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McyMike
Dodge Dakota
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12/05/2003
15:53:00
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 Subject: RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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Well I disagree. I bought my truck (same as yours, 12K miles now) based on the EPA sticker has a guide and a reference and it (truck) has never come close. With conservative foot, it gets about 12-13 in town and 15 -16 on the highway - that's it. Always the low end of the sticker. Never comes close to EPA of 21. If it would, it would be a good truck.... My Corvette gets EXACTLY what the EPA says (28 Mpg on the highway @80 mph). I don't want a "Civic" I just wanted the mileage advertised - at least once in a while. Dodge for sale...
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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12/05/2003
22:36:29
| RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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Once again.. those big bold numbers are not a promise of what mileage you will get. They are what the EPA got in its tests. IF you take the time to read all the rest of the printing below those numbers you're seeing the EPA basically acknowledge that their controlled tests cannot account for the infinite variation in real world conditions. Now assuming what you said is true and your truck is a similar configuration to mine, the low end of the range is approximately 11 in town and maybe 14 or 15 on the highway. Which means you're within range. Youre basically averaging 14-15 overall, which is about average for this vehicle. Each vehicle is a tiny bit different and is driven very differently. It's just plain dumb to expect that yours is gonna get the same mileage as the one in the EPA's lab with the tube stuck to the exhaust pipe. Just because you got it before on a different vehicle doesn't mean you should expect every car or truck you ever own will exactly match EPA mileage estimates.
I honestly cannot understand why you're complaining or what you're complaining about. The only thing I can guess you just had to go out and buy a truck because it's cool and didn't really understand the inherent and unavoidable draw backs of these vehicles.
I currently have 2600 miles on the clock. I checked after one half a tank recently and got high twelves mostly in the city. Another tank I checked came out right about 15, almost all highway. PErfectly fine by me. It is a 5 thousand pound V8 4wheel drive pickup truck with barnyard aerodynamics and plenty of drive line drag, not a Civic or an Insight. Every time I feel the power of that V8 that kicks me past slower traffic without even breathing heavy, I forget all about the cost of gas.
". If it would, it would be a good truck"
So how ridiculous does that sound. Sure, it can blast through a 3-4 foot snowdrift, tow 5 thousand pounds, and haul 1600 pounds in the bed. But because it doesnt get gas mileage like a car, it's not a good truck? I think it's time to re examine why you purchased your vehicle.
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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12/05/2003
22:37:26
| RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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Once again.. those big bold numbers are not a promise of what mileage you will get. They are what the EPA got in its tests. IF you take the time to read all the rest of the printing below those numbers you're seeing the EPA basically acknowledge that their controlled tests cannot account for the infinite variation in real world conditions. Now assuming what you said is true and your truck is a similar configuration to mine, the low end of the range is approximately 11 in town and maybe 14 or 15 on the highway. Which means you're within range. Youre basically averaging 14-15 overall, which is about average for this vehicle. Each vehicle is a tiny bit different and is driven very differently. It's just plain dumb to expect that yours is gonna get the same mileage as the one in the EPA's lab with the tube stuck to the exhaust pipe. Just because you got it before on a different vehicle doesn't mean you should expect every car or truck you ever own will exactly match EPA mileage estimates.
I honestly cannot understand why you're complaining or what you're complaining about. The only thing I can guess you just had to go out and buy a truck because it's cool and didn't really understand the inherent and unavoidable draw backs of these vehicles.
I currently have 2600 miles on the clock. I checked after one half a tank recently and got high twelves mostly in the city. Another tank I checked came out right about 15, almost all highway. PErfectly fine by me. It is a 5 thousand pound V8 4wheel drive pickup truck with barnyard aerodynamics and plenty of drive line drag, not a Civic or an Insight. Every time I feel the power of that V8 that kicks me past slower traffic without even breathing heavy, I forget all about the cost of gas.
". If it would, it would be a good truck"
So how ridiculous does that sound. Sure, it can blast through a 3-4 foot snowdrift, tow 5 thousand pounds, and haul 1600 pounds in the bed. But because it doesnt get gas mileage like a car, it's not a good truck? I think it's time to re examine why you purchased your vehicle.
