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craig
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2003
20:58:01
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 Subject: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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seriously, i have a 2.5l and on my window sticker it says 20 in the city and 24 on the freeway. I have a K&N air filter and drive with my tailgate down most of the time (yes it does help). I split the highway and fdity times about half and i almost evry time average right around 19-20 mpg. Before i got the filter i was doing 17-19 mpg on average. WTF??? the best i have ever got was 22 mpg all freeway from palm springs to phoenix where i live, so where do they get 24 mpg??? I almost all the time drive normal, nothing that should use more gas like starting up real fast. What is with dodge and drinking gas?
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tailgate
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2003
21:03:45
|  RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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http://mars.acnet.wnec.edu/~ehaffner/did.htm
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yates-in-DE
*GenIII*
5/16/2003
21:15:22
|  RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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LOL, you beat me to it. Tailgate down eats more fuel. Proven fact. I get about 17 city and 22 to 24 highway. 4.7L v-8 5 speed with 3.92's. If I had the 3.55's I would do a bit better.
Later,
Lynn
 Clic the pic
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cool
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2003
21:31:40
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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I guess if you are after gas mileage you should have bought something like a little Nissan. After all it is a truck with a rather small engine to push a fair amount of weight. Your mileage really doesn't seem all that bad for what you have.
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Troy
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2003
22:31:24
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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If you will look on the window sticker where it states the fuel mileage you will see that what you are getting is acceptable. Under the large fuel numbers for city/ highway is a estimated range that is acceptable. So if it says 24 on the highway in the big, bold numbers, it will say something like 19-28 underneath this number. What your getting is nothing to complain about.
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bfs426
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2003
22:45:40
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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I'm almost positive that the highway numbers are calculated at 45 MPH. I could be wrong, however.
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mo-par
Dodge Dakota
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5/16/2003
22:53:27
|  RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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"What is with dodge and drinking gas?"
They are dinosaurs, the 5.2 & 5.9 have been around for about 30 years with very little change, the 4.7 is the only new blood in the lineup thanks to DC merge
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TheyAllLie
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2003
00:03:16
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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All the makers lie about gas mileage. The numbers on the window sticker are not real world numbers they are derived from months and months of perfect world "testing".
Just imagine how all those soccer moms buying Hummer H2's feel about getting 11/9.
Bottom line, it's a truck. If you want great mileage, buy a Prius.
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Matt
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2003
02:19:38
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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Dont feel bad...my '99 SLT 5.2L 4x4 gets 13-14 on the higway and 10-12 in town not in four wheel drive!! I would give anything for 17-19!!
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Dan Gruber
GenIII
5/17/2003
02:30:01
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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Just a point of clarification...
The EPA comes up with the mileage estimates on the window sticker. If the manufacturers did it, every vehicle sold would have much higher gas mileage estimates to avoid paying fines to the EPA for building gas guzzlers. Remember...there are Corporate Average Fuel Economy ratings (set by the EPA) that every manufacturer has to contend with. If a manufacurer doesn't meet the target (I think it's at 27.5 mpg right now) they have to pay fines to the EPA. And this is separate from the gas guzzler tax on cars that get lousy mileage, where the consumer not only has to fill the gas tank, but gets slapped with a penalty for having the privelige of doing so.
I think trucks are exempt from the CAFE figures, or maybe they affect the CAFE ratings less. And I know trucks are exempt from the gas guzzler tax. But regardless, it's still the EPA that sets the ratings.
And as far as your mileage...sounds about right. I've had 2 dakotas...a 94 V6 5 speed 2WD that got about 15 in town and 18 hwy...and my current Dakota, which gets about 13-14 city and 15-17 hwy, depending on conditions. But I would agree that in comparison to Chevys for example, Dodge does worse on mileage. But I'll never buy a Chevy anyway.
Dan
2000 CC SLT 4.7 4X4 Auto 3.92 LSD
3 inch Performance Accesories lift & 32 inch BFG MT KM's
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Quadman
GenIII
5/17/2003
04:05:03
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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Is it just me or am I the only one who sees that in that link provided that with the tail gate down there is less drag therefore improving gas mileage?
OPINIONS ARE LIKE....WELL, YOU KNOW THE REST!!
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The Dude
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2003
04:22:57
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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The link provided shows a 3% decrease in drag with the tailgate down. The reason it decreases drag is not because of better airflow over the truck, but because the extended tailgate straightens out the airflow as it leaves the truck's body. But 3%? Looks like the best realworld solution is to buy a tonneau cover.
