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bad dakota
Dodge Dakota
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3/26/2004
17:48:42
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 Subject: gas millage increasement
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is there anyway to increase my miles per gallon in my dakota, it is completly stock.
i am planning on getting a k&n air filter sometime but what are some other ways that you KNOW works. thanks
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Sephiroth
Dodge Dakota
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3/26/2004
19:34:14
|  RE: gas millage increasement
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What engine, what differentials, what year? I have done a few things and now get almost 21mpg out of my 5.2L V8 4x4. I'd say that's good, considering my non-modded V6 only gets 22-25mpg!!
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Dakotas rock
Dodge Dakota
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3/26/2004
20:13:05
|  RE: gas millage increasement
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How can I increase my gas millage. I need to know because it is my first vehicle and just getting my liscence, and will be getting a job soon. So I do not want to spend all my money on gas.
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Michael
DakotaEnthusiast
3/26/2004
20:36:52
| RE: gas millage increasement
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Take it easy on the go pedal. LOL
Z-Tube, R/T Rims, SSB Rear Disc Conversion, Alpine Head-Unit, Infinity Kappa Speakers, SilverStar Headlights, HO Cams & Intake installed.
Got H.O. ?
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bad dakota
Dodge Dakota
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3/27/2004
00:14:39
| RE: gas millage increasement
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i have the same setup as you, 5.2L V8, 4x4, don't know the differential(but i think it the 3.55) what are some of the mods you have done the get the better gas mileage
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Sephiroth
Dodge Dakota
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3/27/2004
16:55:54
| RE: gas millage increasement
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Is it a Gen3 or prior Dakota? If it is 1995 or prior, it can use a Tornado for torque increases. I also suggest an AMSOIL foam air-filter over any K&N. K&N is good, but it doesn't trap as much debris as a standard paper or a nice foam will.
Next I'd get an open-element air-filter housing like Mine, which will REALLY open up the power in your engine. I've had mine on for a week or two now, and it is utter ownage. Almost like a different engine. Best thing is, it is only $24.99 at Pep-Boys here! On a side note, if you race or use more than half-throttle regularly, you will need to go to 89 ro 93 octane after installing this because it gets so much air into the engine now that it may detonate if you floor it using 87. Mine does if I floor it.
After that, you have AMSOIL motor-oils. I use ATM 10W-30 in my engine and change it every 10k. It makes my engine run super-smooth and quiet. I also plan on switching to their gear-lube and tranny-fluids in the near future for even more longevity and more horses.
Finally, you could get some Bosch Platinum plugs. I have the 4's in mine and they DO make a difference. They run about $5 each for 4's, $3 each for 2's, and $2 each for plain platinums.
Oh, and I also cooled my engine. I threw out the 195deg thermostat and put in a 180deg thermo, then switched from green to red/orange coolant. The truck now runs around 190-195deg instead of 220-230deg.
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Mr.Sleepy
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2004
09:01:32
| RE: gas millage increasement
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The best thing you can do to increase your mileage is do nothing. I was getting the best mileage out of my truck before I modded it. Sure its faster now, but does it sure suck down the gas. Leave it stock and ease up on the pedal, don't stomp it. If your extremely concerned about mileage, then just don't buy the truck.
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Nick
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2004
09:21:31
| RE: gas millage increasement
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Don't go nuts spending money on your truck to get better gas milage. I mean, if you spend 50$ to increase your milage 2 or 3 mpg, its kind of redundant. Yeah, intake mods will help your horsepower but if you care only about gas milage you dont need horsepower anyway. Just go easy on the pedal. V8's aren't going to have good gas milage no matter what. Thats my personal experience.
-Nick
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Sephiroth
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2004
15:25:28
|  RE: gas millage increasement
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You're both wrong. I have doubled my mileage on the 5.2L by adding LITTLE things. I'm not talking ram-air or turbos people, just basics. If you're saying every single 5.2L gets 19-20mpg then I didn't HURT my mileage by adding the stuff. Thing is, my father owns a '98 with the 5.2L and he gets 15mpg at best. You gotta' know what to do and what not to do, all there is to it.
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Double ?
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2004
17:43:36
| RE: gas millage increasement
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So you're getting 30 mpg from your 5.2 ?
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Sephiroth
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2004
20:38:54
| RE: gas millage increasement
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Read my post, 20mpg. That's also my average. It drops if I do a lot of city driving, and goes up a hair if I do only highway driving. Right now it's about 60/40, highway/city.
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WipLash
R/T
3/29/2004
20:43:22
| RE: gas millage increasement
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Nick,
Your statement isn't necessarily true. For example:
Lets use 20,000 miles for our calculations since most of us keep our trucks at least that long. Then lets take the average cost of 87oct at $1.80 right now and lets compare operating cost of 2 Dakotas that one gets 15mpg and the other gets 18mpg.
OK....
15mpg Dakota:
20,000miles/15mpg = 1333.33 gallons of gas.
1333.33 gal X $1.80/gal = $2,400.00
18mpg Dakota:
20,000miles/18mpg = 1,111.11 gallons of gas.
1,111.11 gal X $1.80/gal = $2,000.00
It will cost you $400.00 more every 20,000 miles to operate the 15mpg Dakota than the 18mpg Dakota. Therefore, assuming you could increase your mileage by 3mpg you could make $400.00 worth of upgrades to your truck to improve the mileage and it would pay for itself in 20,000 miles.
Is this possible? I think it is. I just spent $250.00 for a set of headers and installed them last weekend. My mileage went up over 2mpg at 70mph. I can drive 90mph now and my gas mileage meter is reading 13mpg. Before the headers were installed it read 11mpg at 85mph. My header installation will easily pay for itself in 20,000 miles in fuel savings.
