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Bubbles
Dodge Dakota
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3/22/2005
20:53:37
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 Subject: Fuel Savers
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Anybody know of any good fuel savers that are available. I'd like to try and get maybe 20mpg if that is at all possible.
99'Dak, 4.7L, c/c, 4X4, 33X12.5 Bfg a/ts
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grimm
Dodge Dakota
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3/22/2005
21:18:53
| RE: Fuel Savers
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if you want 20mpg get a car...i dont know of any truck with a V8 and big tires thats gonna get that great of mileage. few cheap things to help would be a throttle body spacer(more power too), k&n filter, new plugs, etc. nothing to get that kinda of mileage though.
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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3/23/2005
00:06:45
| RE: Fuel Savers
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Very few simple to add items will actually increase fuel mileage. And certainly none by any appreciable amount. Improving the intake and outflow tract will make the engine more efficient and therefore improve mileage. But the cost is prohibitive. You'll gain 2-3 mpg, but but spend $500-1,000. It may take 100K miles just to recoup the cost, even with today's prices.
There are only two proven methods to improve mileage that are cost effective. 1. By a Kia. 2. Change your driving habits.
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stylin7
Dodge Dakota
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3/23/2005
17:57:14
| RE: Fuel Savers
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Kia is not known for its fuel economy. Kia's are tanks they weigh significantly more than its competitors
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Dakx4
Dodge Dakota
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3/23/2005
21:42:24
|  RE: Fuel Savers
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NEON SRT-4 Milage and power. 355 horse with optional factory performance parts and 100% warranty. All that with a base price of 20,000. Stock 0-60 in 5.9. Not to shabby
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Bubbles
Dodge Dakota
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3/24/2005
21:19:04
|  RE: Fuel Savers
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Message:
Thanks guys
I've heard of some guys getting 17-18mpgs, do you figure that's just a bad calculation or something?
Also, if I decide to go with 33x12.5 bfg a/ts,
and changed the gears to 3.92 or 4.10 would I keep approx the same mileage as if I were on 31x10.5. Or should I even bother to swap gears?
99' QC SLT 4x4,
LSD W/3.55, 31x10.5 W/stock wheels
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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3/24/2005
21:39:48
| RE: Fuel Savers
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Message:
My '01 (QC/5.9/4x4/3.92) get 17-18 on the two lane black tops, where speeds are generally less than 65.
If you put big tires on and then drop the rear gear, your final drive ratio will be about the same. But the heavier tire will increase rotational mass and require more energy to move, especially to accelerate. So (in theory) mileage will probably drop a little.
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JakeD
Dodge Dakota
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3/25/2005
10:28:12
| RE: Fuel Savers
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Bubbles.
------------
If my pencil and calculator didn't lie ---
Assuming present rim diameter of 15" and 3.55 rear end:
Using 33x12.5x15 tires and retaining 3.55 rear end will give you an effective rear end ratio of 3.25.
Using 33x12.5x15 tires and 3.92 rear end will give you an effective gear ratio of 3.71.
Using 33x12.5x15 tires and 4.10 rear end will give you an effective gear ratio of 3.88.
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Assuming present rim diameter of 16" and 3.55 rear end:
Using 33x12.5x16 tires and retaining 3.55 rear end will give you an effective rear end ratio of 3.26
Using 33x12.5x16 tires and 3.92 rear end will give you an effective gear ratio of 3.60.
Using 33x12.5x16 tires and 4.10 rear end will give you an effective gear ratio of 3.76.
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JES
Dodge Dakota
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3/28/2005
13:29:55
| RE: Fuel Savers
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Went from Pittsburgh to Niagara Falls and back last weekend (about 45 degrees F while driving). Averaged 18.9 mpg over the entire trip (calculated and overhead matched). I have a 2.5" MagnaFlow HomeBrew Dual Out CatBack, aluminum tonneau cover, and Redline 75W90 in the diffs. My truck is an '02 QC AWD 4.7L Auto. I don't drive like a grandma, nor do I drive like an idiot.
Eric -- http://photos.yahoo.com/jes_96
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2001-4.7
Dodge Dakota
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6/07/2005
00:16:45
| RE: Fuel Savers
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I have a 2001 4x4 4.7 Regular Cab with no mods.
I drove a 110 mile trip to Lexington, Kentucky with my truck as is at 65 MPH and got 17.36 mgp. Just before I filled up for the trip back I inflated all my tires to 41psi, put down the tailgate, turned off the a/c, and drove 60 MPH the whole way and got 20.12 mpg. So basically, yes, there are several ways to increase your mileage however some of them are not even worth it.
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fdgh
Dodge Dakota
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6/07/2005
17:50:27
| RE: Fuel Savers
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Message:
tonneau cover helps alot
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jasons
Dodge Dakota
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7/02/2005
04:37:09
| RE: Fuel Savers
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My 97 v6 2wd got 20-22 mpg on freeways at a cruisecontrolled 60-65 mph. I then put 31" tires on it, a 3" suspension lift, a 3.92 LS rear end, and had my sensor adjusted so that I KNOW that I am doing 59.9 mph when the speedometer shows 60. In addition, I have an Air Intake kit on it that is sucking air from above the right fender [not open to the engine heat].
With the mods that I have done, I am now getting between 17.5 and 19.5 mpg when I am on the freeway at a cruisecontrolled 60-65 mph. Around town it is now 14.5-16.5, instead of the 16-18 mpg with stock tires and drivetrain.
