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Gas mileage comparo: V8 Dakota vs. V6 Dakota

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Gas mileage comparo: V8 Dakota vs. V6 Dakota - 5/11/2005 1:02:44 PM   
fackman

 

Posts: 22
Joined: 10/18/2004
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What is the real world MPG difference between a V8 Dakota and a V6 Dakota?

I'm kinda thinking that with all the weight of a Dakota, the difference will only be slight as long as you drive with some sense (accelerate slowly, drive between 60-65 on the expressway, etc...).

Post #: 1
RE: Gas mileage comparo: V8 Dakota vs. V6 Dakota - 5/16/2005 10:05:02 PM   
Blu_Dak


Posts: 270
Joined: 2/21/2005
Status: offline
I agree on the driving, slow acceleration and common sense,IM not impressed with the so called 20MPG on the 4.7 Magnums.I've tried the fill the tank & drive highway miles for a biut then fill it agin & devide miles to the gallon test.I tried my other test I'll get on the Highway hit the reset button on the over head display cluster & it'll give me the avg MPG & it'll sore to 20-24MPG @ speed's of 65-70 now I gave it an Honest effort. but it seems as though IM still filling up more that I want to admit!
IM not rich & money is money.It seems as though IM at the pump evry other day.WTF!I dunno how the RAM guy's do it!?!

I just bought a 24' tow behind Camper and she weigh's in @ 4,300 clean I towed it home for 60 miles & I had a buch of hill's,bad driver's & Kama kazi bug's which got my Baby all dirty, ; ). it seemed that I was working my Truck harder than I thought i was going too cosidering the trailer was only 4,300lbs. & the tow capasity is 6,800 & change for the 4X4's.which is what I have,Has anybody eles tow a trailer w/ there's and have similar exp?

Im going to get a K&N air filter I know that it'll incress my horse power & give me some minor + MPG.
I will also put in the Cold Air Induction once it's been made.

Anybody ele's wanna share there exp?Or is everything copastedic?

bob

(in reply to fackman)
Post #: 2
RE: Gas mileage comparo: V8 Dakota vs. V6 Dakota - 5/17/2005 8:20:19 AM   
fackman

 

Posts: 22
Joined: 10/18/2004
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Realistically, you probably should expect around 14-15 city and 18-19 highway (depending on if you have a 4x4 or not). That's what I've gathered (and reasoned from my Jeep's mpg which even though it's the straight six it's EPA mpg is eerily similar to a 2wd Dakota- 16/19 in the Jeep and 15/21 in the Dak). I think all these people claiming mpg in the mid 20's are trusting their computer WAAAAAY too much. My real mpg (by dividing miles driven by how much it took to fill up) varies wildly from what the computer says. Sometimes it's only .5 mpg high, sometimes it's a full 2 mpg or more high, sometimes it's even 1 mpg too low.

And 4,300 lbs is still a lot of weight for a smallish displacement V8. Any midsize truck is gonna struggle some with that load, FWIW. I myself would've considered a Hemi Ram if I was going to be towing that much weight in hilly country with any regularity. However, a V8 Dakota is cheaper and can still tow the weight.

< Message edited by fackman -- 5/17/2005 8:24:11 AM >

(in reply to fackman)
Post #: 3
RE: Gas mileage comparo: V8 Dakota vs. V6 Dakota - 5/18/2005 7:58:50 PM   
Blu_Dak


Posts: 270
Joined: 2/21/2005
Status: offline
Yeah thank's for the input fackman.
I didn't know how big our tow behind was going to be we've been looking in the want ad's fro a while and this older one caught our eye.it's in awesome condition the wife spent 3 1/2 hr's cleaning it on Sunday & I've been picking away oin the out side giving it some nice detailing.I'll post some PIC'S when I get her done,IM trying to get it done for it's maidine voyage "Memorial day weekend"! Can't wait!!!

Thank's again.

(in reply to fackman)
Post #: 4
RE: Gas mileage comparo: V8 Dakota vs. V6 Dakota - 7/24/2006 12:32:12 AM   
MOPAR MANIAC

 

Posts: 1
Joined: 7/24/2006
Status: offline
I AGREE ON THE DRIVER'S HABITS ON THE FUEL MILEAGE. THE BIGGER 8 MIGHT NOT HAVE TO WORK AS HARD LUGGING THE WEIGHT AROUND.

