what is the easiest ones to work on,gas milage,problems and what yrs is better and are they all fuel injection from 1987 or are they carb then f.i. and when?what is the rated horsepower for them and i know the 3.9 is the most popular then which one is?how is it to change the oil/filter thanks for the info hopfully a dakota owner soon to be

 

I believe the Gen I(86-90) were mostly carbed. LA motors were until '92, then it went Magnum.

They're all easy to work on due to rear-wheel drive, IMO

Not many problems with the Magnum engines, that I've heard about. Don't think there was ever a real big issue with the LA's either.

The HP ratings drastically changed over the years.


To change the oil, there's a drain plug on the back side of the oil pan and the filter should be next to the oil pan on the passenger side.
The 3.9s were more popular with the Gen IIs(91-96) followed by 5.2 and then 2.5.


As for gas mileage, it'd go 2.5 and then 3.9/5.2 were close together


I prefer a Gen II to own, if you want an older one, but the Gen IIIs(97-04) are nice as well.

I would really recommend a 5.2 for the HP/Towing and gas mileage. These trucks are quite heavy for the 3.9 to really have much pep and gas mileage.



Hope that helps.

 

i have found a 1996 2.5 sport 5 sp.if he gets the cat converter replaced i may look at iti was thinking that motor is to small for the truck and gas milage may not be good.i have seen a 92 i think with the 5.2 but it is too much for me right now aswell as a 3.9.in a way i want the 5.2 bc of the motor but it has some rust at the front wheel wells at the doors and faded paint on top.the 3.9 is the nicest one though

 

yeah, ive got the 5.2 and its nice to have the power...ill get a gas mileage figure up here soon, being it is the first time ive filled the tank to full.

 

A 2.5 IMO cannot get out of it's own way in these heavy trucks.

 

thats what ive heard too..even nowawadays 4cyls. dont have any ***** IMO

 

ive got a 91 reg cab shortbox 4x4 auto with 3.92 gears. when i first got the truck i averaged 19ish highway going 100 on the drive home. Middle of the winter some city driving, mostly highway driving with a couch and loveseat in the back on a hilly highway going 110km got me 15ish mpg

p.s - im running stock tire sized trail digger mt's

this summer i figure ill break 20mpg....until i get some real tires

hope that helps you a bit.

 

what engine do you have dak sport?

 

o ****..forgot the most important part of info there haha

ive got the LA 5.2L

 

i had a 95 4 cylinder dak and it was slow as hell, but it was my daily driver great gas miles, very durable motor, very very very easy to work on. i now have another 95 but a 6 cylinder and i love it already, only had it for 5 days now and its an awesome ride it only has 66,000 miles on it .