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Grey Truck
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2005
03:52:49
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 Subject: QuadCab_Cost effective way to gain MPG?
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I hear a lot of you guys say how you are getting 16-22 MPG with your Dakota and that just blows me away! I have a 2002 V6 Quad Cab and I am getting around 10-11 MPG no matter what options I try. I have been keeping a log for the past year on how much gas I use and how many miles I have been able to go on it. I have tried to drive (normal) for one whole month, hoping that maybe my stop and go acceleration habits where killing my mileage, but that doesn’t seem to be the case since no matter what I do my mileage still sucks.
Maybe it’s due to the fact that most of you guys drive in the Midwest where hills and mountains are few and far between and that in the city there is more stop and go driving due to bad drivers, more drivers and more stop lights/signs.
Oh well, any advice that you guys could give me regarding performance parts and options will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2005
09:24:52
|  RE: QuadCab_Cost effective way to gain MPG?
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If you're getting 10-11 mpg at best, and being light on the throttle, your truck must be seriously out of tune, or have bad sensors, or be towing a sailboat. Start by checking fault codes and doing a full tuneup.
I rented a 2004 QC with 4.7L V-8, heavier than my Dak, and it still got 17-18 mpg.
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daffydak
GenIII
5/23/2005
09:57:06
| RE: QuadCab_Cost effective way to gain MPG?
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It could be due to the fact that it's a v6 in a QC...the 6 is working hard all the time to get the heavy QC moving, thus it's sucking a LOT of fuel...
the reason Mr. Lincoln got decent mileage with the qc he rented, is that it's a v8 and dosen't have to work as hard to pull the truck around...
Just my .02
Dan
MOPAR=More Power!!
00 CC Sport Plus 4.7L 4X4 Auto, 3:55 LSD
Flowmaster orig. 40 series (2 chamber) muffler, adjusted tps to .76V, ported TB, home brew intake setup w/K&N filter, Superchips 3715 Tuner, 180* T-stat... more mods to come!!!
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2005
10:39:11
| RE: QuadCab_Cost effective way to gain MPG?
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you do have some problems. i have an '00 QC 3.9 w/5spd manny. i have been averaging combined city(40%)/hiway(60%) mileage of 21mpg.
1) check tire press at least twice a month.
2) truck is in proper tune and front end alignment.
3) don't rev past 2500rpm and don't drive over 65 (unless needed on both of those).
i haven't even used any syn fluids at all. i am sure that would help even a little more.
only mods i have done is remove the clutch fan, cheap($20) muffler, install v8 tb and crank sensor mod. i tried the 180 t/stat and move the IAT and all that did was kill mileage.
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daddio
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2005
11:28:16
| RE: QuadCab_Cost effective way to gain MPG?
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i forgot about my underdrive crank pulley. also, 3.55 gears, p235/75/15 tires.
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Bob Lincoln
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2005
12:27:14
| RE: QuadCab_Cost effective way to gain MPG?
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"It could be due to the fact that it's a v6 in a QC...the 6 is working hard all the time to get the heavy QC moving, thus it's sucking a LOT of fuel...
the reason Mr. Lincoln got decent mileage with the qc he rented, is that it's a v8 and dosen't have to work as hard to pull the truck around..."
No, that doesn't account for only getting 10-11 mpg. When my brother owned my truck, he still got 12-15 mpg driving cross-country pulling a 22' sailboat and all his luggage in the bed. 92 Dak with 3.9 V-6, 4-speed auto 4WD, club cab; and all that with the O/D shut off on hills. No way is a 2002 QC worse than that scenario. He has some malfunction with his truck.
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Grey Truck
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2005
13:54:12
| RE: QuadCab_Cost effective way to gain MPG?
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Yeah I average about 220 miles per tank of gas. And that’s with driving one day in the red. I haven’t yet drove till the truck started to choke to see exactly what kind of mileage I get, nor do I want to do that.
I have about 26k miles on it right now.
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Doug
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2005
17:41:21
| RE: QuadCab_Cost effective way to gain MPG?
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I recently went to the V8 TB, moved the IAT, modified my factory intake, went to a high-flow cat and installed a flowmaster 4o series muffler. Not only does the truck sound better, but i went from 14-16 MPG to 19.12 MPG(all city driving less than 15 mile drives) I haven't done any highway yet, but i "was" getting 20MPG. As long as i don't "get into it" the mileage is great.
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another mark
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2005
17:48:02
| RE: QuadCab_Cost effective way to gain MPG?
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I'd seriously get rid of the thing if you are that concerned about mileage. I've got a 99 3.9 club cab and it gets 11 also. 19 on the highway is the best I get. I've done EVERYTHING. Some of us just have cursed vehicles I think. I bought an econo box for the good mileage and only drive the truck on the weekends.