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HotRodSRJ
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2003
09:37:33
|  RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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I have seen this paper before and it has a lot of great information. BUT there are others out there that have more information and different information.....so, don't be too hasty in applying this across the board per se. There are too many anomolies to make a general statement about these. For example, the ride hight of the vehicle, the design of the hood and cab, and moreover the length of bed all play a part in the equation(s). The front/hood/cab desing is very important whereas they determine the ultimate high pressure gradients to be set up on the top and sides etc. Also, believe it or not, carrying a spare under the truck at the exit point of all the under air current at the rear tremendously affects this. A rigid panel underneath covering all this could be of benefit too.
My 2001 Quad 4.7L with tailgate up improves everytime I do it about 0.7 miles to the gallon! The (most) trucks today are designed to improve the airflow with the tailgates up (as commented by ASME, "Automotive and Light Truck Designs" whatever volume 2001. As an mechanical/electrical engineer myself that has messed with aero drag on many differing applications, I can tell you that the set-up of dead air and eddy currents off the back into just the glass area, as opposed to the whole back of the cab with the gate down. This is the very same effect that a pop-up "backscreen" (that keeps the air off the back of the occupants) has in sophisticated convertibles such as Mercedes, that pop up behind the passengers. This screen will improve the airflow over the ENTIRE package and even the convertibles with this very same design will get better milage as well. So you can see how the tailgate distance from the cab would be a factor in this analogy.
My point here is that it probably is dependent on design. I added a cover to back and now the Quad is doing over 20 at 75MPH all day long! I think I have made a 13 to 15% improvement in my milage from inception. NOt bad! My last trip over 1500 miles averaged over 19 mpg with stop and go! I run synthetics and K & N too. That was with the air on most of the times!
Oh yeah..and keeping the windows up running the air is less gas than creating drag with all the windows down.
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mddak
Dodge Dakota
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5/17/2003
10:02:26
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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99 dak 4X4 ext cab auto 3.9 driven hard.
Was 16 MPG with 3923 plugs
went to 5224 now get 18 MPG. Nuff said
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Dr. D
Dodge Dakota
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5/18/2003
12:35:45
|  RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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Switch to synthetic lubes from bumper to bumper;
Synthetic lubricants have been proven to increase fuel
economy anywhere from 3-10% (or more).
Dr. D
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Ronin
Dodge Dakota
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5/18/2003
14:36:08
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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Well if Dodge lies, they all do. EPA tests are done in a controlled enviornment and their idea of "highway" speeds are something like 90kpm(for the un metrified,55mph). Now lets face it, as Sammy Hagar once said "I can't drive 55". The other thing that people forget.....it's a truck! It was designed to work, NO I wouldn't dream of driving mine to the jobsite but I also will accept the fact that milage, whatever I get, is what I get. If I wanted milage I would have bought a Focus (I'm a tech. at a Ford dealer), but I wanted my Dakotas (2000 & 2003) so I don't look at the milage.
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hyp0cracy
Dodge Dakota
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5/18/2003
16:07:34
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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just to note.... my sticker said 13mpg city when i bought it, and i never get less than 15....
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ahersh
GenIII
5/18/2003
16:59:06
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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I have been documenting MPG since I got my truck new in 1997 (68,000 miles since all on Mobil 1), and with the Goodyear RT/S tire (31"), I got almost 20 mpg between L.A. and Albany (3000 miles) 3 different times. Since going over to General Grabber HT tires, I can't get better than 16.7 mpg (also crappy on wear), but that's pretty solid with a mix of highway and street driving. The 19.9 I got was on cruise at 75 mph for almost 400 miles, so I was really pushing it. I don't have a tonneau, and think that considering the power I get from the 5.2, 16.5 mpg isn't bad. After all, it is a truck.
-Hersh
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craig
Dodge Dakota
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5/18/2003
21:51:30
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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ok, i guess i should just accpet it, but it still don't understand why i can't do much better with myt highway at least, i mean, you v8 guys say you get 20 mpg on the freeway, how come my little 4 banger can't do much better?
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kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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5/19/2003
17:22:19
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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Because it has to work too hard to move your truck - same reason the sixes don't do better. Engine should be sized for the aplication, not just thinking less cylinders equates to better milage.
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TODD
Dodge Dakota
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5/19/2003
22:59:24
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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2000 5.9 QC 4X4 3.92 8 TO 10 CITY 12 TO 14 HWY.
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Kuntlikr
Dodge Dakota
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5/20/2003
03:16:04
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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Kowalski is correct. Once rolling resistance is overcome, the biggest use of power is moving the air out of the way. Air is the gaseous fluid that surrounds us and allows us to breathe. Also, our engines combine fuel, gasoline, with air and burn the mixture in the combustion chamber to generate power.
