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Handy Hank
Dodge Dakota
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12/02/2003
16:47:16
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 Subject: Gas Mileage and wind
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Message:
I had a long trip this weekend and the wind was blowing into the side of the truck about 20 mph or so. All interstate driving and my 99 318 slt 4x4 only managed 14.9 mpg the whole trip. I was only driving about 77 mph. I'm thinking the wind was causing me to get that bad of gas mileage but could it be caused by something else? Should I lower my tailgate and will that help me a little with gas mileage?
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bman42
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2003
10:30:22
|  RE: Gas Mileage and wind
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lowering the tailgate probably wouldn't have helped much. trucks are now aerodynamically designed to pretty much remove the tailgate from the aerodynamics equation (not like older trucks).
being a side wind you were constantly fighting the wind and ever so slightly always turning back into it. That would add up over a long trip. vehicles aren't really designed for lateral aerodynamics. If the wind was pretty constant, that would eat up your efficiency pretty well.
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01Motorsport
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2003
21:41:49
| RE: Gas Mileage and wind
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The raised chassis (components hitting the air) of a 4x4 hurts MPG due to increased air drag. Consider the "parachute" effect the open wheel wells have with a cross wind, and more drag there, too. I personally like the stability of a mild (2-3") drop 2WD, and better mpg. '01 RC 4.7 5-spd. 3:92 w/Snugtop shell, 19mpg overall.
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j-mac
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2003
22:27:29
| RE: Gas Mileage and wind
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hank,
i'd feel lucky if i was you! i've got 15mpg 1 time driving with the wind on the interstate. i average 11-12mpg as a stock truck. recently done some mod's but haven/t checked it since!
as mentioned these vehicles carry a great deal of drag. Alot of areas of wind resistance with a raised vehicle and large wheel wells. push- push
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EBL
Dodge Dakota
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12/03/2003
23:59:32
| RE: Gas Mileage and wind
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Message:
Your biggest problem was averaging 77mph.
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woody
Dodge Dakota
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12/04/2003
12:47:45
| RE: Gas Mileage and wind
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Message:
Hey 01Motorsport
I do not think that the lowering you did on your truck helped with your gas mileage. I have a 2000 RC 4.7 5-speed 3.92 stock height and an open bed and I still average 19mpg on the highway (tailgate up). I also get 18mpg to 20mpg on the back roads at 40-50mph. I did have a two time best of 21mpg on the back roads, but I was taking it real easy those days. I just think the that RC 2wd is much lighter than the 4wd and that is mainly what helps the most with gas mileage. Just my opinion.
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Wolverine
Dodge Dakota
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12/04/2003
13:52:20
| RE: Gas Mileage and wind
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(Side note)
I recently added K&N and Flowmaster and jumped 2 mpg. I know that doesn't seem like much, but it's better to be at 15 mpg than 13 mpg.
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Gary Berry
Dodge Dakota
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12/04/2003
17:30:24
| RE: Gas Mileage and wind
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Message:
What is a K&N and what does a Flowmaster do? Where do I get them. I get about 18.5 average with a 2002 2wd. Maybe I can get better.
Please email me at my address. garberr@hotmail.com
Thanks,
Gary
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huh?
Dodge Dakota
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12/04/2003
18:14:41
|  RE: Gas Mileage and wind
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That's like saying, what is a truck and a car. LOL
A k&N is an air filter, that catches less, so it flows more. And a Blowmaster, is an aftermarket exhaust, muffler, muffler and tailpipe, etc.
Rarely does anybody see any gains from these two changes, I hate to call them modifications.
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01Motorsport
Dodge Dakota
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12/04/2003
22:53:17
| RE: Gas Mileage and wind
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Message:
woody: The lowering didn't effect the mpg, but did make the truck more stable at highway speeds, and in crosswinds. The stance of a typical 4x4, especially at highway speeds, is pushing a lot of air. 14.9 mpg at 77 mph sounds pretty good to me. Sometimes mpg numbers at speed can surprise you, if you are in the "sweet spot" of the engine's powerband. Following an 18-wheeler, or cruising in a "train" of vehicles going the same speed, reduces your vehicle's frontal area, and could help mpg (don't tailgate, though!). My 19mpg overall is combined city/hwy in hilly East Tennessee; maybe 25% flat roads. The Flowmaster70 w/2 1/2" duals, K&N drop-in, and homebrew alloy air intake w/Fernco was a perfomance plus, and helped the city mpg marginally.
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