(in reply to Blu_Dak)
Post #: 5
RE: Gas mileage comparo: V8 Dakota vs. V6 Dakota - 7/24/2006 9:38:54 AM   
RMUDBUGS


Posts: 189
Joined: 7/21/2006
From: LA
Status: offline
I have a 06 Raider with the 4.7L (same as Dakota) and I get 14.5 MPG when I drive easy and it's all city driving. On a recent trip I got 18.5 MPG in mostly highway driving.


_____________________________

2006 MITSUBISH RAIDER XLS QUADCAB 4.7L 2WD
-AEM Brute Force Intake
-Spray in bed liner

A Dakota with a softer nose!!!

(in reply to MOPAR MANIAC)
Post #: 6
RE: Gas mileage comparo: V8 Dakota vs. V6 Dakota - 7/25/2006 1:35:04 PM   
rick4dak

 

Posts: 159
Joined: 6/23/2006
Status: offline
My 05 quad, 4.7 2wd gets 17.8-18 city and 21-21.25 highway. This is with no trailer.
With my trailer I get about 14 mpg city.
I use synthetic motor oil, flowmaster dual exhaust, Airraid intake.

(in reply to RMUDBUGS)
Post #: 7
RE: Gas mileage comparo: V8 Dakota vs. V6 Dakota - 7/25/2006 9:54:28 PM   
slehner

 

Posts: 76
Joined: 7/21/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Blu_Dak

Im going to get a K&N air filter I know that it'll incress my horse power & give me some minor + MPG.
I will also put in the Cold Air Induction once it's been made.

Anybody ele's wanna share there exp?Or is everything copastedic?

bob



The Cold air intake has been out for a while now and unless your just looking to eliminate the paper filter replacement I sugest just getting the cold air intake. The preformance filters that fit the factory intake don't bost preformance by much if any.

I suggest cold air intake, a re-tooled throttle body from the fast man and preformance exsaust from the Cat on back (cat-back-exsaust). If your interested get ported heads too.

My econ highway is 20-23 avg with the 3.7.

(in reply to Blu_Dak)
Post #: 8
RE: Gas mileage comparo: V8 Dakota vs. V6 Dakota - 7/27/2006 10:58:38 AM   
jamesRS2000

 

Posts: 8
Joined: 5/23/2006
Status: offline
Well guys here is my comment on this issue.....

I have an 06 Raider (read 06 Dakota with 5yr 60,000 mile warranty) Quad cab with the 3.7V6 and it has gotten terrible mileage since the day I purchased it back in January.

Bone Stock it got 12.5 MPG city driving, after I installed a CAI it bumped up to 13.4. I then installed a Magnaflow XL 33" muffler and mileage went up to about 14.5 - 14.7MPG. That is the best it has been. I recently purchased the JET stage 1 chip and that brought mileage back down to 13.5, so I pulled it back out. ( I need mileage more then I need horsepower).

That is where I am today. 14.5 - 14.7 MPG city with a V6 Raider ( Dakota). Strange thing is I have had to take several highway trips and the mileage does not change from city to highway. I have never gotten over 14.7 MPG. This is however in the desert with the A/C running. (It's currently 116 outside with 50% humidity...yuk)



< Message edited by jamesRS2000 -- 7/27/2006 2:28:50 PM >

(in reply to fackman)
Post #: 9
RE: Gas mileage comparo: V8 Dakota vs. V6 Dakota - 7/27/2006 11:39:38 AM   
slehner

 

Posts: 76
Joined: 7/21/2006
Status: offline
I live in Wisconsin, humidity is normally high durring the summer. I recently put in a airhog filter and for curious reasons I added Octain treatment to 87 fuel but no mods installed yet. I've been tring to monitor my milage for the last few days, grated it is highway milage but I have been getting 23 mpg avg. Humitity was in excess of 90% and the A/C was on high and I was doing the 60-65 mph range. The dry desert air must be killer!

(in reply to jamesRS2000)
Post #: 10
RE: Gas mileage comparo: V8 Dakota vs. V6 Dakota - 7/27/2006 12:07:22 PM   
GemmySan


Posts: 62
Joined: 11/12/2005
Status: offline
I just checked my mpg (actual calculations) after returning home and preparing to go out again.