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Dakotas rock
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2004
21:58:35
|  RE: gas millage increasement
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So Sephiroth, what are those LITTLE things that you have done to your Dakota that has supposedly inreased your gas millage to 20 mpg?
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midnightmagic
GenIII
3/29/2004
22:48:36
| RE: gas millage increasement
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on my 00 4.7 auto 3.55 rear, consistantly got 25mpg on the hwy, 21-22 city, now with the 4.11's about 20 hwy, 17 city( when i baby it..and that aint often)
You gotta ask yourself one question...That Thing Got A HEMI???
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Sephiroth
Dodge Dakota
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3/29/2004
23:19:09
| RE: gas millage increasement
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That's a 4.7L engine. Granted, I don't think they get that kind of mileage stock, but we are talking about the 5.2L engines. I know the 4.7L gets better mileage stock than a stock 5.2L, but you're mileages say you get V6 mileage, and I'd like to know how the heck you managed that. I am considering a cam-swap with the 4.7L cam, but it'll be after I research the mileage increase or decrease.
Rock, read my post. I said what I did in the post. I also just uploaded some better pictures of my second Dakota. You can find them here if you like. It shows my new housing and how clean I keep my engine. Also shows my boat, hehe!
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Duraforce
Dodge Dakota
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3/30/2004
01:17:36
| RE: gas millage increasement
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Whiplash, You happy with your JBA headers? Did the install go easy? Does the truck have any more NOTICEABLE power? I just got back from a road trip and calculated 16 mpg doing 75 for 3 1/2
hours.Alot better then the usual 13 running around town.
DURAFORCE
2000 IB RC R/T
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WipLash
R/T
3/30/2004
13:46:02
| RE: gas millage increasement
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Duraforce,
I was not happy with the installation. It was not as simple as the manufacture makes it out to be. The passenger side missed aligning up to the exhaust pipe by 1/4" and the drivers side header collector missed by over a 1/2". I did the passenger side first. It was easy to align it up since the drivers side wasn't connected to anything. When I went to connect the drivers side up it was off by 1/2". Stainless doesn't bend too easy. I had to use a hydraulic porta-power to spread the factory exhaust pipes another 1/2" apart so they would bolt up to the headers. This added 2 more hours to my install time.
Performance has increaed accross the board (seat of pants). There is a definate increase in the 3K-4500rpm range. Gas mileage improved as well by at least 2mpg.
The sound was a little dissapointing. I expected it to be louder and it got quieter except for when you punch it and it hits 3K. From 3K up it is louder. From idle to 2500rpm it is quieter. It used to idle with a low rumble and now you can barley hear it at idle.
Since I got these JBA's used off Ebay for $200.00 I figure I came out alright. I wouldn't pay $450.00-$550.00 dollars for a new set. I'd try the PPH or Mopar Performance headers.
Another thing that bothers me is the passenger side header primary tube touches the AC-filter/expansion chamber. I bent the can over about 1/2" so that it doesn't touch, but it still gets hot there. I'm afraid that it will reduce the efficiency of my AC this summer. I'm going to have to wrap that primary tube with insulating tape or something.
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Nick
Dodge Dakota
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3/30/2004
21:00:35
| RE: gas millage increasement
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Wiplash, your right, sorry, I wasnt thinking long term effects. But the thing is, how much money did you put into the 18 mpg dakota to get it that gas milage?
I usually see guys around here spend 2-300$ on a K&N system for one or two MPG. Yeah, granted, you get better horsepower, but if you take advantage of the added power, your milage will go down. So just for the example, say the driver drove the same way they did before w/ the right milage mods added... Your right... they'll save $...
My point is that say you save 400$ in gas, like you said. How much money worth of mod's do you have to put into the engine to get that 3 MPG increase?
Maybe its just me, but if I buy something to improve gas milage, and it takes years for me to earn the money back for the mod before I actually save money... I'd rather put it in the bank.
Im not trying to start a flame war, and I totally see where you guys are coming from. If you can do the MPG mods cheap enough, then go for it. Personally, I just try to go easy on the pedal, and i get about 14 MPG in the city. Thats with exhaust, 360 intakez, good quality plugs and t-stat. Florida is hot too, so that may make a difference for me.
-Nick
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WipLash
R/T
3/30/2004
21:15:28
| RE: gas millage increasement
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Duraforce,
Another problem there was with the JBA's was the taper on the collector flange is wrong. The original cast iron manifolds have a taper that is very steep and it slips easily into the exhaust pipe flange. The JBA has a much more rounded off taper that is very blunt. The ID of the taper is also larger so it makes it very hard to center the collector on the header to the flange on the exhaust pipe. If I had the time I would remove the factory exhaust y-pipes and pre-fit the flanges to the header collector. You could heat the flare on the exhaust pipe flange with a torch and then bolt it up to the header. This would force the flange to spread out to match the collector for a better fit. Then alignment would be much easier because it would self-align when you start to tighten the bolts like it is supposed to. The difference between the taper on the JBA header and the factory exhaust pipe is so severe that it won't self align when you tighten the bolts.
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Duraforce
Dodge Dakota
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3/30/2004
23:47:07
| RE: gas millage increasement
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Whiplash, sounds like a real adventure in dimensional correctness. I have been looking at the mopar performance headers because I want to avoid problems like that.Is there a true dual exaust system that include a new set of cats that wont throw the sensors out of whack? It seems crazy to put on headers, replace the old exaust but leave the stock cat on.
DURAFORCE
2000 IB RC R/T
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MY H3RO
Dodge Dakota
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3/31/2004
10:35:16
| RE: gas millage increasement
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Tonneau Cover. Went from 16.5 to 19.2
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