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Sesquash
Dodge Dakota
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10/09/2003
05:04:48
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 Subject: GREAT 360 MPG!
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Hello fellow 360 thumpers!
R/T jockeys or not...
I have read with great interest the varied mileage reports from R/T and/or other 360 cubic inch owners. With the huge discrepancy of reported fuel mileage, I’d thought that I would relate my two-week ownership of a 2003 Club Cab R/T Dakota.
With this vehicle, I did the unimaginable (smile), I READ THE MANUAL before I took the R/T past what I did on the test drive, around 12 miles. I read especially with interest D.C’s tip on using full-bore, open throttle for brief periods during the break-in process. This of course totally flies in the face of what I had always believed, or had been led to believe when breaking in a new motor.
So what did I do? I did EXACTLY what the 2003 Owner’s Manual suggested---full bore, foot-in-the-oil-pan operation for brief periods as I snorked down the highway, or after had obtained second gear on the 46E tranny. The manual stated that you were to not open to full bore acceleration from first gear during the break-in.
I now have 700 or so miles on my beast…and I am very happy to report that in the city, I am getting 15.5 mpg, and on the open highway at 60 miles per hour, I am getting a very nice 21 mpg!!!!
Hell, I could NEVER climb above 18 mpg with my 2001 3.9L V-6!!!!
So it only goes to prove two things---if you break in your truck exactly as recommended, and keep around 40 mph in the city, and 60 mph on the highway, you can score excellent mileage figures for the size of a V-8 as is the 360 stump-puller! J
It must all be in how the truck was handled in the first 500 miles of its engine and transmission life…..
This proves that the 360 need not be the fuel-sucker that some are sadly reporting. Could it be their break-in style, or driving style to get ‘basement’ figures in mpg?
Food for thought,
Later,
Sesquash
2003 Club-Cab R/T with Stampede package.
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nate
Dodge Dakota
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10/09/2003
08:14:53
|  RE: GREAT 360 MPG!
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If I reset my PCM, can I re-break in my truck?
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2K1 R/T
Dodge Dakota
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10/09/2003
11:10:07
| RE: GREAT 360 MPG!
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Man i only dream of those number!! Im lucky to get 11 in the city and 15 on the highway. I sometimes wonder if my R/T is worth it, but then I pull up next to a civic with a fart can and its all worth it again.
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snowman
GenIII
10/09/2003
15:24:26
| RE: GREAT 360 MPG!
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the key here to his great fortune is "60 MPH on the highway." This is the highway speed that most vehicles are designed to operate at for max mileage. When I do that I can get close to 20 mpg with 33 inch tires. If i drop to 45 then it goes up to like 22-24
Formerly Cadetdak
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Hillarky
Dodge Dakota
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10/09/2003
16:43:19
| RE: GREAT 360 MPG!
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Check your tire size and your computer. There are 9 new RT's (dak's and dur's) on our lot and they wont get that downhill (just a joke guys). As far as break-in goes the only real thing that comes into play is the cam and in your situation your looking at another 3-4k miles before that engine will actually "loosen" up. Try setting the cruise @ 70 mph on a level road with the a/c on no one drives 60 anyway. Not to come across abrasive but those number are unrealistic in real world driving.
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bigredram4x4
Dodge Dakota
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10/09/2003
17:33:06
|  RE: GREAT 360 MPG!
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"No one drives 60 anyway"
That depends on where you live. I live in San Antonio and you are lucky to hit 65 in a 60 zone. The traffic just doesn't flow that fast. At that speed I get 12.5 mpg. Towing a fully loaded 6x12 box trailer 750 miles down here from Missouri I got 11 mpg. Of course my truck is a 2001 QC 4wd Ram Sport Offroad. It also sports a K&N FIPK, Fastman 52mm TB and Flowmaster 40 Series. I would love to squeeze 15 out of it with further mods.
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