I won a 94 Dakota with the 3.9 magnum. Have any of you had success with getting more mpg's? I thought about stuff like a TB spacer, gears, shift kit, electric fan, etc. I am driving back and forth to college and gas is killin me...(big surprise). Just tryin to a few more mpg's. I have done a complete tune-up (plugs, wires, cap, rotor, fuel pump 1 yr. ago, cleaned TB). It has a V8 TB which seemed to help and a drop in K&N filter. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

TB spacers are as useful as paperweights, they don't help the 3.9 or 5.2 engines at all, gearing could definitely help some, I wouldn't go with a shift kit, not with the type of driving you do, it would be murder on the trans (trans cooler could help prolong trans life if you choose to go w/ shift kit), electric fan from an intrepid works very well with very little adaptation. Bigger exhaust to help it breathe better could help you out too. Make sure the tires are properly inflated, and that you keep up with the oil changes. Improperly inflated tires could rob you of as much if not more than 2 mpgs, and waiting too long to complete an oil change can have immediate losses of mpgs not to mention the long term wear.

 

Ok let me clarify some...my dad owns an auto repair which i have worked in for many years. So sounding like an autozone commercial about inflating tires blah blah blah was a waste of typing. I am weary of TB spacers as well but put one on my buddies 5.9 and he got 2 more mpg's. i put shift kits in everything including my dd's and 426 stroked ram (which i built the motor for). It all depends on what type and brand you put in. Not a rookie here, just looking for answers as to what works and what doesn't. I have never owned a V6 and don't have money to waste on stuff that really wont help. thats why I came to you guys! Expereince is a great teacher! I was looking more for tried and true stuff that you guys have done. Oh yea...I do have dual exhaust.

 

codydakota is just trying to help, you don't have to trash him. if the info he gave you is not what you wanted then move on.
P.S. it's almost impossiple to increase the MPG on a dakota except your driving habits.

 

It sure sounds like you wornt appreciative of the help you recived. Here are some more help.
Codydakota was right. TB spacers dont do nothing. Do a search someone posted an email sent by airaid saying the TB sparcers are not desined to increase milage. I had one I sold it on ebay. You can get new plugs wires dis. cap and rotor. get engine, tranny, and diff oils changed. Change air, fuel, tranny filters. Change pcv valve breathr valve. check all vaccum lines. The best thing is drive slower.

 

whoa! sorry boys! didn't know i sounded that bad. my apologies to codydakota. I should have said that i have completed the most obvious being filters and tune up, air pressures,ec. I was looking for less obvious things. I did change the way I drive not letting it downshift on hills and no quick take offs. drivin like a granny only gained me like .25. I was just hopin there was something easy that would help some.

 

i have a 1994 dakota 4x4, 3.9....i was originally getting 10mpg so i did a tune up which brought me up to 12mpg. i then got a edelbrock intake (open element) then a k&n filter to replace the paper one that came with it. then i got a flowmaster muffler and took out the cat i now get 25mpg city(and thats not light footing it)! last time i was on the interstate i got 30mpg. i didn,t beleive it when i saw it but it is true...i checked it over and over and came out right around 25mpg city and30 highway