OK, the '98 dakota I bought last month, 5.2L w/auto trans., reg. cab, 4X4 has the plate off where the gear selector goes into the steering column. The overdrive doesn't work and there is a cut wire in there. At 55 mph on a flat road the rpm's are at 1500, about 1700 at 60. Can someone with a similar setup check there mph/rpm and let me know what they have in OD and with OD off. I'm only getting about 10 mpg driving without a heavy foot. Don't have any history on the truck so don't know any tuneup details.

 

Sounds like the OD is working, but I'm not sure. If it wasn't those RPM's would be much higher, but I'm just taking a guess since i have a 5-speed.

 

70 for me is a little under 2k. 55 is right around 1.5k.

Sounds like O/D works.

 

My 99 5.2 auto has the same rpms you're describing so sounds like it's running normal, but I consistently get around 14 mpg with my stock intake, was getting 12.8 mpg with a K&N intake .......

 

qft!!

 

Yeah, when I used to have an auto it was 2k right around 70 mph. But so is my manual now. Same gear ratio.

If you think you should be doing better on gas, make sure you have plenty of air in the tires and give her a nice tune up (plugs,wires,cap, rotor,ect...) The 5.2 was never good on gas to begin with though... especially being an auto.

 

i test drove a auto 5.2 before i got mine same setup and everything and it averaged like 12 during the test drive haha you should be getting a little better then that tho so x2 on what bpark said

 

Is this 10mpg by your calculations or the on board computer. Something the computer can be off a good bit. So double check it with your own calcs. I'm not saying your actually getting 20mpg, but you might be getting 13 or 14 when you think your getting 10. Just a thought...

 

Excuse my ignorance, what's qft mean?

 

easiest way to check if your OD is off, at 60 mph, when you let off the gas, does the truck idle down or stay at high rpm...