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Dodge Dakota Real World MPG Numbers

160 messages,  Last post on Nov 29, 2008 at 5:20 PM

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What is this discussion about? Dodge Dakota, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Truck

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#155 of 160 Re: 3 Dakotas (1-03 2-05s) Commute & Highway [remav] by dustyk Aug 28, 2008 (3:03 pm)
Replying to: remav (Aug 15, 2008 9:46 am) Remav, your results are quite typical.   I remember some years ago when the 4.7 PolyTech motor was introduced there were a couple of magazines and the notoriously inaccurate Consumers Reports that proclaimed the 4.7 a "thirsty" engine. As most long term 4.7 owners will testify, this engine takes a while to break in, and once it does it delivers superior gas mileage when driven sanely.   Now I've found that if you have an aggressive right foot, gas mileage will drop precipitously. But, like many others a sedate driving style returns numbers equal to if not better than the 3.7 V6. In the case of V6 equiped Dakotas, be mindful of the rear axle ratio. Many of them are sporting the 3.91 ratio. I've driven a couple of these versions and they have surprising power. But that's in part because of the 3.91 gears in the rear.   I've found that I do better than a couple of Nissan Frontiers and every Canyon/Colorado owner I've ever talked to. Of course, some is pure denial, especially since these are Dodges.   My best so far has been 23.92 on a 700+ mile trip, empty except for passengers, average speed 63 MPH and hilly territory.(2003 Club Cab Sport, 4.7, 545RFE, 3.55 LSD, P255 70R 16 Michelin LTX M/S tires.)   Bests, Dusty
#156 of 160 Tire size increase & lift issues by bda54 Aug 31, 2008 (12:35 pm)
I'm considering doing a 3" lift on my 03 Dakota Quadcab 4x4,4.7liter with 5 speed AT. I don't want to go taller because of the expense. I just want a little better clearance for when I go hunting. Anyone have any info on stepping up the tire size from 265/75R16's to 285/75R16's. Clearance issues, or effect on gas mileage from the tire size increase? Replies to this message: dustyk (Aug 31, 2008 10:09 pm)
#157 of 160 Re: Tire size increase & lift issues [bda54] by dustyk Aug 31, 2008 (10:09 pm)
Replying to: bda54 (Aug 31, 2008 12:35 pm) I went from a P235 70R16 to a 255 70R16. The Dakota offers a generous amount of room for larger tires and most people I know have opted to go to a larger diameter tire on their Dakotas when they re-tire. You have to be cognizant of the width requirement as you go larger. My Dakota Sport came with 8 inch wide wheels, so I could go even larger. But many Dakotas have seven-inch wide wheels and the maximum tire size would be limited. Now you have 75R16s, which are already a higher profile. I would check with the tire manufacturer to see how much taller they are.   By the way. When I went to the P255s I noticed that I lost 2.91 miles on the odometer to every one hundred miles driven. Check your odometer after you get the new tires on. You might be surprized how much difference the gas mileage is.   Best regards, Dusty
#158 of 160 '00 V6 2wd Club Cab 20% drop mileage by trapezecdn Oct 20, 2008 (10:16 pm)
Good evening folks. Longtime since I have posted or read. I have a Canadian 2000 club cab , V6 auto, 3.55 diff sport package with tire and handling pkg. I am in the USA and I strive to keep the mpg up on this vehicle. Currently at 292,000 kms (181,000 miles). AS the odometer is in km's the numbers are km/g. I would normally average 28-30 km/g mostly freeway with some city driving in the San Francisco area lots of hills, traffic etc... Best achieved was 35 km/g driving cross country to Toronto. Now iam averageing 25 -26 km/g even while keeping tire pressure up, using synthetic oil and doing regular maintenance re spark plugs and airfilters. I have tried bosch +4, platinums but generally go back to regular plugs as I have been advised about plugs possibly being too hot.   I know there are many factors, but any suggestions as to what may be causing this 20% drop in mpg. Worth doing the O2 sensors? I do have a bit of a problem with the #6 cylinder as the plug is usually more fouled than the others, but could still get good mpg when it was like this.   Any and all suggestions welcome. Replies to this message: tsimp (Oct 29, 2008 11:52 am) mrsincere7 (Nov 29, 2008 5:20 pm)
#159 of 160 Re: '00 V6 2wd Club Cab 20% drop mileage [trapezecdn] by tsimp Oct 29, 2008 (11:52 am)
Replying to: trapezecdn (Oct 20, 2008 10:16 pm) Unsure about the V6, but if you look in the Durango forum, this is quite common to O2 sensor connector issue. I would check there first. They speak of bypassing the ground wire on the sensor with a new one.
#160 of 160 Re: '00 V6 2wd Club Cab 20% drop mileage [trapezecdn] by mrsincere7 Nov 29, 2008 (5:20 pm)
Replying to: trapezecdn (Oct 20, 2008 10:16 pm) I have an '02 4WD 6cyl Quad Cab. I bought it at an auction in Oct,08. I had the plugs,fuel filter replaced, K&N air filter, trans and diff fluid changed, synthetic motor oil change. I thought these things would give me decent MPG.   Unfortunately I still couldnt get much more than 11 MPG even after all of that. It also seemed like my MPG was getting progressively worse. In this forum, somebody suggested changing the O2 sensors. I took that advice. I bought 2 Bosch universal O2 sensors from Strauss Stores in NJ, USA. I clipped the connectors from the old sensors and joined them with the new sensors ( the new ones came with a connector kit in the package ).   After I installed them, I went for a ride. I drove 42 miles and went right back to the gas station to fuel back up. I got 16.9 MPG. That was a dramatic change from my old numbers. Also , I was somewhat aggressive with the accelerator during my roadtest, but I believe if I would have took it easy, I could have got maybe 18-20 MPG or better. I also noticed an increase in power and acceleration. Anyone reading......if your O2 sensors have never been replaced ( and you have over 90k on the odometer) or you suspect they may be the cause of your poor fuel economy.......CHANGE THEM!!! I'm glad I did.   BTW.......my truck uses only 2 O2 sensors. One upstream and one downstream ( from the catalytic converter ). Combined they cost me $153.00 at the auto parts store. Be careful trying to save money ordering sensors from the internet . You could make a mistake and order the wrong sensors for your vehicle.

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