2nd Gen Dakota Tech 1997 - 2004 Dodge Dakota Tech - The ultimate forum for technical help on the 2nd Gen Dakota.
Old 08-07-2015, 02:50 PM
How-Tos on this Topic
Last edit by: IB Advertising
See related guides and technical advice from our community experts:

Browse all: Fuel System
Print Wikipost

Poor Gas mileage & Loss of Power "Solved"

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
  #1  
Old 05-25-2009, 11:23 PM
fastyz400's Avatar
fastyz400
fastyz400 is offline
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Default Poor Gas mileage & Loss of Power "Solved"

I have been trying to figure out why my 2000 dodge durango 4x4 with a 5.9L had a loss of power and really bad gas mileage since 40,000 miles. Below are the things I did but never fixed the problem.

Intake, Exhaust, new plugs, new rotor and cap, new msd ignition wire, throttle position sensor, O2 sensor, etc.

After years of trying to figure out and trying everything in the book on how to improve fuel economy. I just about gave up.

Well, I had an issue with another dodge car where the map sensor went out completely. So, I gave it a shot on the durango as well. So, what does the map sensor do? It tells the computer how much pressure is in the manifold. Thus, telling how much fuel to pump in. Take a look at your throttle body, it will build carbon over time. The map sensor has a diaphram inside of the sensor, so over time carbon build up and the diaphram hardening up will not cause the sensor to fail but rather read inaccuratly.

After I replaced the map sensor:
Power return to like a new car condition
My gas mileage returned
Runs like a new car again
Engine no longer knocks

Those of you with poor gas mileage issues that have replaced everything else, may want to give this a try to get their gas mileage back.

I remember When I first started trying to figure this out, people with the 5.2L also had this problem.

To give you an idea about gas mileage, I was getting 13-15 mpg on the highway with the old map sensor at around 70mph. Now with the new one at cruising I get 18-22 mpg on the instant mpg monitor.

Huge jump in mpg. With gas prices the way they are, your map sensor will pay for itself in no time.
 

Last edited by fastyz400; 05-26-2009 at 12:42 AM.
The following users liked this post:
Lisa's newbee (04-24-2021)
  #2  
Old 05-25-2009, 11:35 PM
Crazy4x4RT's Avatar
Crazy4x4RT
Crazy4x4RT is offline
Hall Of Fame
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: NM
Posts: 10,926
Received 16 Likes on 15 Posts
Default

You posted in the wrong forum. A 2000 year truck would be a 2nd gen. I will transfer this post over there.
 
  #3  
Old 05-26-2009, 12:21 AM
ccrunner's Avatar
ccrunner
ccrunner is offline
Veteran
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Well hot damn.
 
  #4  
Old 05-26-2009, 12:39 AM
fastyz400's Avatar
fastyz400
fastyz400 is offline
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

Cheapest place to get your map sensor will be either autozone or pepboys. Around $60-$70.
 
  #5  
Old 05-26-2009, 12:59 AM
dodgeramguy85's Avatar
dodgeramguy85
dodgeramguy85 is offline
Grand Champion
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Houtzdale,PA
Posts: 5,508
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes on 6 Posts
Default

damn that would be nice if that would work on my truck 5.2 auto and gets about 10-13mpg heck if I could get 16 I would be happy.
 
  #6  
Old 05-26-2009, 01:54 AM
big.bryant's Avatar
big.bryant
big.bryant is offline
Champion
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: University of Colorado-Boulder
Posts: 4,664
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

might need to look into that, if the 5.9 is getting 20+ imagine what the 4.7 can do...
 
  #7  
Old 05-26-2009, 02:10 AM
fastyz400's Avatar
fastyz400
fastyz400 is offline
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by big.bryant
might need to look into that, if the 5.9 is getting 20+ imagine what the 4.7 can do...
When my 5.9L was new, I would get 17-18 mpg. Overtime, after about 40k miles my mileage went to crap. If, your mileage hasn't gotten drastically worse, why change it.

I thought the 4.7L had a maf sensor?
 
  #8  
Old 05-26-2009, 02:14 AM
big.bryant's Avatar
big.bryant
big.bryant is offline
Champion
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: University of Colorado-Boulder
Posts: 4,664
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

whats the difference in a map or a maf? i'm
 
  #9  
Old 05-26-2009, 02:56 AM
dodgerules86's Avatar
dodgerules86
dodgerules86 is offline
Champion
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Sycamore, Illinois (displaced to Arkansas)
Posts: 4,119
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

MAP =Manifold Absolute Pressure (which is what Chrysler uses, this includes the 3.7/4.7L)
MAF = Mass Air Flow

Basically, the MAP reads the intake manifold pressure (or, vacuum), and sends that to the computer, which in turn adjusts injector pulse rate and spark timing.

The MAF, as I understand, basically heats a wire that runs in the air intake tube (between air filter and throttle body), to keep the wire at a constant temperature. The computer, from reading the voltage requirement to keep the wire at the pre-set temperature, can "figure out" how much air is entering the engine to make the same changes as mentioned above.
MAF sounds a little over-complicated to me. My Corolla has MAF sensor. My friend, who also has a Corolla, told me he read people were having problems with their MAF because on the aftermarket air filters people use (the kind you have to clean with oil, like K&N), the oil fouls the MAF sensor.
 
  #10  
Old 05-26-2009, 02:57 AM
fastyz400's Avatar
fastyz400
fastyz400 is offline
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

map sensor (manifold absolute pressure sensor) = measures your manifold pressure, this allows the ecm to work with the O2 sensor to come up with the correct air/fuel ratio. In simple terms, the ecm knows how much fuel to pump into the cylinders.

maf sensor (mass air flow sensor) = This sensor is usually before the throttle body (between the air box and throttle body). It measures the amount of actual air going into the engine. The MAF & O2 sends the voltages back and allows the ecm to calculate the correct fuel to dump into the engine. The only way a Maf can read faulty is if you are using a k&n filter and the oil is all over the maf sensor's resistors.
 


Quick Reply: Poor Gas mileage & Loss of Power "Solved"



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:11 AM.