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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12/05/2003
22:43:12
| RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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Never comes close to EPA of 21. If it would, it would be a good truck..."
I feel sorry for you. You evidently spent over 20 thousand dollars on a 4x4 crew cab pickup truck without first understanding what the inherent draw backs of such a vehicle are.
I say again, the EPA estimate is just that, an ESTIMATE, not a promise. IF your truck is really equipped very much like mine, the bottum end of the range is 11 city and maybe 14 or 15 highway. You are within range. Just because youve owned a vehicle that always matched the EPA esitimates doesnt mean every vehicle you ever buy in the future is supposed to do the same thing. It just doesn't work that way. If you're that unhappy, you need to trade for a Civic.
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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12/05/2003
22:46:40
| DOH!
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Sorry not tryin to be longwinded, didnt think my first message got posted because of that delay. But you get the idea.
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Sephiroth
Dodge Dakota
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12/06/2003
00:45:21
|  RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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I get about 17mpg city in my '95 Dakota CC 4x4 witht he 5.2L V8. It gets less if I haul my Bayliner 16.5ft boat, but that's another story. On the road I edge up to 21-23, and on the interstates I feel it may be even higher. I did a few basic upgrades and that's IT. I got better plugs, a cotton air-filter, and switched to AMSOIL full synthetic. I also have a Tornado Air on the engine, but that thing didn't increase my mileage, just opened up torque throughout the entire operating range, starting with the most in the low-end and less the higher the speed.
Oh, and I droppe din a 180deg thermo and switched to the orange coolant. It's winter now and while it takes a minute to warm up, the temperature gauge moves about 2mm-3mm past the run range and sits there, staying warm. A cool engine saves fuel.
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Martin
Dodge Dakota
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12/07/2003
16:14:43
| RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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warmer engines get better mileage cooler engines make more hp
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McyMike
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2003
08:49:08
| RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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Eddy,
Your opinion is just that. Glad you have deep pockets and Yes, maybe I did make a mistake buying the Dodge. Thanks for the education on the EPA rating system - it (EPA) was important to me when I bought the truck. Please buy my Dodge and find me a Civic. You get the idea.
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01Motorsport
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2003
08:59:39
| RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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Sephiroth: You're GenII is about 300 pounds lighter than a comparable GenIII; gas savings there. Green coolant runs cooler than orange coolant. I flushed than orange stuff out of my 2001 4.7, and went to green. Daimler-Chrysler runs the 195 thermostat in the 4.7 for fuel economy. Neglected tire pressure is usually the most overlooked factor in fuel economy. Check when cold, before the vehicle is driven.
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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12/08/2003
13:59:49
| RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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Not that deep, but I make decent money, live close to work, and am single with no family. So I can fit the gas into my budget without much difficulty.
Just checked my mileage for the firs time. 11.92 with 60% city, 40% highway, plenty of wide open throttle, and dead of winter temps. Best Ive done on the highway, and this is a rougher estimate, is about 16.
But more important than these numbers is the fact that Im only stopping to fill up about as often as I was in my Ranger but for only 10-12 bucks more. IMHO not really much of a stretch.
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Ben
Dodge Dakota
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12/11/2003
13:52:48
| RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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I've heard that a jet performance chip will help with hp, but what about mpg? Has anyone attempted this mod and if so did it help or hinder your mpg? I'm looking to get a chip for my '99 3.9L V6 since it seems a little doggish and the mpg sucks. I average about 12-14 combined driving with emphasis on highway and think it's a little low. My engine is completely stock and after reading this discussion am thinking about a few of the mods presented here. What do you think will work the best for mpg and maybe a little hp?
Ben
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Tnjones
Dodge Dakota
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12/12/2003
17:25:47
| RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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Come on. This guy says he's getting 28MPG in a Corvette! Who beleives a word he says after that? If he hates his Dodge so much, what's he doing here? Some people would rather climb a tree to tell a lie than stand on their feet and tell the truth. The only thing he said that rings true to me is "I don't want a Civic". Prolly what he really drives. The only this he got that he does want is a rise out of us happy Dak owners.
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...
