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Chrysler Pacifica Real World MPG

121 messages,  Last post on Jun 18, 2008 at 6:53 AM

You are in the Chrysler Pacifica Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chrysler Pacifica, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Wagon

Messages Page 13 of 13

#113 of 121 2006 or 2007 by kf5

Apr 09, 2008 (6:01 pm)

Hey. I want to get a pacifica. But I can't decide with one. I am looking at an 06 and 07 AWD. Both are the signature series and equipped nice. I want to hear yours thoughts as I am having trouble deciding. MPG is important to me as well. The 07 cost more. The 06 has the dark interior I like. But, the 07 has the better engine and trans. Help. Kevin

#114 of 121 Re: 2006 or 2007 [kf5] by farout

Apr 18, 2008 (5:17 pm)

Replying to: kf5 (Apr 09, 2008 6:01 pm)
kf5: I have a 07 PAC Touring AWD. WE really like it! The huge difference is the engine and transmission between the two. The 07 has a 4.L engine and a 6 spped Automatic. the )^ has either the 3.5 or 3.8 L engine mated to the 4 speed Auto trans. The gas mileage is really a big diference. The 06 will be lucky to get 16 to 18 mpg, and the 07 is pretty consistant 19 to 26 mpg is our exerience in 14,000 miles.
    There is a lifetime warranty powertrain for the 07 if it's new. There has been some 07 that have had a shuddering or lugging problem at very low RPM's in 6 gear. Chrysler has replaced the Tourque Conveters and had a reflash on the TCM. For us this is the very best vehicle we have ever owned! The PAC is the biggest vehicle inside and outside over the Chrysler 300 or the SRT. The power of this 4.L engine ia amazing and so is the fuel mileags, we have reached a high of 27.3 mpg on a trip. For us thats fantastic. Hope that helps you...my opinion buy the 07.
 
farout

#115 of 121 Improving MPG by ibthesnd

Apr 20, 2008 (8:06 pm)

I have an 07 FWD Touring, 4.0 6 speed, and the computer says I get between 22-25 mpg at 75 mph and 25-28 at 60. In town I pull between 12-19 depending on route and traffic.
Are there any inexpensive upgrades to improve my mpg? I have found Hypertech ($379) and Jet Performance chips($320), a K&N filter, plus a bunch of items in Ebay that I am leary of. Has anyone tried these or anything else? Are there any cold air intake kits?

#116 of 121 Re: Improving MPG [ibthesnd] by farout

Apr 23, 2008 (12:36 pm)

Replying to: ibthesnd (Apr 20, 2008 8:06 pm)
Better check out if you added any of these "upgrades" if that might voil your warranty. How much better do mpg you want? Gee at 75 to get 22 to 25 mpg pulling a load that is nearly 4,700 lbs that is real darn good! AS you say that 60mph is where you get super good mpg, so that's the "sweet spot" for you PAC and mine as well!.
   The only thing that could save you anything is the K&N filter, as the Chrysler one is about $20. and if you held onto the PAC eventually it would pay for it's self. I don't think these other so called gas savers will add engoug to pay for the cost in a million miles.
 
farout

#117 of 121 Re: Improving MPG [farout] by waterdr

Apr 24, 2008 (4:37 am)

Replying to: farout (Apr 23, 2008 12:36 pm)
I just went on a 450 mile trip and got 24.4 mpg. The computer showed 25.3 mpg. I drove at about 72 mph and has tires inflated to 45 lbs. Pressure was up a bit due to warmer weather. I am going to pull about 5 lbs.
 
Chips? I have a lot of experience with chips and tuning as I drag race and have spent a lot of time around dynos.
 
Here are my thoughts:
 
1 - You could absolutely get better mpg with the correct tune. The fact that the computer reads high, means that the car is running richer then the manufactur intended. In my case, I could probably pick up 2 to 3 mpg on my PAC. It will vary from car to car.
 
2 - Buying a chip or hand-held tuner with a "mail-order" tune will be a shot in the dark. The ONLY way to get this right is to put the car on a dyno to get the perfect tune. With a mail order tune, you might pick-up 1 mpg, loose 2 mpg, or mess-up the tune all togther and create problems. Pacificas are not exactly a car that people dyno a lot, and thusly, the data base is poor.
 
3 - A proper chip or hand-held tuner with a custom dyno tune will cost about $600.
 
4 - ONLY buy a reputable device such as a Diablo or SCT. Hypertech is "ok". Don't waste your time with anything else. A good tune cost money....PERIOD. If you have a local reputable dyno tuner that uses another product, that is ok too.
 
5 - I have an SCT 4 position switch chip. It allows me to have 4 custom tunes....so you can have tunes for different octanes of fuel or types of driving. The added cost for each tune is minimal once you have the car on the dyno. I pick-up 30 hp on my tune by running 93 octane, or can run on 91 octane to save fuel $ when I don't care much about power. (BTW, this is on a 450 hp Mustang, not on the PAC. Hp increases will be less on the PAC).
 
6 - Now for the kicker.....if you care about your warranty, DON'T MOD THE CAR. Changing the tune will void the warranty if you get caught. If you install a chip, this is a blatant voiding of the warranty. If you use a hand-held "flash" style tuner, you might be able to get away with it by installing the stock tune before taking the car to the shop each time.
 
7 - Using a CAI (Cold Air Intake) can help with power and mpg especially with a custom tune. They can also pose warranty issues. One way around this is if Mopar sells one and you have the dealer install it. K&N filters are fine.....no warranty issues with this. I plan to purchase one for my PAC. I use them on all my cars.

#118 of 121 Trailer Towing Mileage by smokedemt1

May 15, 2008 (5:20 am)

When I got my 04 Pacifica three months ago it read 21 MPG on the gauge. I reset the readout and since have been getting 18.5 18.6. Last weekend I towed my 2000# pop-up camper on about a 400 mile trip. 1/2 way through my mileage readout was 18.9!!! I checked it with the fill-up and sure enough was getting almost 20 MPG. It showed 18.9-19 on the way back. Anyone else seen simillar results. Or am I getting WAY too little mileage without the trailer. I am considering towing the trailer all the time to see how much I can gain...

#119 of 121 Re: Trailer Towing Mileage [smokedemt1] by qbrozen

May 15, 2008 (8:54 am)

Replying to: smokedemt1 (May 15, 2008 5:20 am)
Could it be because you are driving much more cautiously with the trailer?
Try driving without the trailer, but drive as if it were still there.

#120 of 121 Re: Trailer Towing Mileage [qbrozen] by smokedemt1

May 15, 2008 (9:03 am)

Replying to: qbrozen (May 15, 2008 8:54 am)
Always drive it like I stole it, 70+, I even spent some time in 3rd instead of OD on the hills and through towns. I figure at this rate if I continued to tow trailer I should be around 30 at the next fill-up.

#121 of 121 Pacifica Limited 07 mpg question by bqdarling

Jun 18, 2008 (6:53 am)

I recently purchased an 07 Limited AWD with 12K miles. Over the past three weeks, I've been driving around town in northern Virginia. Standard suburban driving, no highway, no towing, regular stuff. I'm getting 11.1 mpg which I consider pretty pathetic. Anyone else experiencing this?

Messages Page 13 of 13

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