Hey guys I'm new to this forum but really needed advice about stuff as i'm new to the world of cars and dont know much! My mom is done with her 2002 4.7l slt+ durango 4x4 so she basically passed it on to me (for now).

Well i've been playing with the exhaust and am running a single flowmaster super 44 single out and just installed my spectre cold air intake.

I went to oreily auto parts and they told me all companies are basically the same and that you're only paying for a name. So well i decided to just go with the build it yourself spectre cold air intake. I did this basically for the mile's per gallon increase that people say you get.

I was at 13.2 mpg when i installed it. It didnt move for days until i was told to reset the ecu. i did this and now well it started moving a lot! from the 12.5-13 area to the 13.0-13.3 then 13.7-13.9 now i'm at 14.1-14.3 and its been there for the past two days and its been moving around for about 4-5 days. So basically it's increased a total of 1.1 mpg and i was hoping for at least 2 mpg increase. Most/all of my driving is in the city with a stoplight every 1 mile or 1/2 mile apart.

I was told by someone else with a 2002 dodge dakota 4.7l 4x4 who did the same thing as me and he said i'll see a 2-3 mpg increase because thats what he saw. Now my question is since its been staying at the 14.1-14.3 mark for the past few days is it done increasing?

ANY ADVICE IS MUCH APPRECIATED GUYS!

Here's a link to my youtube channel. i post some vids there so people will comment and give me feedback on how they think things sound since exhaust HAD been my biggest concern until now!

http://www.youtube.com/user/aaminjoshi91

 

a CAI (if its not a true COLD air intake) will most likely not help with mpgs unless you drive like a grandma, most people put them on expecting an increase and then hear the 'cool new sound' their car/truck makes and use the go pedal more, causing a loss of mpgs.

so in answer to your question, you are getting ALOT out of a "CAI" with your 1.1, but also keep in mind the overhead computer calculation is not very accurate it can be off by as much as 2 mpgs and you are best off calculating it by hand to verify.

now exhaust has the same effect on MPGS as explained above, while in theory you would look for a freer flowing exhaust to make the engine's job easier and theoretically increase HP and MPGS it really has the opposite effect bc it makes you drive differently.


now i have the same truck as you, but BONE STOCK (02 SLT+, 4.7, 4x4, fully loaded) and i usually get about 16-17 around town, and as high as 21 on the highway so you probably need to learn how to keep your foot out of the gas.

or you could start by doing a tune up, in this case 8 brand new copper core champion plugs gapped to .040 and installed (you already did the air filter) and make sure that you are up to date on transmission/t-case differential and oil fluid changes.

 

Hey that sounds really good. If you can find a way to get the COLD air from in front of the radiator, yur mpg should go up more. Right now yur getting warmer air..... more along the lines of Ram Air.

 

shrpshtr325 Do spark plugs make a big difference? i just replaced mine last year with bosch platinum plugs, and am told champion spark plugs are stock and better? also I just had an oil change a few days ago. Now when you say up to date on my transmission do you mean something along the lines of a transmission flush? Also i do sort of drive like a granny. I usually dont accelerate passed 3000 rpm usually along the lines of 2500 rpm I've been trying to drive a little less hard because of gas miles.

So I'll change the spark plugs out if the champion copper core will be better for it. Also i'll get a tranny flush which is about 70 bucks? I've also heard things about a 180 thermostat? Any thoughts about that? Also if you could explain to me how to post a picture i'll post one up so you can see my intake. Or else the link for youtube i provided has a exhaust clip which at the end shows the intake a little bit. You get a full view of it at least.

Thanks for the info man!

 

Durango03 it is in the far bottom corner right behind the passenger head light. so i dont know if i'll be able to move it much further down.

 

Look over in the DIY section posted at the top of the main page: https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...wers-faqs.html


Look under Custom Cold Air Intake (CIA)

 

Scratch the tranny flush for a fluid/filter change. The 180 t-stat will allow the engine to run cooler and will be a small improvement. Most modifications to improve performance also improves MPG -intake/spark/exhaust. That given you keep your foot light as a feather. The 5.2 and 5.9 hate running Bosche, and we always recomend champion for all the mopar line.

Majority of people have photobucket accounts for photo's and take the given img tags to copy paste. Heres some 4.7 photo's i found for a good area to draw from, but would of been better if it was boxed in away from the engine heat (similar to the last pic)

 

yes champion copper plugs are better in these trucks, the platinums cause alot of problems including bad gas mileage, misfires, and the list goes on.

DO NOT FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION

it will cause alot of problems and is unnecessary, good way to waste alot of money, but not at all useful.

btw driving like a granny would mean under 2k rpms, with everybody wondering what is taking you so long to get up to speed (i drive about the same as you, let it shift btwn 2-3k usually under 2500)

the 180 t-stat is more for the older engines, the 4.7 t-stat has a weep hole in it which is very important for it to function correctly, go ahead and change it if you can find a 180 with the weep hole, but if not dont.

 

I try, GOD knows I try to keep my lead foot off the go pedal. But when I hear the growl of the engine... Oh I try so hard......

 

SHRPSHTR325 Thanks man I'll get some new spark plugs this week when i get paid friday. And alright I'll pass on the tranny flush since i'm pretty sure mine is running fine. The only actual mechanical problems i have is fuel pressure, and my a/c & heat blower only works on max not on the low and medium settings i think thats a resistor problem? BUt i'll def change the spark plugs out man!

Hopefully this picture link works!