Gas Mileage

[alimdar2times]

As some of you know, I have a Dodge Dakota with the 5.9 V8 in it. It was hit recently (I get it back this week). Anyhow, I put all my gas purchases on a Mobil credit card, and after going through the balance each month and doing the average, I'm spending around $225/month on gasoline alone! I'm seeing around 8.5 mpg in this pig! I really like this truck, but this is crazy. I don't even really drive that much (I'm only 8 miles from work one way). I'm thinking of buying a Frod Focus and parking the Dakota. I mean, for what I spend in gas on the Dodge, I could pay for the Focus each month, and still have a killer truck to fall back on when needed. There's still insurance and other stuff to think about, but I'm seriously considering this. I know, a beater would make more sense, but I've got kids to think about carrying around. Anyhow, just venting.

[quadrcr161]

i would look for a good used car to use as a beater instead of buying a brand new one.

[BlazingYamahaYz]

If you want good gas milage switch to something small, like a CRX(I think that's the one) I believe it gets around 30mpg...and I know there are alot of hybrid/gasoline cars out there capable of 30+mpg...I just saw a commercial for a Honda(can't remember which model, but it was a gas/electric) that got like 50mpg:eek2:

[quadrcr161]

crx's are old hondas, made from 85-91. mine with a DOHC zc motor gets 33-34mpg and it really needs a larger exhaust. any small import 4cyl, toyota, honda, nissan, even a geo metro will get 35+mpg.

[nosliw]

8.5mpg wow.

just a thought, but 8 miles from startup to shutdown might be a factor in the bad mpg. a cold engine gets lower gas milage than a fully warmed-up engine. and, depending on what kind of a route your taking, and also how well you warm up, it might not be the truck, it might be that your not letting it get up to operating temp.

again, just a thought. i may be wrong....

[quad_400ex]

a friend of mine has a vw diesel and he gets like 40

[Aceman]

Yep, those newer diesel Jettas get up around 50 mpg.:eek2: It's a good thing though since diesel around here is about 30 cents more than regular unleaded. You can also buy kits for them around 1500 dollars to make them run on vegetable oil. Now that would be cheap.:D

[exatak199]

the old VW diesels get about 40mpg (non turbo) and the new ones get about 60mpg:eek:

[alimdar2times]

Originally posted by nosliw
8.5mpg wow.

just a thought, but 8 miles from startup to shutdown might be a factor in the bad mpg. a cold engine gets lower gas milage than a fully warmed-up engine. and, depending on what kind of a route your taking, and also how well you warm up, it might not be the truck, it might be that your not letting it get up to operating temp.

again, just a thought. i may be wrong....

Good thought, my mechanic mentioned that too. I usually warm the pig up for about 10 mins before I leave. Basically, the problem lies in it being ancient technology. I mean that motor is practically a tractor engine, and even on its' best day, I don't think a person would see much better than 11 - 12 city mpg. I've been doing some 'net shopping, and I think I'm going to see what the Ford dealer has to offer as far as rebates/incentives/financing. Can't hurt to try.

[2002400ex]

Kia's are cheap. They get good gas mileage. I think they are reliable too.

[maggiesboy]

My F350 has a Banks Power Pack 460 it gets 6.6 mpg when towing our race trailer, 8mpg by itself, but pulls like a mule. My geo metro on the otherhand gets 42mpg.

[Tommy 17]

and i thought 16 - 17 out of my silverado was bad:eek:


our old honda accord use to get in the high 30s...

[EPDP99]

wow gota love a hemi. ........ not!!, my v10 get 11 and pulling gets 9-10.

[Flynbryan19]

Don't ever waste your time buying a V-6 pickup truck.:( I have a 4.2L F-150 that gets around 16-17mpg..... Yup, same as a 4.6L V-8...... But on the other hand my wife's Toyota Corolla gets 35mpg and close to 40mpg interstate. :D

[Smokin 440]

That is some extremely crappy mileage, my dad has a f-250 w/ a 5.4l and when he drives about 3 miles to work, or a few miles into town he averages 16 mpg, that includes pulling too, it usually doesn't drop much. He made a freeway run pulling a trailer and got just under 20 mpg. Maybe a different truck would be in order? possibly double your fuel economy and still not pay insurance on an extra vehicle... Most guys i know with 5.4 l's in there ford get about 16+he 4.6l get a little less actually, i don't know anybody getting anything over 12 out a Dodge, but i know a few people with 5.3 l chevys that pull around 16 mpg...

