My son just bought a 1999 dakota club cab 4x4 with the v8 and oversized tires and only gets 10-11 mpg. Other than a tuneup, any suggestions on improving his mileage? On my old Jeep pickup I added lockout hubs, is this possible on the dakota, or maybe removing the front driveshaft, as he does not need 4x4?. Thanks in advance.

 

i would start with the tires my truck went from 15 to 10 or 9 when i went from 245-70-16 to a 265-75-16 that was with 3.95 gears and a 5-45rfe

 

you can remove the driveshaft, i did that to mine and still have it off. I didnt notice anything.

 

Oversized tires? How big? 31 x 10.5 x 15 is actually one of the size tires that came on the truck...otherwise, if they really are oversized, I would suspect a significant improvement by dropping down...

My heavy right foot nets me 15 mpg week in and week out, year round, with very little fluctuation. I have tried babying the truck, and I get the same. I just wouldn't expect much over that out of the 318...

Tune up will likely help. Use copper plugs, not platinum. Also, you may want to think about oxygen sensors. Even if they are not technically faulty to the point where they are making the computer throw a code, if they are old you may want to think about replacing them...swapped mine out on my car just because I was under there and picked up about 3.5 mpg...and I didn't even think I had an issue...go figure I guess...

Tonneau cove will help a little as well.

 

Even taking it easy on the truck the 318 isn't going to get much improvement. That's the same year and engine that I've got and my truck's lifetime average is 13.8mpg and I just have stock tires (not the 31's) and stock everything else for now. Granted I have figured out how to drive to get about 18-20 mpg highway, but bad mileage is something you have to accept in a Dak.

 

Yeah the 318 isnt going to get much more than 15 at max.