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Chrysler/Plymouth Voyager-Dodge Caravan Real World MPG

40 messages,  Last post on Oct 29, 2008 at 2:13 PM

You are in the Chrysler/Plymouth Voyager, Dodge Caravan Forum.

What is this discussion about? Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Voyager, Plymouth Voyager, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Van

Messages Page 4 of 4

#31 of 40 Re: Yikes! [shipo] by xwesx

Feb 10, 2008 (8:40 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Feb 09, 2008 1:03 am)
The couple of tanks I have had in the 13s (last night I filled up 14.985 gallons over 204.1 miles) are after cold spells. The temperatures over the last tank were no warmer than -30F. Most of the time it was between -40F and -50F. Most folks from down south can scarcely comprehend those temperatures, but the difference between zero and -50 is the same as the difference between +50 and zero.
 
It is not the transmission or engine oil that is the problem, it is the differential oil and the grease. After changing things out this summer, I hope it will produce a more tolerable 16-17 mpg next winter. As a reminder, this is an AWD van with 178,500 currently on the ticker.
 
The sub 5-mile trips of stop and go are the culprit. In those conditions the van is scarcely even warmed up by the end of the trip. Just as an example, my Subaru has an instantaneous MPG readout. When the engine is cold in the morning, the readout will max out at about 20 mpg driving at a steady 55. When it is warm, it reads out about 35 mpg over that same flat stretch of road. The average economy over a tank is right at 26 with that car. If I was running it on short errands every trip, it would definitely be under 20.

#32 of 40 Re: Yikes! [xwesx] by shipo

Feb 10, 2008 (9:07 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Feb 10, 2008 8:40 pm)
Yeah, when the mercury goes-a-hidin', short trip fuel consumption goes through the roof. That your van is an AWD version just compounds the consumption issues with significantly higher drive-train loss in the diffs.
 
I learned to turn a pretty fair wrench from a dude that did his apprenticeship before WWII, and he told me that back in his time, the transmissions (all manuals in those days) and differentials were all treated to two fluid changes per year, one for the summer months and one for the winter months. Geez, I was even tempted to do that to the New Process 4-Speed in my 1970 Challenger after I moved from San Diego to north-central Michigan back in the late 1970s. I remember wrestling with that sucker when trying to switch gears following a cold start was lots of fun.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#33 of 40 Another '06 Grand Caravan with crappy mileage!! by sudwel

Feb 12, 2008 (8:39 am)

I've been reading the posts on this forum with interest! We just purchased an '06 Grand Caravan at the beginning of January, with 23,000 kms on it (approx 14,000 mi), and have found that we are only getting 10 mpg with city driving!!! We traded in our 2000 Chev Venture for the Dodge, and the increase in fuel consumption has blindsided us. Our Chev got 18 mpg in the city and around 25-28 mpg on the highway. We haven't had the Dodge on a roadtrip yet, so have no idea what the highway consumption is - but, as I type this, the Dodge is at our mechanic (who we bought the van off of) and he is running diagnostics on it today to see if he can figure out why our fuel consumption is so poor. From what I've read, it sounds like there is a good chance that he won't find anything - but, should I suggest that he check/replace the oxygen sensor, even though the light isn't on? or will his diagnostics pick it up if it is "weak"?
 
Love the van, but going from $50 in gas a week to $70+ is going to break the bank!!

#34 of 40 City Mileage Caravan 08 4.0 cylinder by dinsle

May 02, 2008 (5:56 am)

Howdy,
 
We just bought an 08 caravan and we're wondering about the city mileage. We're only getting around 13.5-14.0 mpg. The van has less than 2500 miles on it, but it's been consistantly around that. Is that to be expected? We would have seriously reconsidered it if we knew that was going to be the mpg.
 
Any thoughts or tips on improving the mpg?
 
Thanks in advance.

#35 of 40 MPG improvements? by xpatch

Apr 30, 2008 (12:12 pm)

This is my 1st post.
Next week, I am getting an '06 Dodge Caravan SXT to use for courier work. It has 50,000 miles on it. Carfax shows regular maintenance was performed. Are there any tricks I can do to improve gas mileage? I mean, is there a chip or any aftermarket device?
What other mods can I do to improve the performance?
Thx,
Todd

#36 of 40 Re: MPG improvements? [xpatch] by shipo

Apr 30, 2008 (9:25 pm)

Replying to: xpatch (Apr 30, 2008 12:12 pm)
For mileage and performance mods, you'll find none, zip, zero, zilch, nada when it comes to mods that will net you any benefits at all.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#37 of 40 Re: MPG improvements? [xpatch] by mcondon

Oct 27, 2008 (6:47 am)

Replying to: xpatch (Apr 30, 2008 12:12 pm)
I am new to this forum and just read your post on MPG improvements
My previous van was a 93 with a 3.3 and the mileage computer
When my muffler went I replaced it with a Dynomax super turbo and my mileage at a steady highway speed increased in the range of about .5 mpg. I know that this is very un-scientific but I am planning to do the same to the 03 that I currently have which now gets just under 24mpg highway.
mcondon

#38 of 40 Re: MPG improvements? [mcondon] by shipo

Oct 27, 2008 (8:30 am)

Replying to: mcondon (Oct 27, 2008 6:47 am)
What you're suggesting is that your old muffler had a rather significant blockage; there simply is no other way for a new muffler (Dynomax or otherwise) to have much of a measurable impact on highway mileage.
 
Think about it, when you're tooling town the highway your engine is operating at something like fifteen to twenty percent of its rated output, and that means that the demands on the induction and exhaust systems of your vehicle is extremely low. Personally I'll bet that the pressure difference inside a good condition OEM muffler and that of the Dynomax when at highway cruising speeds is virtually non-existent, and that means that the difference In fuel economy will be virtually zero as well.
 
Best regards,
Shipo

#39 of 40 Re: MPG improvements? [shipo] by mcondon

Oct 27, 2008 (12:29 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Oct 27, 2008 8:30 am)
You have a good point there but the muffler I replaced was the OEM stainless muffler at 150,000 miles and the only problem was a small hole in the end cap. I also tried to use a complete 2 1/2" tailpipe without the resonator which seemed to get even better mileage but the noise echoed so badly inside the van that I quickly put the resonator back on and never tried to get an acurate mpg reading.
Also, although the motor is only putting out fifteen to twenty percent of it's rated output it was still turning 2000 to 2500 rpm at highway speeds which seems to me to be putting out a significant volume of exhaust.
 
Am enjoying the conversation
 
mcondon

#40 of 40 Re: MPG improvements? [mcondon] by shipo

Oct 29, 2008 (2:13 pm)

Replying to: mcondon (Oct 27, 2008 12:29 pm)
Also, although the motor is only putting out fifteen to twenty percent of it's rated output it was still turning 2000 to 2500 rpm at highway speeds which seems to me to be putting out a significant volume of exhaust.
 
Actually, the RPMs of the engine have very little to do with the amount of exhaust. In fact, if you're descending a hill and have the throttle closed, the engine will shut off the fuel injectors and there will be virtually zero exhaust coming through the exhaust pipe, regardless of the engine RPMs.
 
What does determine the amount of exhaust is the throttle setting, and that's a pretty linear equation. If you're running at about 20% throttle, then your engine will be producing about 20% of its max rated amount or exhaust regardless of engine RPM.
 
Best regards,
Shipo

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