[dn1911]

you won't see huge gains but i wuold try ading some good exhaust, a full kit with hedders, an intake kit, and electric fans. just keep your foot out of it. also the Hypertech programmers might help with the other mods.

[quad_400ex]

yeah keeping you foot outa the throttle the big thing. i get about 11-12 city driving with my silverado but its the old throttle body 350

[K_Fulk]

Originally posted by Flynbryan19
Don't ever waste your time buying a V-6 pickup truck.:( I have a 4.2L F-150 that gets around 16-17mpg..... Yup, same as a 4.6L V-8......

My 5.4 is usually between 16-18. The smaller engines just has to work harder to do the same amount of work.

[A4StrokeGuy]

I use a dodge 2500 with a 5.9L V8 also, we get about 13-15 towing or just driving it doesn't matter, and thats pulling the trailer and everything to the races. But the truck doesn't get driven much, only have like 45k on it and its a 98. My probe get 25-30 mpg and it has 145k miles, so getting a car with good milage saves a bunch of money in the long

[bman9]

Originally posted by 2002400ex
Kia's are cheap. They get good gas mileage. I think they are reliable too.

no no no! i've been hearing they fall apart after about 20k.

[Scott-300ex]

my brother 'n laws got a chevette, it gets 45-50mph and its a diesel stick


get a stick though, better milage

[K_Banger125]

my trucks a 4.3 v6 and i only get 11-13 around town and around 15 highway...then theres my sisters civic which gets 30-40 no matter how long your on the throttle

[2002400ex]

Originally posted by bman9
no no no! i've been hearing they fall apart after about 20k.
Theres a lot of teenagers with kia's and they give them hell and they dont seem to fall apart until they wreck them, so i dont know. They have nooooo power whatsoever though. The only way to wear out your tires is the emergency brake.

[LTZ400rider]

this may sound stupid but is ur air filter seriously clogged. i think an excursion gets better mileage than that. whatever u do dont buy a kia, cuz ur self respect will go down the drain.

[nosliw]

i've got a gmc sierra 2500hd duramax and i'm getting like 18-20mpg mix driving unloaded....

[alimdar2times]

Originally posted by dn1911
you won't see huge gains but i wuold try ading some good exhaust, a full kit with hedders, an intake kit, and electric fans. just keep your foot out of it. also the Hypertech programmers might help with the other mods.

The fans on the truck are electric, the exhaust is a Borla Cat-Back 3" stainless, and it's got a K&N FIPK on it. Doesn't seem to be helping. Figure it's time to find me something economical. Ford dealer near me has a 2005 Focus ZX3 (3 door hatchback), Black, 16" alloys, upgraded sound system, foglamps, etc. Sounds like I can get a good price on it and I know I'll qualify for the 1.9 % financing Ford Credit is offering right now. Figure I'll save some coin in the long run and have the Dakota to use when I need it. 28 MPG city is sounding awful good right about now....

[racerx573]

Damn 8.5 is what we were getting in my cousins Chevy 3500 dually w/ a 7.4, and that was towing my trailer on the highway. Sell that Dodge and get a Chevy Colorado. Nice truck, good gas mileage. And that way you don't have to worry about being seen driving a rice burner. lol

[Chanman420q]

i was in ur boat not to long ago and i made the switch from a ford f150 to an s10. I got the 2.2 with a 5spd tranny. I get around 25mpg. Yea the truck has no balls but a full tank a gas is about 20 bucks and it lasts me around 8 days or so. i Prolly spend maybe 70 dollars give er take a few on gas a month.

[LTZ400rider]

Originally posted by LTZ400rider
this may sound stupid but is ur air filter seriously clogged. i think an excursion gets better mileage than that. whatever u do dont buy a kia, cuz ur self respect will go down the drain.

my dad has the same truck. it tells u ur instant economy and average. his average is 13 mpg. this thing is bad *** tho, throw a chip, exhaust and intake and this thing will eat some cars on the strip

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/LBCsublime9/45972400.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v628/LBCsublime9/72db6076.jpg

[Chanman420q]

Originally posted by LTZ400rider
this thing will eat some cars on the strip



i dont think people relize that those trucks are fast. my old f150 would out run my friends accord and another friends saturn. On top of that, it did some nasty burn outs too.