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sean98dak
Dodge Dakota
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1/15/2005
18:09:37
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 Subject: RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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Today, I tested how far i could go on the gas when the gas light came on. It turns out I could go 88.8 miles after the gas light comes on. I checked the owners manual, and it says that 3 gallons of gas are left when the light comes on. So, I did the math, and that says i am getting 29.6 mpg. By the way, it is a 1998 3.9 V6 Sport.
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Ron
Dodge Dakota
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1/15/2005
19:01:04
|  RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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I would have to say the manual lied.
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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1/16/2005
22:56:02
| RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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on my '95 when the low fuel light comes on I have 1/8 of a tank left. On a 20 gallon tank that would be 2.5 gallons.
- Dan M
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93dak4x4
Dodge Dakota
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1/16/2005
23:03:44
| RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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the big tank on the dakotas is 22 gallons. when my light comes on i drive to the gas station...mostly because i dont like running out of gas
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sean98dak
Dodge Dakota
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1/17/2005
01:06:14
| RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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Well, I did find it suspicious, but i really do get good gas. But even to me, 29 is odd. But I don't see how it could be wrong. Something can't be right.
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furball69
Dodge Dakota
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1/17/2005
05:50:31
| RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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Judging fuel mileage like that is comparable to running the tank empty then putting in exactly one gallon and seeing how far you can go; only it's just a little more retarded.
Do it the normal way: fill, reset trip meter, drive, fill, divide miles on trip meter by gallons put in tank.
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me
Dodge Dakota
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1/19/2005
06:19:22
|  RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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"Message:
the big tank on the dakotas is 22 gallons. when my light comes on i drive to the gas station...mostly because i dont like running out of gas"
(laughing my ass off) that hit the funny bone!
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Ed
Dodge Dakota
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1/19/2005
17:43:33
| RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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Well, I have owned two dakota's a 94 and a 2000, both were lucky to get 21 mpg on the highway, the 2000 model is harder on milage in the city (usually 16 to 17 mpg). My truck has an 18 gallon tank.
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Dakota0094
Dodge Dakota
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1/19/2005
21:31:52
| RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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I have a 2000 Dakota 3.9 V6 and the best mileage I get is 16.7 on the Hiway and 13.6 in the city. I think I really need some HELP!!!!. Any sugestions ?
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sic_digital
Dodge Dakota
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1/19/2005
21:37:40
|  RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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I have a '99 V6 'Kota; and it gets bad mileage for a V6... in fact, my dad's 5.2L gets about the same (approx 1-2 mpg different).
According to the Info. Center (the cpu display on the roof above the rearview) my average mpg is 15.X ... considering it's a V6, to me this sucks!
After installing an Airaid air intake and TBS, a 180° thermostat and duel Flowmaster exhaust, the average went up to nearly 17 (16.8) mpg - but even still, I wish I got a V8 - the mpg-vs-power on the Dakotas' V6-vs-V8 makes getting a V8-equipped Dak a more prodigious choice.
I love the new body style [2005] and plan on purchasing one in probably a year or two - let the HO-4.7L become more available and by the time the '06 models roll-out, any problems/bugs/recalls (if any at all) will be worked-out - but it will definately be a V8 Dak!
Not that I don't like my current truck. It has decent power (when considering engine size/truck size/weight); and the duel Flowmaster side exit (like the Roush trucks) exhaust sounds GREAT - always mistaken for an 8-cylinder; but I don't like the fact that for an engine rated @ 175 (180?) HP [stock] gets only a mile-or-so better gas mileage than the 250+ HP V8's offered in the new Dakotas!
I kinda got off-subject...
Is there any more mods I could add or any products available that would improve my gas mileage? Or could the "ghastly" gas mileage be due to the fact I'm lead-footed and drive it hard most of the time?
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Truth hurts
Dodge Dakota
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1/20/2005
08:17:08
| RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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"Or could the "ghastly" gas mileage be due to the fact I'm lead-footed and drive it hard most of the time?"
Duh.
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big bird
Dodge Dakota
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1/20/2005
09:07:55
|  RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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There is no miracle cure , You'll only gain 1/10 or so w/ each mod ! And you'll Never Ever get a bonus driving hard !!!! I'm still questioning a double overdrive , would like to get RPM's down to 1500 @ 60-65 , even if I would have downshift for a hill !!!
Big Bird
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sic_digital
Dodge Dakota
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1/20/2005
17:42:19
|  RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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I reset my trip meter @ the gas station when I filled-up, and @ 1,664 miles, it says my average MPG is 14.3 (which sucks).
