I just got a 2000 Dakota quad 4x4 with a 3.9l automatic. I just checked my MPG and it was 11.4 in town. Is that normal??? I don't drive fast or stupid just normal driving and braking. I would have thought a 6 cylinder would get better MPG than that even being 4x4 I just got rid of a 05 Mustang that way better gas mileage than this and I supped it up and drove pretty hard. Any suggessions on ways to up the MPG on this style of truck? Thanks for the help

 

About the only thing I would do is follow my mods that I have on the bottom of this post and then only look for around 14 in town to MAYBE 20 on the hwy although I will say I DRIVE THE **** outta mine so if I drove normal I dont know what I might get.

 

yeah, that's probably normal for it... in my Ram I get 13.8 pretty regularly but it's far from stock. my 2x4 dak gets close to 19 each tank but it's about as light as your gonna get a dak... no PDL, PW, or cruise. plus it's a std cab.

you could put in a drop in K&N filter, that might help you out a bit.

another thing to consider would be Rhoads lifters. I have a set comming from summit pretty soon and I will post mpg feedback in the Ram forum. they are supposed to give better low end torque which will help with mpg.

 

If you do alot of stop and go driving mileage will suffer. Also excessive idling doesnt help. I get abotu 17 ave both city and hi combined. Less when the trailer is behind it.

 

I still get 12 combined in my quad cab. But I've got a heavy foot, 4wd and a 5.9 all working against me. You should be able to get more than that. Perhaps it's time to replace your O2 sensor.

 

I think that is pretty low. Check and replace all the easy / usual stuff before you go nuts. Check / replace air filter, replace the plugs, wires, distributor cap, rotor... you can replace all the above for about $50. My mpg is down a bit, but I'm riding on the original plugs and wires and cap about almost 40k miles. Even around town I'll get around 15 mpg or so.

 

Wow, you guys seem to get horrible mileage out of the 3.9 sometimes. I average 17, 14 with my fourwheeler in the back. mines a 99 dakota sport v6 5spd.

 

2.5, 5spd, stop and go, heavy foot and 31x10.50 rear tires
i still get 20-25
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