Dodge Dakota
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12/13/2003
18:24:08
| RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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I fully agree with McyMike. My RT club cab gets an average 13.5 mpg with lots of freeway time. Nowhere close to the 18 on the window sticker. Doesn't matter how I drive it. This is pathetic when you compare it to a full size Chevy that gets over 20 mpg with a big V8. They actually get the same mileage that they promise. Dodge trucks are great except when it comes to fuel consumption. They have the worst average of the big 3. Period. They've been lying about it since day 1.
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Wrong
Dodge Dakota
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12/14/2003
09:47:58
|  RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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And again, that is not a promise; its an EPA estimate. Chevy DOES NOT do any better; we have 2 full size where I work and I assure you, they DO NOT get 20 mpg !
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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12/14/2003
19:29:41
| RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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is pathetic when you compare it to a full size Chevy that gets over 20 mpg with a big V8."
First... as Ive said before, it is the EPA who makes ESTIMATEs, not Dodge who lies. Anybody who thinks any differently probably is so misinformed about how these things work they aren't worth convincing.
Second: How do you know full sized Chevies get 20 mph? HAve you ever filled the tank on a full sized Chevy and then driven at least half a tank, filled it up again, and divided number of miles driven by number of gallons it took to refill the tank? Or are you basing this on the window sticker?
I know people in full sized Chevies. Even my friend with the regular cab V8 model can't do better than 15-16. Most I know with extended cabs are closer to 14 or so.
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Mcymike
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2003
08:55:13
| RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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TNJONES - C5 corvettes do get 28 mpg on the highway and 18-19 in town. Do a little research before you slam someone, or call them a liar. You come off as a complete jerk. I don't hate my Dodge - just wish the EPA claim was more realistic - because my budget and purchase was based on getting a certain mpg. Actually, Dodge didn't establish the ratings - EPA did. The truck (QC, 4X4, 4.7) does what it supposed to.....and it does it well...with exception of any type mileage (city, highway or towing). My co-workers F350 supercrew, 4X4 diesel dually gets 21 on the highway and it's a lot more truck than the Dodge (weight and size). The little Dakota should be able to come close. That's just MY opinion.
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...
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2003
12:09:56
| RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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Point taken on the Chevys, but they still get better mileage than my Dakota. EPA rating or not, there is no reason for a brand new fuel-injected compact (using the term loosely) truck to get worse mileage than a 20 year old full-sized pickup with a carburetor. This has been a well documented ongoing issue with the EFI 5.2/5.9 series motors. Mopar Peformance offers a computer that gives you more mileage, torque, and doesn't void the warranty!!! There is a built-in design flaw, and rather than flashing the factory computers as a recall or TSB they are cashing in on it as an upgrade. Chrysler must be run by Microsoft these days.
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eddy
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2003
14:58:02
| RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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"because my budget and purchase was based on getting a certain mpg."
Well that was your mistake. YOu based your budget on the big bold numbers when you should have been reading the fine print. In general, if youre buying a V8 ex4 pickup, I dont care what size it is, if you even have a gas budget you should be looking at a different vehicle.
"My co-workers F350 supercrew, 4X4 diesel dually gets 21 on the highway and it's a lot more truck than the Dodge (weight and size). The little Dakota should be able to come close. That's just MY opinion." That's a Diesel, a completely different beast from a gas motor. You can't compare the two. Someone who uses a truck for more than style and posing understands this. To get that mileage advantage over a gas motor your friend probably paid a several thousand dollar price premium so that it will probably take over 100 thousand miles just to brake even with total gas expenditures.
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Kowalski
Dodge Dakota
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12/15/2003
18:13:25
| RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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There is no reason to expect a gas engine Dak to get as good mpg as any full size diesel. Efficiency has very much to do with compression ratio, and all diesel have much higher compression ratios.
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mcymike
Dodge Dakota
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12/16/2003
08:28:51
| RE: Gas mileage? HAH!
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You guys are a tough crowd. Eddy is a savior, he helped me find out that I love my Dak - and it gets great gas mileage for a 4X4. I'm glad I found out that my Corvette really only gets 14 mpg (cause tnjones was kind enough to tell me so). You are the experts and your opinions are dead-on. I was way off base with my personal opinions, comments, and observations. I sure do feel better now. KUM BY YA. The Dak Forum is still a great place for information.
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