I know this because I am anal. I learned to write down the odometer reading, tripometer reading, number of gallons of fuel and cost in a book EVERY time I fill the tank, and I always fill it: no $10 added, but filled, regardless of what the $ was. I have been writing this for my parents since I was 10, and began doing that for myself when I got my first car in the early 1990s. The only vehicle I don't do this in are my motorcycles, but I still use a calculator to divide odometer by gallons every time I fill it, and I always fill it. Like I said, I'm anal.
The result is that I know whenever there is a change in my mileage, and it isn't a 'gut feeling', but a verified numerical difference.
Thus I can say that the mileage will probably drop. I have thought of going the route of changing the headers and cat-back exhaust, with the addition of a larger throttle body, but I doubt it would improve my mileage, and the power gains would be nice, but not worth the $1500 [or so] it would cost me.
Oh, I have one of those magnetic 'fuel savers' on the fuel line also, and I can't tell if it does anything of not. Also, my truck has a shell on the back, but I don't think that is having a significant affect on the mileage. The change is under the same circumstances, including the fuel saver and shell.
Is the look and performance worth the cost and loss of mileage? That is for you to say.
Oh, and as for the NEON comment. I say, get a motorcycle. My ZRX1200 makes about 128 hp, with about 84ft/lbs of torque, and weighs about 500 lbs. AND it gets between 37-42 mpg. The neon probably weighs around 2000 lbs. So it doesn't have as much power per lb of vehicle. Oh, and mine costs less than $10K. :)
power AND fuel savings seem to be best on a motorcycle.
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Dale Kohnke
Dodge Dakota
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7/02/2005
13:07:09
| RE: Fuel Savers
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Best for mileage seems to be staying under 2000rpms for me. I'm running 285/75 - 16's/33's with the 3.55 gear in the rear. If I run under 2000 I get close to 275 miles per tank anything over that on long trips just kills the mileage. I'll go from 260-275 a tank to 200 a tank.. big difference..
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Purplemonster
GenIII
7/03/2005
00:33:21
| RE: Fuel Savers
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I've come to accept my 12-14 mpg out of my 98 4x4 with 33's. It doesn't do much better with the stock 31's, it just accelerates faster. btw I run a 3.9l v6. Don't buy dakota v6's for fuel economy. Don't buy a v6 dakota period. Splurge on the v8, youll be glad you did. As far as fuel savers, I just don't drive the thing so much.
How deep can that pond possibly be?
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Scott
Dodge Dakota
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9/09/2005
22:16:53
|  RE: Fuel Savers
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I have a 02 5.9, quad cab, with nothing done to it that I know of. I just bought it a few months ago. I'm averaging about 13.8 mpg now, per the over head. (highway and city cobined) And a little better than that, if I figure it out when I fill up.. Love the truck, but curious if a throttle body spacer would increase the gas milage at all? I've heard that it could, from 2 to 4 mpg.. Is that true?
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.boB
Dodge Dakota
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9/10/2005
00:50:18
| RE: Fuel Savers
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No, it won't do anything at all, except make your wallet lighter.
Save the money and spend it on fuel.
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SPOT
Dodge Dakota
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9/10/2005
06:05:57
| RE: Fuel Savers
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Message:
Well, nobody said big tires and high non-aerodynamic lifted trucks were easy on fuel. I have a old 94 3.9 with 192000 and auto trans, 35in BFG mud terrains, and 3:92 I get (easy ) driving)15.5 in town and 18 to 20 on the highway. Don't forget to figure in difference in tire diam. I have a 28% diff. in speedo.
Still milage sucks any way you look at itAt 50mph on speedo I'm doing 68mph. so says WA highway patrol
GO BIG or GO HOME
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ewraven
Dodge Dakota
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9/11/2005
19:53:42
| RE: Fuel Savers
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I have a 1999 4x4 5.2 liter 5 speed club cab Dakota with 3.55 gears. I just did this...
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/317659/3
I was getting around 15.2 mpg with a combination of city/highway driving. I just finished that mod and haven't filled it up yet, but according to the computer, I'm averaging 16.4 so far with this tank of gas. I always manualy calculate my gas mileage with every fillup and reset the overhead computer at the same time, since buying the truck in October, 15k miles ago, the overhead computer has always been accurate to within +/- of .2mpg.
Right after I got the truck, I had the stock muffler replaced with a 40 series Flowmaster unit, though it didn't make too much of a difference in miles per gallon.
In my opinion, throttle body spacers are a waste of money. That money would be better spent on getting the throttle body itself ported.
Which is what I plan on doing. My next mod will be a new header back exhaust and from there, I'll get the intake manifold and throttle body ported. And later on after that, I might get better flowing heads or get the factory ones ported and polished.
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BlackDakota
Dodge Dakota
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9/12/2005
13:45:01
|  RE: Fuel Savers
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We put a K&N air filter in our 04 dakota and we went for maybe 400km to the tank up to 600km's to the tank, this of course was during our honeymmon trip and we were also towing our 17.5 foot trailer behind us along the organ coast so it was mostly highways. But we did notice a huge difference in fuel economy as well as power. hope this helps.
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Scott
Dodge Dakota
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9/12/2005
21:31:02
| RE: Fuel Savers
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Yep.. Just got A K&N filter.. Have two days on it, so the jury is still out.. Thanks for the info, though.. Keep em' coming.. Next step may be the throttle body spacer? But, we'll see what the air filter does first.. If I end up getting 15 to 16 mpg's, I'll be happy.
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