1993 Dodge Dakota 3.9l V6 automatic 195k


Most of the winter I been driving my 5.2 97 Dakota and the gas prices are killing me as I have to fill up 3 times a week and full tank cost $60 dollars. So now I'm going to switch back to using my 93 Dakota for work since the v6 motor gets better MPG. I will start driving it next month because I have to get new brakes and tires, but until then I would like to increase the MPG if possible.

I usually get 335 miles on every full tank of gas which isn't bad, but I would like to increase MPG and maybe get 400 miles full tank. I heard someone with a Dakota was able to get 24mpg and don't know if that is true. Anyway what can I do to increase the MPG of a 3.9l motor like what has proven to work for our motors? i.e K&N intake? Bigger tires? throttle body spacer?

Don't say the obvious like dropping truck weight. lol I won't do it

Thanks

 

24mpg is unrealistic. Don't know who told you that, but I doubt that's true. These trucks aren't built for hypermiling. On highway's, I'm lucky to get 18mpg, otherwise it's around 16, or less in the winter. Honestly if you want to be economical, buy a small car.

 

LOL! But dropping some weight will help. The only thing that will make a difference is a full tune up. All filters all fluids spark plugs wires cap rotor. That is going to be your best.

Next will be the way you drive, don't let the engine go above 2,000rpms or even less.

Throttle body spacers are junk. Larger tires will be worse on MPG.

K&N and a good muffler may help but not to much.

 

yea, seems like those are my options. I could always get a 4 cylinder Dakota

 

I have a 93 4X4 auto, and when I bought it 3 mos ago, I put everything new that u can think of! I stay right @ 1900 rpm (lots of average hills on way to work) I don't run the cruise, or it will constantly downshift. I even put "Motorkote" in everything, and all I can get out of it is 18. I'm content enough I guess for a 4X4. Weather was upper 40s when driving.

 

Ps, we're all gonna have fun WHEN gas gets to $4.00 or more a gallon!!!!!!!!!! I'll be spending more time in my Marquis (27mpg)!!

 

when gas goes to $4 a gallon i'll buy a geo metro lol. another thing you can do for mpg is air up your tires to the max inflation on the sidewall. won't hurt em obviusly. it's a help not like 5 mpg more but still noticeable. as to the whole keep it below two grand well theres two sides to that. for me i do the same if i run it fast to crusing speed then ease up on it as i do if i baby it. that may due to 30x12 tires and a 3.21 rear end but it's kept me around 16 in the winter and 18 in the summer. it's actually better on fuel my old ranger was and it was a 3.0. generally speeking anything that gets you more power (not meaning higher fuel flow or bigger displacement) can help you out. if you increase the volumetric efficieny you'll burn less fuel cause it doesn't have to work so hard to produce the same output. so think in terms airflow.

ofcourse if ported my heads and got a long runner intake i'd havwe it to floor all the time lol.

 

In the summer I averaged 20mpg with my 3.9 4x4 dakota. All I've done to the truck is a free flowing exhaust and a drop-in K&N airfilter. I shift around 2,000rpm but other then that I dont do anything "special". Now that its been freezing outside(got to love wisconsin weather) I average about 16.5-17mpg which still isnt that bad.

 

Just drove the 1989 Dakota from AZ to PA, there was 2 transmissions, a transfer case, and a bunch of other misalliances tools in the back. Best mpgs was 24, averaged probably around 21-22. Also keeping it around 65mph.

Truck is a 1989 Dakota 3.9 4x4 with the manual transmission, standard cab, short bed. Only thing done to the engine is K&N air filter, electric fan, smog pump removed, and those E3 spark plugs, CAT back exhaust. Transmission, transfer case, and axles are all synthetic fluid. Last the truck has a bed cover.

 

nice.. What's the gas tank size in your truck and how many miles would say you got on a full tank?