The Chrysler K-Car Club

Is the 2.2 more fuel efficient than the 2.5. I can't get any better than 30mpg on highway cruising. Yet, my car is rated 21-26 mpg according to the internet. Yet, Justin is able
to get 35mpg and I have even heard 40mpg for the first K-cars. I am all confused.

It all depends on driving style, tuning, maintenance, etc. that the only real difference I could find having had both.

Weight is a factor also. Differant types of tires + air pres. can make a differance,correct whl alignment, brks not dragging, dirty air filter etc etc have an affect on fuel mileage. Having NO CODES helps too Guy. In a car like yours a 2.2 may be a bit under power when it come to acceleration. Torque convertor NOT locking up on the hightway will kill gas mileage too. ( code 37 ) Guys having been playing with custom calibrations for more performance and upping the fuel mileage too. Manual transmissions, tire size, FD ratios all have an effect. Food for thought, the 2.5 has more torque than the 2.2 but won't rev as fast or as high. But it has the power to turn a shorter gear which = better mileage. Torque moves mass, horse power keeps it moving. Now I'm sure you're really confused

Guy, put more air in your tires and get rid of all your codes, clean out your trunk, and stay away from that big hill on interstate 5, just go down the hill not up it. I was wondering, do you have more oil inside your engine or out side your engine? LOL just kidding Guy

When I bought a new '81 Reliant, a 2.2 with Automatic and AC, the best I could get was 25-26mpg on the highway, never got any better. My then-new Reliant didn't have cruise, but I really did watch my driving style. In the city I only got about 23mpg. The ultra high mileage ratings in the ads back then were figured the "old way" by the EPA, if you had a 2.2 stripper ( ? ! ) with stick, you could get reasonably good mpg, but just try selling it! Those type cars were the ones that each Dealer had one of, the old, dusty, never driven one that was used in their ads as a loss leader to get you in there and upsold.

the mileage for my 88 with the 2.5 its highest is 33, with lock up torque converter, and the highest mileage with my 86 with the 2.2 is 35. i achive 35 because ive done a few internal mods, by setting the timing ahead to 14 degrees and setting the spark plug gap to 40 instead of 35.

but out of the two engines the 2.2 is still my favorite for some reason i guess its the sound.