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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
09:46:04
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 Subject: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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It happened again! For the second time, around the time it got cold for winter again, my Dakota 4.7 ext cab, 4x2 lost another 50 miles per tank. I was originally at 330 miles per 22 gallons of gas back in the summer of 2002. Winter 2002/03 I dropped to 270 miles per tank. Summer 03, 270. Winter of 2003/04 I dropped to 220 Per 22 Gallons of gas! What the hell is happening? If this continues I'll be buying gas every 2 to 3 days come next winter!
I've had a tune up at 36,000. Fixed balljoints at 36,000. Replaced air filter with FIPK2. Gibson split rear exhaust. What in the hell could be wrong? Could a clogged cat be causing this? Please help me guys, if this hog sucks up anymore gas I'm going to be forced to sell it. Cause I certainly can't afford to keep feeding it.
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EBL
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
11:10:35
|  RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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How many miles do you have on it now? Do they change gas formulations where you live in the winter?
You are only looking at around a 2 mpg drop. This could be caused by a heavier foot. It's hard to tell from the info given.
Sorry.
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ScojoDak
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
12:07:37
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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Could be a clogged cat or O2 sensor going bad.
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Hmmmm
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
12:17:54
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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Looking at the way you calculate mileage per tank (22 gals) instead of what you actually pump, you could be making a calculation error. If your truck is kept outside in the cold, you could have a substantial amount of water in the tank that is freezing (or displacing gasoline)and effecting the amount of gas you can replace. Calculate your milage using your actual gas pump volume and give us some more information.
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Ummmmmmmmmmmm
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
12:56:42
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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Maybe you're driving around with the defroster on all the time. Using defrost cycles the AC comp which kills mileage.
Switch to a heater setting and just use defrost until the windows clear up.
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
13:30:28
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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Okay here is what I am going by....
On a steady average, my fill up is 18 to 18.5 Gallons of gas per 330 Miles initially. The first drop lowered my average miles to 270-275 per 18 Gallons. The most recent drop is to 220-235 Miles per 18 Gallons.
My truck has 37,000 miles on it. I drive normally, but see some freeway travel during the week. No more than approximately 30-40 miles of freeway per fillup. I drove very heavy footed during the first couple months after a very tender and careful break-in period. I change the oil every 3000 miles. I use gas treatment every 3 months. I have tried different gas companies every month since the drop, to make sure it wasnt a particular crappy gasoline that has done this. I have tried driving very "grandpa" style for about 3 weeks, but the difference was only minor. Maybe 10 to 15 extra miles per tank. We're talking slow acceleration. 60 mph on the freeway. 5 mph under on surface streets with letting off the gas well before having to stop. I made lots of enemies on the road but it didn't make a difference in my gas.
Hope this helps you guys figure this out, cause im stumped. Yes they change the gas formulations where I live, (detroit) for the winter but that shouldnt carry over to the next summer though.
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R/T 02
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
13:55:28
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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Do you put sandbags in the back during winter?
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
14:02:10
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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No I do not use sandbags. Or any sort of weight in the back. Most of the time the roads are dry and I rarely drive in snowy conditions.
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Dr. D
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
14:02:15
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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Mr. Sleepy,
What weight oil are you using and is it synthetic?
Do you live where they add alcohol to the fuel to prevent fuel line freeze-ups ?
Dr. D
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RadioMan
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
14:09:12
|  RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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Speaking of air cond cycling while defrost is on,
I have for many many years disconnected my clutch
wiring during winter months. This keeps the air
from running at all.
I've NEVER lost a compressor yet! As far as what
good it does (dries the air), bull! It's NOT
worth the loss in gas mileage!
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
14:53:33
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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Most gas stations add 10% ethanol during the entire year to prevent freezes. I use Quaker state 10W-30, and no additives.
I have tried Mobile 1 and AMSoil with no effect.
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Also
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
15:55:40
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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Keep in mind too the simple fact that cold air is more dense than relatively warmer air. As the temp drops in winter the actual weight of air going into the engine increases. The amount of fuel added to this air must be increased in order to maintain the proper stoiciometric ratio.
That much of it is simple physics. Your mileage will decrease in winter regardless of all other factors.
As far as what oxygenates oil companies add to gas, ethanol is used in the corn belt but on the coasts and in the mountains different substances are typically used.
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
16:31:08
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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Well I am aware that some mileage drops are expected during the winter due to all sorts of cold weather factors. But what about during the summer? Shouldn't the mileage go back up? Because it hasn't. This is the reason why I am now asking what the other problems might possibly be affecting my mileage.
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Zach
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
17:32:38
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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Do you do a lot of errands? When its cold the engine will normally idle higher than normal for a while, until its warm. If you turn your engine off and on a lot in the winter, the higher rpm warm ups might be contributing. Do you let your engine warm up for a few minutes before taking off? Other than that, the O2 sensor is the only thing i can think of.
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cool
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
18:26:15
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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Do you people actually read what he is saying? He said that his mileage goes down in the winter then doesn't go back up the next summer, then the next winter goes down again and so forth. His mileage is continually going down each season.
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pkdak
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
21:14:52
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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Hey Sleepy,
I want know if you have changed tire or wheel sizes. Also are you using your trucks computer to see what your mileage is ? I had my pcm (computer)flashed at a dealership after changing wheel and tire size. I am getting three miles per gallon better mileage (using a calculator and gas pump method).
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
21:29:34
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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I have not had my PCM flashed yet. I was wondering how much this costs since I don't believe I can make a strong case for warranty repair since im now 300 miles past 36,000. My tires are the same size in all aspects as my factory ones were.
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Wadak
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
21:36:08
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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Mr. Sleepy:
In the winter time many large metropolitian area are required by law to change fuel formulations to a type that causes less pollition. At the same time these winter formulations can cause gas mileage to go down. Another to check is tire pressure, many people overlook this. As it get cold the air the tires contracts, hence lower tire pressure. If your truck is parked outside in the cold weather longer warm up time will also affect mileage. Don't over looked the O2 sensor, if it's going bad for some reason, it can affect mileage and performance.
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Silver
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
22:25:15
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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Check your fuel filter.
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2003
08:13:24
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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How could I check my O2 sensor? Is this something that a dealership has to check?
I have not checked my fuel filter, but I will take a look at it. Is the fuel filter easy to replace or examine?
Tire Pressure - I normally check my pressure every 10 to 14 days depending on my driving. I fill them up a little extra during the winter to compensate for the compression in air density.
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EBL
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2003
10:11:29
| RE: Help! Severe Mileage drop
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Were the original milage figures from before your filter and exhaust were modified?
An exhaust that flows too well and be hurting your low end torque. You may have to press the petal just a bit harder than before. It may be acting as headers do and slightly lean out your mixture also. The new intake will allow more air in and further increase fuel consumption.
While the 12.7mpg city driving that you are getting is not desirable by any means, it is not what I would call incredibly low. I'm not sure what my truck would do in the city, but mixed driving in my truck (5.2) gives me around 16-17mpg and 19-20 on the highways. Have you taken a trip where you only drove highway recently? I wonder what your milage would be then.
I'm sure your milage woes are a combination of factors.
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