Let's see... 22 gallon tank @ 14.3 mpg... 1,664 miles = 116.4 gallons (about 5 fill-ups); gas is about $1.89 (for "medium" grade) so that's $208 in gas over the last 1600 miles (or $0.13/mi).
Breaking it down like that makes it not seem quite as bad, I guess. So round-trip to work and home for the week is about $8.
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Another question: I mentioned in my first post about my Flowmasters. It's a custom-made catback duel exhaust system, but both pipes exit in front of the right-rear tire instead of the back of the truck. When I gas it hard (like from a start @ a redlight) a liquid seems to spurt out of them (I assume it's gas) but only when I'm REALLY on it...
I'm no mechanical aficionado - is my truck running too rich/lean or whatever? Could this be my problem? And if so, what do I do to fix this?!
P.S. It's not like a water cannon or anything, almost like a mist but a little more dense - but definately a liquid...
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Dakota0094
Dodge Dakota
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1/21/2005
01:40:49
| RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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BIG BIRD Thanks for the info, I did put a taller tire on the back of my 2x4 and that droped my RPM's, I run at about 1200 to 1300 RPM's at 55-60 mph, but it didn't make a big difference in my mileage . It did make my speedo off about 5 mph more then what it reads. So thanks again. I did find a quick and E-Z way to change the thermostat, with out taking anything off the motor but the 2 bolts that are in the housing, anyone wanting more info E-MAIL me at DAKOTA0094@MSN.COM
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93dak4x4
Dodge Dakota
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1/21/2005
10:42:12
| RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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the little bit of liquid out of your gas from a stop light is most likely condensation from sitting at the light. (providing its cold outside) its pretty cold up here and when i stop at a light the time that my truck is at idle cools the pipe enough to form condensation in the pipe and spit a little out. dont worry about it, if your truck is running rich you will have ALOT of black soot in and on your tail pipe and you will even be able to smell and see it in the exhaust.
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joe
Dodge Dakota
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1/21/2005
11:05:34
|  RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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" run at about 1200 to 1300 RPM's at 55-60 "
holy crap! your lucky
i run about 2100-2200 rpm's at 65 in mine
and yes thats in 5th
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93dak4x4
Dodge Dakota
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1/21/2005
11:26:53
| RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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you may be running at 2100 or 2200 but you have more power at that band and have to be on the gas less then those of us automatics (which i hate). so it probably works out. i get close to the same mileage at 60 w/o overdrive engaged as i do with.
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sic_digital
Dodge Dakota
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1/21/2005
13:58:06
| RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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[from 93dak4x4]"...if your truck is running rich you will have ALOT of black soot in and on your tail pipe and you will even be able to smell and see it in the exhaust."
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There is a lot of black soot in/on the tailpipes - never really noticed a smell, though...
I live in Atlanta, so it never gets really cold, but even on cold mornings when I crank the truck and let it run/warm-up in the morning before I drive to work; I notice the condensation and I know that's just what it is - condensation.
I'm more worried about the truck runnin' too rich [if that's what's happening]and what I'm supposed to do about it. But thanks for your input!
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93dak4x4
Dodge Dakota
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1/21/2005
14:11:39
| RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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i had an oxy sensor go on me this summer and the truck ran so rich you could see and smell it in the exhaust, the carbon on the tail pipe wrapped around and an inch up the outside of the pipe. when taking off from a stop sign or light you could see the black come out of the exhaust. i was getting 8 mpg. that is running rich. that is what i meant.
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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1/21/2005
15:16:42
| RE: Crappy gas mileage...Help Please
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"you may be running at 2100 or 2200 but you have more power at that band and have to be on the gas less then those of us automatics (which i hate). so it probably works out. i get close to the same mileage at 60 w/o overdrive engaged as i do with."
Then you may have a problem. I get 3 mpg less with O/D off at that speed.
As far as power, at 60 mph on a level road, you only need about 20-30 HP to maintain speed. Now, if you want to *accelerate*, you need lots more. But there is no reason to be near the max HP and torque RPMs if you don't NEED max HP and torque. It's wasteful. For best gas mileage, you want the RPMs to be in the band that supplies the actual HP that you are demanding, without lugging the engine. For steady speeds, that's far below what even a 4-cyl can put out.
So the 1800 RPMs that I turn at 65 mph will provide far better fuel economy than 2600 RPMs in 3rd gear. But when I need extra power, the tranny downshifts to get me to the power band. That's the whole point.
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