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Dex
Dodge Dakota
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9/04/2005
22:17:41
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 Subject: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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When I usually drive between 65 - 70mph on the highway I get 20 mpg.
I drove 170 miles today and got a 17% increase in mpg to 23.44 by driving at 55 mph.
2000 Quad Cab 4X4-Sport V-6 Automatic Sports Plus Package
31X10.5 tires, Limited Slip, 3.55 Gears, Trailer Tow Group, HD Package, Skid Plates, LineX Spray in bed liner; Added:Airaid air filter & heat shield, Flowmaster 3 chamber muffler, Steel Horse Torneau cover, front hitch, Autolite Double Platinum 3923 Plugs, Removed air horns from Throttle Boddy, added new TB bolts, Cool Tape around air filter and A/C tubes, Amsoil in: crank case, differential and tranfercase.
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p2gee
Dodge Dakota
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9/04/2005
23:22:51
|  RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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To quote the legendary Red Rocker: " I CANT DRIVE 55!!!"
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GB2000
GenIII
9/05/2005
02:47:27
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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I agree with p2gee...but I think the optimum speed for gas mileage falls somewhere between 40-60mph. There's a bunch of factors to calculate in to figure the exact optimum speed, but I'm pretty sure it falls within that range.
Josh Blackshire - Owner, Ohio Dakotas .NET
Red 98 Dakota Sport - Check it out!
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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9/05/2005
09:52:22
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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Just as your friendly neighborhood police officer for a chance to see the back of a speeding ticket ;)
I got a written warning in Indiana once, on the back is listed the times it took to drive certain distances at various speeds (55, 60, 65, 70, etc). As I recall (this was in 1997) it also listed some mpg savings as well.
I used to make trips to Michigan for salmon fishing. With the tonneau cover on and driving 60 (speed limit on US 31 was 55) I would get around 25 mpg in my 95 CC 4x4.
- Dan M
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Jeff
GenIII
9/05/2005
10:12:51
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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my truck may or may not get its best mpg at 85 mph. ;)
almost doubled my mpg once coming down the 5 freeway in california from Oakland to LA. no cops and i had a tailwind, did 85-90 most of the way.
er, i mean my friend did.
lol
;)
Jeff
'99 3.9 clubcab
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93dak4x4
Dodge Dakota
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9/05/2005
10:53:35
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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I can't seem to get an increase in mileage no matter what speed I drive. whether its 60 or 80 I still get 17-18. I can't break it. I am stumped, all you guys get 20-25 on the highway and I'm stuck with 17.
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N56629
Dodge Dakota
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9/05/2005
15:31:28
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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Unfortunately one person's experience is not another person's reality. I have to go from driving very aggressively to driving moderately to see a 2mpg difference. Very slow and long drawn out acceleration seems to actually reduce my mpg as does very aggressive acceleration.
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ocso214
Dodge Dakota
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9/05/2005
17:33:51
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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93dak4x4
I know what you mean my mileage is crap to. I get between 16-18 on the highway going about 70 mph. It's hilly in Oklahoma though so, down hill I kinda coast... If anyone has any other suggestions about better gas mileage I'm all ears, thanks.
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rdesrosiers
Dodge Dakota
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9/05/2005
22:12:10
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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wow, you guys really get great mileage, my 1999 dakota with the mag V6 gets high 14's low 15's as i drive around the new england area of massachusetts and connecticut. Yeah sometimes i am pulling a flat bed with a 3000lbs machine on it but, when i am empty 14-15 mpg.
split fire plugs, cold air intake and a power chip. standard wheels and tires.
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fseventy
Dodge Dakota
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9/06/2005
00:52:33
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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I normally get between 18-20 mpg combined city/freeway miles here in Phoenix depending on how aggressive I drive. I just made an all highway trip for a total combined 500+ miles and I got a hair over 24 mpg for the 1st fillup. I did stay 5 mph under the speed limit most of the time because we were not in a hurry, and I would coast down a couple of long hills when I got a chance (Williams - Flagstaff - Phoenix for those who have traveled that area)
1998 Dak with the V6, stock 170,000 mile engine, with a K&N drop in filter, homemade cold air from the fenderwell, and Flowmaster muffler.
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r
Dodge Dakota
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9/06/2005
06:26:44
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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wow, nice mileage. could it be i am heavy on the foot? could it be hills and jack-rabbit starts?
i am not sure why i get the worst reported mileage out of my V6 but the best i have ever gotten was 15mpg.
and with these gas prices, i will sure go lite on the throttle body.
peace have safe travel everyone.
