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OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... #1760583
02/22/15 04:29 PM
02/22/15 04:29 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,804
Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar Offline OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
SattyNoCar  Offline OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,804
Between Houston & Galveston TX

I've had the Dakota about a month now. I filled the tank up about a week and a half after I bought it.

Topped the tank off again today partly because the needle floats so bad, I wasn't sure how much I had.

First full tank of gas, MPG came back at 9 MPG. Yes, NINE.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot???

Granted, I haven't given it a full tune up yet, just changed the oil and filters so far, BUT, with that being said, its not belching black smoke, it starts and runs very smoothly, brakes aren't dragging.......

I will admit a majority of my driving is in town, but still, NINE from the V6? I was hoping for around 14.

As soon as I get a clear weekend, I'm going to take a closer look at a few things (like the plugs), but, if this is the best I'm gonna get out of it, I'm gonna have to sell it off. The 440 in my wagon does (did) better.

Kinda bummed and shell shocked right now.......



John

The dream is dead, long live the dream.......😥
Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: SattyNoCar] #1760584
02/22/15 04:47 PM
02/22/15 04:47 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,884
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
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Grand Prairie,Texas
You can't really judge the mileage from one tank. You need to get used to driving it and watching how you accelerate etc. To be honest the best I got from my 1998 3.9 6cyl auto was 12mph. That truck is heavier than it looks.

Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: stumpy] #1760585
02/22/15 06:16 PM
02/22/15 06:16 PM
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,728
ST clair shores MI
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moretoys Offline
top fuel
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ST clair shores MI
if you have access to a scan tool you need to read the sensors and see whats going on.oxygen sensors, and air and coolant temp sensors, maybe a thermostat if engine is running cold, cold engine requires more full. NO code will set if it is within operating parameters. The v-6 is not a fuel efficient engine. you are probably only off by 1 or 2 mpg's. I've had my 2000 dakota since new,best I ever saw was 14. Michigan is colder than you are,and I use remote start, I am seeing about 9mpg's right now. driving is about 50 /50 between city and freeway.

Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: moretoys] #1760586
02/22/15 06:36 PM
02/22/15 06:36 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,997
Salem
Grizzly Offline
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Salem
Start with pulling out your O2 sensor and clean with oven cleaner. Put it back in and try another tank. Usually awful fuel mileage is a plugged air filter or the O2 sensor. Plugged cats is also an issue on these trucks as well, so good chance that's the prob.

During the Magnum era, the V10, 360, 318, and V6 are all within 1mpg of one another.

It was -5F yesterday and I got 14.8mpg out of my 360 Mag in a full-size quadcab, all highway, about 60mph. If it was town it would probably be 12mpg in this kind of cold.

Edit* Shoulda' got that white one.......

Last edited by Grizzly; 02/22/15 07:10 PM.

Mo' Farts

Moderated by "tbagger".
Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: Grizzly] #1760587
02/22/15 08:16 PM
02/22/15 08:16 PM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 973
New Brunswick, Canada
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TrxR Offline
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New Brunswick, Canada
I use to get better mileage out of my 96 1500 4x4 318 auto than my buddies 98 swb 4x4 dakota 3.9 5spd.

Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: TrxR] #1760588
02/22/15 08:31 PM
02/22/15 08:31 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,804
Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar Offline OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
SattyNoCar  Offline OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,804
Between Houston & Galveston TX
I'm wondering if there is a temp issue. It hasn't been hot out, but, the factory gauge barely moves, and the heat is never really hot (even the hoses to/from the heater are just 'warm') no matter how long its running.

If it is indeed running cold, my short (5 mile) commute to work sure ain't going to get it fully up to temp.

As for the catalytic convertor, when I bought the truck, there were two installed inline, the original one, and back where the stock muffler was supposed to be, another one. The new one was less than two months old, so, when I had a stock muffler installed, I had the shop replace the old stocker with the new one already on the truck (moved it from the back up to the stock location).

I know this thing will never be a Neon in terms of MPG, but, single digits is unacceptable.

Grizzly.....shuddap.


John

The dream is dead, long live the dream.......😥
Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: SattyNoCar] #1760589
02/22/15 09:05 PM
02/22/15 09:05 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,884
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
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Replace the thermostat. Cheap and easy to do. Go with the high temp one. I think it's 205-210*. The newer engines like the higher temps.

Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: SattyNoCar] #1760590
02/22/15 09:11 PM
02/22/15 09:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,728
places
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79powerwagon Offline
Too Many Posts
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places
I'm getting 18mpg with mine, all country/rural driving, 7 mile each way commute. I think a nice, fresh bottle of sea-foam added to your tank, new tune-up stuff, and a front end alignment will do you wonders! Plus, drive the crap out of too! Mine sat for a long time before I bought it, and I made a point to use up the first tank of gas that first week-end! LOL! It just keeps getting better and better! Even starts reliably at -22°f!

Mine too warms up slowly, but it does warm up. I have a new thermostat for it, I just didn't get it installed soon enough for winter. I'll do it in the spring.

Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: SattyNoCar] #1760591
02/22/15 10:08 PM
02/22/15 10:08 PM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,035
Missouri U.S.A.
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71yelladustr Offline
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Missouri U.S.A.
If its not getting up to proper operating temp it will most certainly use more fuel. The computer will never go into closed loop to reach optimum air/fuel mixture. Put a new 195* thermostat in it and see what happens. FWIW, My 93 3.9 4x4 ex cab auto Dakota got a best of 13 MPG. 12 was common. The funny thing is that I swapped in a 5.9 and got 1 more MPG and a heck of a lot more power.