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p2gee
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2005
19:16:17
| RE: QuadCab_Cost effective way to gain MPG?
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I have an 01 QC w/3.9. It was pretty doggy on MPG when I got it but it was in dire need of plugs, fuel filter, ect. Installed Bosch double platinums, replaced fuel filter, did cps mod.....all helped a little bit but still having trouble making 16 mpg hwy. The four things that helped my truck the most MPG wise were
1. K&N drop in filter
2. Replacing pre cat O2 sensors
3. Replacing the MAP sensor
4. Replacing the intake pan&gasket.
Map sensor made the biggest improvment. Chrysler MAPS are pretty notorious for getting out of range with miles and time. Now my truck does about 18 hwy and 16 in town.
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Adam
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2005
20:49:03
| RE: QuadCab_Cost effective way to gain MPG?
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What's the MAP sensor? Just curious looking for ideas.
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Mateo
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2005
21:10:37
| RE: QuadCab_Cost effective way to gain MPG?
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"What's the MAP sensor?"
MAP= Manifold Absolute Pressure Sensor
I think its a sensor that basically monitors the pressure within the manifold relative to the engine. But here... this I pulled out of the 4WHEEL&OFFROAD Mag:
"Measures air pressure in the engine's intake manifold. When engine vacuum is high, the manifold pressure is low (closed throttle). When engine vacuum is low, manifold pressure is high (wide-open throttle). When the engine is not running at all, the MAP sensor reads barometric pressure. It is the MAP sensor that lets EFI engines automatically adjust to run efficiently at various altitudes. The MAP sensor is the foundation of a "Speed-Density" fuel injection system, and along with factors such as air intake temperature, an engine's volumetric efficiency, exhaust gas recirculation, and engine rpm, it lets the ECM calculate the mass airflow rate instead of using an MAF sensor.
"WHEN IT BREAKS: Engine may fail to start. Engine may run lean or rich, or not produce peak power at wide-open throttle."
Notice, I do not try to interpret it. (grins)*
Matt (#1,2,3,4,etc...)
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Jon
Dodge Dakota
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5/23/2005
23:10:24
|  RE: QuadCab_Cost effective way to gain MPG?
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I own a 2002 Dakota Quad Cab, Sport, 4x4, V6, and my milage stinks too.
I try to drive it less, that seems to help the gas bill.
But it sure looks nice parked in my driveway as I ride my bike to work, lol.
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daffydak
GenIII
5/24/2005
00:28:33
| RE: QuadCab_Cost effective way to gain MPG?
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sorry about that, I stand corrected..
I was just used to the crappy mileage I got with the 3.9L I had.. I guess that was due to my heavy foot :-P Though with the same foot, I get comperable mileage with a bigger heavier 4.7 4x4 CC with the same gears..
Do you have an auto or manual Grey Truck?
Once again, I apologize..
Dan
MOPAR=More Power!!
00 CC Sport Plus 4.7L 4X4 Auto, 3:55 LSD
Flowmaster orig. 40 series (2 chamber) muffler, adjusted tps to .76V, ported TB, home brew intake setup w/K&N filter, Superchips 3715 Tuner, 180* T-stat... more mods to come!!!
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Eric
Dodge Dakota
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5/25/2005
12:29:40
| RE: QuadCab_Cost effective way to gain MPG?
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Just another data point... I have an '01 v6 QC and have driven it for about three years now. I consistently get about 16-18 in town and just under 20 on the highway. That's "normal" driving for me, with some lazy Sundays and many manic weekdays, in traffic. I recently added a Roll-n-lok to the bed and that increased the highway mpg by about 1-2.
But if you're hitting 11-12 consistently, something is seriously wrong.
I know this sounds odd, but my mom had an (old style) Chrysler New Yorker - and after 3 years of stalling and horrible gas mileage and hesitation... and trips to the Chrysler dealer... She took it to the Dodge dealer and said not to give it back until something definative was found.
They ripped down the motor to the head and found that the gasket between the head and the intake manifold was indeed for that size engine (bolt holes aligned), but for the truck version, not the car version, of the motor. So none of the water or oil lines were aligned and no heat had been getting to the carb... She had been running full choke almost all the time. Replaced the gasket and presto-chango... Very well-behaved car.
That was factory, so I know it can happen in a Chrysler factory...
I don't know how to check something like that, but since the 3.9L is injected, there would not be the stalling and hesitation problems, just the horrible mileage. See if a tech can get the computer to report upper engine temp (from motor cold) and see if it seems to be circulating water\oil... If the choke is being kept on, that would explain your mileage. Then to figure out why the choke is staying on...
Best of luck!
Cheers,
Eric
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