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Dwight
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2002
10:11:39
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 Subject: Fuel saver mods
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OK, I see lots of discussion about how to make my Dakota faster and perform better, but I'm mainly interested in mods for fuel economy. I know.."so why did you buy a truck with a 4.7L if you want economy?". Because I want/need the truck, but would like to squeeze as much MPG out of it as I can. I have a '03 Dakota QC SLT Plus, 4x4, 4.7L, Auto.
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Demon-Xanth
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2002
10:31:59
|  RE: Fuel saver mods
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Put a small block of wood under the gas pedal. The reason my truck's MPG suffers occasionally is that the pedal goes too far down and the engine starts running quicker :)
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Texas Todd
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2002
11:27:09
|  RE: Fuel saver mods
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nix the auto, and the 4WD, plus the belt fan/clutch on the H20 pump, and you'll get better MPG!
Seriously, since you've already got the silly auto, and must NEED 4x4,take off your belt fan clutch/fan-free. It'll help some. A homebrew or after market intake will help some too. Don't go cat-back on the 4.7, unless you're doing some serious mods. Unless you just think it's cool to have a louder, less low end torque truck.
And BTW, the 4.7 get excellent fuel enconomy for the HP!
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Dwight
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2002
13:11:40
| RE: Fuel saver mods
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Message:
Well actually it's just a 4x4 model. I don't run it in 4WD. I'm not looking for big time serious mods. Mostly because I'm not a mechanic and my auto repair/mod skills are not great. I was mainly figuring someone would suggest certain types of oil, oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, plug wires, etc...maybe even the Jet Chip? I'm planning on getting a tonneau cover (hard) soon. I know that'll help with aerodynamics. I've a few people mention burning 89 octane fuel. The manual says 87 only and recommends not using higher octane fuels nor additives. But I'm sure most of you here can offer more solid suggestions.
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TDak
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2002
15:17:01
| RE: Fuel saver mods
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Message:
Dwight,
If you want better mileage, you definitely do not want a performance chip. The whole reason for the performance chips is so that the engine will accept more fuel, not less. Also, don't switch to a higher octane fuel. This will also cause worse mileage. The reason that you hear so many people talking about the higher octane fuel is because all us motorheads that think we need a 400hp truck have added so much stuff that the engine starts predetonation(pinging). The higher octane resists burn and, therefore, stops the predetenation. A stock engine will gain no benefit from it. The truck pretty much comes from the factory tuned for best mileage, not best performance. That's why hardly anyone talks about ways to make it better.
Now that I've rambled on half a page, I will say that if you put in all synthetic fluids, put a tonneau cover on, and maybe the wood block idea you should increase mileage a little. I wouldn't expect anything drastic though.
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Texas Todd
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2002
15:32:19
| RE: Fuel saver mods
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Message:
Dwight, Dwight?, Dwight,
Seriously, get rid of that belt fan/clutch. Do a search here on this site for the past threads, there are lots of 'em. Free, and free up some HP and mpg, and EASY to do.
I also use Mobil 1, there are others.
4.7- NO, repeat, NO PLUG WIRES! trust me on this one. OIl and air filters are NOT going to get you better mpg. neither are plug wires for that matter, not a a fairly new engine. You could go with a K&N drop in insert for your air cleaner-you shouldn't see better Mpg from it either though. The 4.7 will get ~20+ mpg on the highway.
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Texas Todd
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2002
15:34:33
| RE: Fuel saver mods
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That was oil FILTERS, and air filters, unless the air cleaner is really dirty. synthetic lubes, and a soft foot will however.
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Alpine
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2002
19:17:39
| RE: Fuel saver mods
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Message:
If you remove the clutch fan do you need to change the thermostat to a 180 degree model?
Does anyone now how many MPG you can save from this removal?
BTW - I was going to ask the same question about saving fuel too.
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bob w
GenIII
12/17/2002
21:04:38
|  RE: Fuel saver mods
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Message:
I just removed the fan for the 2nd time, and the gain was 1.5 mpg from average 16.5 it went to 18
highway and I have a very heavy foot.
Gibson headers, Gibson Cat-back, Edelbrock IAS shocks, K & N drop in, 180 stat, Jet stage II chip, ARE Lid
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midnightdak
Dodge Dakota
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12/17/2002
21:52:36
| RE: Fuel saver mods
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Message:
I bought my dakota 2001 4.7 cc and damn it is bad on gas on the way to work and back,then i started pushing it,its better on gas that way..lol...i just keep my foot off the gas and it gets pretty good gas mileage.Hey how about taking 2 of the plugs out and making it a 6 cylinder,would that get better gas mileage?I'm just joking.
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Demon-Xanth
Dodge Dakota
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12/18/2002
10:02:07
| RE: Fuel saver mods
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Out of curiousity, what does removing the fan do for the warrentee?
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gasman
Dodge Dakota
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12/22/2002
15:01:02
| RE: Fuel saver mods
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Message:
Seriously --fuel mileage sux-5.9L Quad 4X4
11-12 mi around town. whats this about clutch fan
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jjj
Dodge Dakota
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12/22/2002
23:11:05
|  RE: Fuel saver mods
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Message:
01 QC 5.9 4X4 and I am getting 14-15 in town, 18.5-20 trips at 70+, 16-16.5 towing.
Mods are tires at 40 psi, 5 deg timing advance, relocate IAT (still undecided if it helped as this is recent), 3 airhat gskts, K&N drop in, stock air box for summer, restricted and rerouted air inlet for the stock air box for winter, Ultra flow direct replacement muffler, 8.5 MSD wires with MSD blaster2 coil, stock cap, rotor, thermostat, Champion truck plugs for a 4.0L jeep, no clutch fan (good for 2 mpg on 99 and earlier, not sure for much on the newer ones as the newer clutch doesn't engage until 230 degrees) and I think that is it. All low budget and power went up also as a power increase with mpg decrease is as unacceptable as is a mpg increase with power decrease.
Jeff
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marsman
Dodge Dakota
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5/31/2010
14:56:00
|  RE: Fuel saver mods
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Message:
I have an '07 Dakota and man the mpg sux! I looooove the truck...hate the mpg. anyway heres the question. You guys really think the mod chips wont help? It does get better highway mpg than in town but thats where I drive mostly is in town. So any improvement at all in not having to fill up so often with gas prices through the friggin' roof would be awesome! by the way its a 4.7L V8 magnum Quadcab 4x4! Thanks!
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marsman
Dodge Dakota
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5/31/2010
15:00:07
| RE: Fuel saver mods
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Oh by the way....putting a block of wood under the gas pedal as a way to get better gas mileage....I don't care who you are.....thats funny!!! yeeeeeeehaaaa!
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William Moore
Dodge Dakota
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8/07/2011
18:35:32
| RE: Fuel saver mods
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Message:
LOL you guy's think you have bad mpg. I have a 95 dakota 5.2 V8 with 31 inch tires. I'm getting 12 mpg on the highway. I wish I was getting 16 to 18 that adds way up at 3.50 a gallon. Well does anyone know here which is the better Catalytic converter for burning up the emissions when entering the cat. Walker or magna flow? Failing for NOX off idle reading 5.00 max is 3.00 Thanks everyone..
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