392 gen III hemi on E-85 727 trans Dana 60
10.02@134
Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: 71yelladustr] #1760592
02/22/15 10:25 PM
02/22/15 10:25 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,997
Salem
Grizzly Offline
Moparts Proctologist
Grizzly  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,997
Salem
2 cats? Geez, might as well have just stuffed a rag in the pipe to "clean" the air. Good you got that out.

What 71Yella sez: it's running open-loop on you because the ECM thinks it's cold.

Easy fix, but there's a bit of crap to get out of the way to get at the t-stat. A/C doesn't have to be discharged-it will lift out of the way.


Mo' Farts

Moderated by "tbagger".
Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: Grizzly] #1760593
02/23/15 02:29 AM
02/23/15 02:29 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,486
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
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Freeport IL USA
My 3.9 4x4 auto gets a consistent 13-14 around town in the summer, and around 10 in the winter. My old carbed 360 4bbl 80 Dodge 4x4 got 8-9 all the time. I was and am thrilled with 10-14 mpg. Its all in perspective.
On the highway, for the first few miles, it seems like I really have to push the truck to get up to 65, but after a few miles, it loosens up and runs. After a 1/2 hour of highway driving I need to watch my speed, it runs easily at 70+. I'm getting 17 + on the highway. I really never have driven for great gas mileage, I seem to be in a hurry all the time, or maybe its my lead foot..

Don't blame the truck because of a bad thermostat, or short drives, and don't make a judgement call on one tank of fuel. Gene

Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: poorboy] #1760594
02/23/15 03:05 AM
02/23/15 03:05 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 12,043
State of Confusion
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State of Confusion
One of the biggest issues with the magnum engines is the intake plenum gasket.

When that starts to leak, the mileage goes down the toilet.

When I first bought my 92 Dakota with a 5,2 it got 9mpg. I did a tune up, thermostat, and temp sensor change, no better mpg.

Then I learned about the plenum gasket issue, sure enough that was the problem. Fixed that and I was averaging 17mpg with 95% highway driving, with 26" tall tires and 3.55 gears.

I now have 4.30 gears and the same tires, and still get 15mpg.

8438183-92Dakota.jpg (50 downloads)

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Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: poorboy] #1760595
02/23/15 03:05 AM
02/23/15 03:05 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 43,459
Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
Rhinodart Offline
Rhinotruck
Rhinodart  Offline
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Round Lake Beach, Illinoisy
My 92 shortbox 5-speed got great mileage, I bought it new and can remember 18-20 around town and 25 on the highway. 92 was the best year for the V6 though, and I am sure the 5-speed helped. Still wish I never sold that one...


The funny thing about science is that if you change one miniscule parameter you change the entire outcome to the way you want it.

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A-Body's RULE!
Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: Rhinodart] #1760596
02/23/15 02:07 PM
02/23/15 02:07 PM
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Posts: 13,544
md
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mopars4ever Offline
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I had a 94 Dakota with V6 and auto trans and it got really crappy mpg`s. If I recall correctly the V8 trucks got the same or slightly better mileage at the time.

Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: mopars4ever] #1760597
02/23/15 11:13 PM
02/23/15 11:13 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,804
Between Houston & Galveston TX
SattyNoCar Offline OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile
SattyNoCar  Offline OP
Smarter than no class Flappergass by a mile

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 16,804
Between Houston & Galveston TX

So far it doesn't seem like its using any oil, I may get the plenum repair kit from Hughes just as preventive maintenance.

I'll work with it a bit and see if I can get the number to come up some. Heck, it took three years of fiddling to get my Caravan's MPG back up to what it was supposed to be. The main difference between the two vehicles though was that the Caravan had obvious issues. The hard part was finding the not so obvious issues the obvious ones caused.

I really don't want to kick this truck to the curb, I like the truck too much. I've wanted a Dakota for quite some time, and hope to be able to keep this one for many years.

Thanks for the replies...


John

The dream is dead, long live the dream.......😥
Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: SattyNoCar] #1760598
02/24/15 12:25 PM
02/24/15 12:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 13,544
md
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mopars4ever Offline
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md
If you have mechanical issues you may be able to get better mileage but I bought my truck new and the mileage was poor right out of the gate.

Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: SattyNoCar] #1760599
02/24/15 04:18 PM
02/24/15 04:18 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 12,408
Kalispell Mt.
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HotRodDave Offline
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Kalispell Mt.
Your t-stat is an obvious issue, either it is old and failing or someone drilled a bleed hole in it. Get a 205 stat for MPG 195 for a compromise and 180 if you want more of the same.

Also seems like you had possible trans issues when you bought it, that can kill the mpg also. Might want to do a full service on it, fluid, filter, adjust bands, tighten line pressure a bit, type F fluid. Can you feel the lock up engage?


I am not causing global warming, I am just trying to hold off a impending Ice Age!



Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: HotRodDave] #1760600
02/24/15 04:42 PM
02/24/15 04:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,884
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
I Win
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Posts: 32,884
Grand Prairie,Texas
Also try turning the OD off and on while holding steady throttle to see if it is working. If it's working you will feel it shift and the rpm will go up.

Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: stumpy] #1760601
02/24/15 09:25 PM
02/24/15 09:25 PM
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 1,497
North East USA
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BIGGERED Offline
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North East USA
I'm pretty sure the od locks out until it comes up to temperature too

This could be part of your issue

Red

Re: OUCH!! Hope this isn't permanent......... [Re: BIGGERED] #1760602
02/24/15 09:27 PM
02/24/15 09:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,884
Grand Prairie,Texas
stumpy Offline
I Win
stumpy  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 32,884
Grand Prairie,Texas
Temp has nothing to do with trans od. Wrong. My bad see my post down a ways.

Last edited by stumpy; 02/24/15 11:10 PM.
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