father's 01 5.9 only gets 11-12 so i think thats common. I 2nd bradrhale's advise.

[dodgemuddingben]

Well thats just something i'm going to have to live with because i can't sell it now put too much money into it. Seeing if i can find a way to make it get a little better. But i am getting about 10-11 highway driving like a grandma. But me being 16 i like to get into it everynow and then. I'll try to get a tune up and all that hoping it will help. I cant check my gas milelage right now anyways cause my rear speed sensor just went out and speedo and odometer doesnt work. But my dads truck is a 2001 5.2l 5 speed and it gets up to 20mpg on highway.

[Crmzendrgone]

Gotta Love those manuals

[dodgemuddingben]

Yes i am very curious to why they didnt make the 360 5.9l in the 5 speed because that would be best both worlds and do twice as good in mud and gas milelage. Also wonder how hard it is to put a 5 speed in a 360 auto.

[Crmzendrgone]

Not sure if the manual could handle the power difference, maybe thats why they didn't. Don't remember how stout the 5spd is.

[bradrhale]

i really dislike how the breathers are setup on these trucks anyways. they are a pain to take off and on.
your dads mileage sounds right on key. the 318 was meant to be more of a gas saver than the 360. the 360 is more of a workhorse and the people that purchased these engines meant business. fuel economy was not important to them. back long ago, they came out with a mix of the 2 blocks called the 340. impossible to find because they are the best of both worlds. reliability and fuel economy of the 318 but the power and torque of the 360.

[BernieB]

Originally Posted by bradrhale

i really dislike how the breathers are setup on these trucks anyways. they are a pain to take off and on.
your dads mileage sounds right on key. the 318 was meant to be more of a gas saver than the 360. the 360 is more of a workhorse and the people that purchased these engines meant business. fuel economy was not important to them. back long ago, they came out with a mix of the 2 blocks called the 340. impossible to find because they are the best of both worlds. reliability and fuel economy of the 318 but the power and torque of the 360.

Could always just put a set of 360 heads on the 318 block.