Since wind resistance is a function of things like frontal area and coefficient of drag it stands to reason that no matter how many cylinders our trucks have the power required to maintain a given speed is the same because they are the same basic size and shape.
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HotRodSRJ
Dodge Dakota
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5/20/2003
09:55:38
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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While the poster above (with the moronic name..what middle school are you attending that you have to be this profane?) is correct in theory I hate to admit. However, all of the engines are NOT created equal and this is what differentiates the gas milage issue. And, some of the drivetrain gearing is different as well effecting overall efficiency.
The difference is the way the engines and drivetrains are designed for torque range and power from the get-go. Volumetric efficiency also plays a huge part even tho the cd and weight is exactly the same. A typical six cylinder engine may doing 70mph at 2900 rpms and a V8 may cruise at only 2300. The cam timing on both of these may be inherently and completely different and create a huge gap in fuel milage, not to meantion power. For examle, take a 5 hp Briggs and Stratton engine to propel a 4000 lb truck or car 20 miles. How much gas would it use.....probably alot more than a few gallons even tho it is smaller. This is an exaggerated view, but moreover accurate in relationship to all the differences. Just because my 2001 Quad/4.7 gets 20 does NOT mean your six is going to be as good and sometimes visa versa.
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Shank
Dodge Dakota
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5/21/2003
08:48:34
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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3.9L V6 4x4, Normal driving 15 City/18 Hwy I can normally count on 14 MPG avg. I once owned a 4Cyl Ranger POS which got worse gas mileage, Smaller engines must work harder to propel your truck.
Like stated b4, Use Synthetic oils, Mobil 1 has best oil goin even though you must pay $4+/Qt it's worth every penny. DO NOT USE PENZOIL, or Slick 50!
If you read the fine print on the window sticker that mileage is proven on a "test strip", perfectly flat, driven gently at 55 mph (about 2,000 RPM) if you are running 70MPH it's probably closer to 3,000 RPM and you are not taking into consideration the acceleration, hills, wind, A/C and other determining factors. When they do those test the vehicle is already at the predetermined test speed, maintained on a perfectly flat surface.
A truck is not very aerodynamic. 17-19 is good, Enjoy it or buy you a Honda Hybrid which boasts 50+Mpg at about 0 horsepower.
always gotta add my 3cents.
Shank
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Dr.D
Dodge Dakota
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5/21/2003
10:45:29
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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Hey Shank,
Thanks for backing me up on the use of
Synthetic Oil .
I switched from MOBIL1 to AMSOIL many, many years
ago and I wouldn't switch back to MOBIL1 even if they
gave it to me.
Do a little research and you will see that AMSOIL is way
ahead of MOBIL1 in quality and performance.
Dr. D
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BigBlue QC
GenIII
5/21/2003
16:51:42
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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Dr. D, I couldn't agree with you more but now we will have to read all the c**p from the non-believers again. Why did you have to do that!
2002 QC 4x4 Sport Plus, 4.7L, auto, Patriot Blue, Tire & Handling group,
Heavy Duty Service group, Leer cap w/out windows, Mopar Step bars and roof rack, Rhino liner in bed and on step bars, Pace Edwards Power Tailgate lock
3.55 rear, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, all possible fluids are AMSOIL
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Dr. D
Dodge Dakota
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5/21/2003
18:35:57
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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BigBlue QC,
I feel that it is very important to inform people of the truth when it comes to quality.
I can understand when a DAK owner puts cheap tires or a cheap battery in his or her truck but when they put cheap petroleum oil in the engine ... That I cannot understand.
In closing I must say to all non-believers :
"Get used to Synthetic Motor Oils because whether you like them or not you will be using them one day."
Dr. D
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Shank
Dodge Dakota
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5/21/2003
19:33:06
| RE: dodge lies about gas mileage...
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No prob Doc, I just haven't done my research on AMSOIL yet. My experience over in Germany, Every mornin I would go out to leave for work and the truck had a hard time starting like my battery was dying or my starter was on the verge of death. after the vehicle ran for a while it would start just fine, I chalked it up to electrical components. One day I was talking to a mechanic on post about the problem and he told me it was the Oil, try changing to Synthetic. 1St time I ever purchased Synthetic Oil it was Castrol Syntec which was still new @ the time, almost $6 a quart. $30 Oil change later I went out the next morning and the engine fired like it was already warm! I passed this along to as many of my friends as would listen (and even a few that wouldn't). I'm gonna start a new string about Additives and would appreciate any feedback :)
Shank
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