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Dex
Dodge Dakota
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9/06/2005
09:29:08
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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I track my mileage very closely so I'm confident of my mpg. (the mileage above was without the a/c) As you can see from my first post I'm guessing I have the heavest 3.9l Dakota model. I think good mileage is due to:
1. Torneau cover
2. Amsoil
3. Tire pressure - 40psi in all tires
4. Light touch on the gas peddle - no jack rabbit starts
5. steady mph on highway
- Give it a try
For some reason I getter bette gas mileage the hotter the air temperature. I think it is due to the Trailer tow group with the oil and transmission coolers - maybe they also put in a lower temperature thermastat.
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prodak
Dodge Dakota
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9/06/2005
10:41:10
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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Dex (and anyone else who cares)- hotter air, not colder, will get you better highway mpg with an EFI motor, check out this discussion:
http://www.dodgedakota.net/boards/per/12368.html
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Dex
Dodge Dakota
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9/06/2005
11:44:52
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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prodak,
I read the threads and Larry(?) did say that hot air into the intake will get you better mileage but it is not something you would do if you are looking for perfomance.
Currently I have a Airaide and heat shield installed. I will do a test this weekend of putting the flap back on and see if the mileage inproves.
I starting to get the idea that all these mods we talk about aren't worth much in the long run.
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hawkmoon
Dodge Dakota
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9/06/2005
13:04:49
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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rdesrosiers, I used to get the same mpg as you, (14 on a good tank, usually 13.5 ish), do you have a topper? I did some mods which didn't really seem to change milage much, but then I took the topper off and started getting 17 when I drove hard...then I got injectors cleaned and put a synthetic blend oil in and now I get 19 average (like 24 highway). I know your pain, try a little problem solving and hopefully get lucky like me...
1998 3.9L CC generic cone intake, tb spacer, high flow muffler
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Dan M
Dodge Dakota
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9/06/2005
14:04:22
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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Some things to look at / try.
proper tire pressure
slow accelerations / cut back on "hard" driving.
clean air induction (seafoam)
clean injectors (seafoam)
clean lifters (seafoam)
synthetic oil
tail gate up / tonneau
no speeding
good oxygen sensor
adjust transmission
replace tranny filter and fluid (synthetic)
better exhaust
I have a 95 CC 4x4 3.9L and get 17.5-18.5 combined
- Dan M
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prodak
Dodge Dakota
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9/06/2005
15:10:33
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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Dex-
Larry's comments only prompted me to experiment - it's the actual results I got (outlined in that other thread) that convinced me. I'm also convinced that increased airflow is mostly responsible for the unquestionable performance gains from a modified or aftermarket filter/intake setup, and that a 10-15F IAT difference doesn't affect performance(i.e. horsepower) that much, unless that extra whopping 1HP or whatever really matters to you (and mpg doesn't).
Put it another way: if the idea is to get more air and fuel in to make power then doesn't a few ounces more pressure on the go pedal do the same thing? (unless you're driving around WOT all the time)
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prodak
Dodge Dakota
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9/06/2005
15:25:38
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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Before the beatings commence, let me emphasize that my comments are NOT for people who race their trucks or want every last bit of power they can get, gas mileage be damned.
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rdesrosiers
Dodge Dakota
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9/06/2005
15:49:56
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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i am able to follow most all of the information given, but......what the heck is a topper? i do have a cold air intake, but i dont understand the meaning of (topper).
getting ready for the snow...........
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Dex
Dodge Dakota
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9/06/2005
17:07:04
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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Prodak,
I thought the idea of aftermarket air filter (Air Aide in my case) was to get cold air into a hot engine. The cold air being more dense would contain more oxygen (I have a college degree but can't spell!). More oxygen mixed with the gas would give you better performance.
I didn't know that the relatively colder air would decrease the MPG. I discovered that the warmer air gave better gas milage when it was in the 90 degree range while I was driving.
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cuzindoug
GenIII
9/06/2005
17:18:04
| RE: 17% mpg increase no mods needed
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Cold air= more power, less if any change in MPG(wider pulse width on injectors and advanced timing)
Warm air= less power, but better MPG (narrower pulse width on injectors and retarded timing)
If it ain't broke, fix it til it is.
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