Hi everyone,
I'm new to the exciting world of Dodge Dakotas as I've had my 2000 4.7L V8 for not even a year. I love the truck, but the mileage is killing me. I drive like a grandma but I still get between 7 and 9 mpg on a good day. Do any of you Dakota veterans have tips on what can be done to improve it? I just had the oil and filters changed. I've heard rumours a certain air filter can improve it, or a new oxygen sensor. I'm not sure of the validity of these rumours so if anyone has some advice I would be happy to hear it! Thanks in advance!

 

Something is not right! I was getting that in my 5.2 driving it hard. I would get new plugs and see what that helps out.

 

Something is definatley not right cause I get about 18mpg consistantley on highway with my 4.7l. I don't think a certain air filter will help you much if your getting that bad of gas mileage I would think the cat is clogged. Did you do the key turn trick or use a scanner to see if you get any codes?

 

I think cat would be a good place to start first as well along with a full tune up. I get 14mpgs around town with 285 mud tires and a heavy foot with my 4.7.

 

Is there any way to clean out the cat or should I just replace it? Any idea how much that should cost?
And if I replace the plugs, will any type do or are some better than others?

 

Oh, and I have an OBD reader but it just told me there is a problem with the power steering, which I already knew. It leaks.

 

Get under the truck and hit the cat with a rubber mallet. If you hear rattling, that's not good and you need a new cat. No rattle=good cat (I think that's the way it goes, it could be the other way around lol)

 

Heck I keep my truck under 1.2k rpm and its a 3.9. I was complaining about 23 highway...

 

lol. I'll try beating it tonight and see what it says. So I ran the OBD again and it's also coming up with a transmission problem, which I can tell because between gears 3 and 4 shifts hard (it is an automatic). Any chance that is related to the mpg problem?

 

Shouldn't be related.