2006 QC SLT 4X4 3.92 4.7L tow package and lots of options (fiberglass tonneau, chrome step rails, bed liner, optional interior with side airbags) and I was towing a campeing trailer which weighed 3,000 lbs. The area speed limits vary from 45 mph to 55 mph and lots of hills and mountains to negotiate in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. I customer ordered this DAK and took delivery Dec. 31, 2005 (7 months old) but I only use it to tow. Last week during my trip it I rolled over on the odometer 3,000 miles - not broken in yet. Total weight of truck and camper loaded is a little over 9,000 lbs (actual weight on truck scales)

The bottom line to this is I got 14.89 mpg calculated from fill up to fill up. The worst I got was in May with a little over 1,500 miles on it but still got 13.25 mpg on the same camping trip. Now if it will improve next week, I'll be even happier. I use 87 octane now but was using 91 octane back then. "The Devil's Ride" (Inferno Red Pearl Coat paint job) just seems to love the 87 Octane even when going from an elevation of 600 feet to 3500 feet on my camping trips. Maybe I'll treat her to some special 91 juice later this fall and see if there is any change.

Keep 'em 'tween the bumpers & all 4 down.
Jimmy

_____________________________

I started out with nothing, I still have most of it left.

(in reply to slehner)
Post #: 11
RE: Gas mileage comparo: V8 Dakota vs. V6 Dakota - 7/27/2006 7:27:24 PM   
HemiMan4451


Posts: 2622
Joined: 6/15/2005
From: Maryland
Status: offline
I think that the heavier the truck gets, the better mpg the V-8 will get(as compared to the six). In the QC 4x4, the V-8 will get better mileage.

_____________________________



04' Ram 5.7L RCLB
-Flowmaster 40 series dual exhaust

(in reply to GemmySan)
Post #: 12
RE: Gas mileage comparo: V8 Dakota vs. V6 Dakota - 7/29/2006 5:28:13 AM   
graythang


Posts: 615
Joined: 7/29/2006
Status: offline
I have friends that are doing everything they can to save fuel in full size PUs but can't manage any better between 13.5 to 16.5 mph. Hemi’s, Fords, GMs doesn't mater. My Dakota is lucky to get between 14.5 to 17.5 and that’s taking it way to easy. The technology just isn't there to do better. We all chose the V8 and even worse like me choose an HO needing plus grade gas. I miss my 2.4L Caravan at 22 mph at 80 MPH. I'll know better next time if I’m not taped out by than.


Thumbnail Image


Attachment (1)

_____________________________

Graythang II
Sleeps a necessary waste of time.

(in reply to HemiMan4451)
Post #: 13
RE: Gas mileage comparo: V8 Dakota vs. V6 Dakota - 7/29/2006 11:34:17 AM   
lil


Posts: 639
Joined: 5/22/2006
From: Orangevale, CA
Status: offline
I had an 03 SXT 3.9L V6 and traded it in for an 04 SLT 4.7L V8 had the same mods, Airaid CAI and Flowmaster 40 standard muffler....without question the weight is a big differance in mileage and power with the V6 I was alway into the gas peddle to stay up with traffic or just getting down the road so it seemed I was aways between 13-15 MPG no matter what I did or how I drove....with the V8 I have gotten a max of 20.8 on the hwy and on average the mods added 3 MPG when you drive normal or light on the peddle the only down side is if you race it.....the MPG drops to 8.1 MPG for me....but what is nice you get the great MPG if you drive normal but get a nice power responce when you want or need it.....I have yet to tow anything but would assume the MPG would level back out a bit lower depending on the weight load being towed.


Yes I know my truck is a Gen2 but the 4.7L in the late build 04 is the very same engine the 05/06 has in it.

_____________________________

2004 DAKOTA SLT QC 4.7 4x2
SOLAR GUARD TINTING
FLOWMASTER 40
AIRAID CAI
CHALLANGER DIAMOND PLATE TOOL BOX
WEATHERTECH FLOOR MATS
HID XENON LIGHTS
150 PSI 133dB DUAL AIR HORNS

NORCAL RULES BABY !!

(in reply to fackman)
Post #: 14
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