Couple of questions and some personal experiences would be appreciated. I've just bought a 2000 dakota with a 4.7 club cab and only get 13-14 mpg I put a k&n drop in filter in it and it dropped it down to 12.4 mpg why? what would you reccomend to help my mpg?? also what do you all think of synthetic oil and different fluids in this truck like diff's and trans. ect ect ect. and what mod's would any of you recommend to do to this truck one last one where can I find a chrome bug sheild to fit this truck??? thanks for all the help shorty

 

I would say you have a problem with yours to be only getting 12 to 13 MPG. Mine is a 02 4.7 4X4
and if I keep my foot out of it, I get around 15. I get 10 to 12 pulling a 22' camper without using OD.

Only mod I have done was the K&N filter.. To tell you the truth, I didn't notice any gain in MPG but
seems to get up and go a little better when I push it some.

I'd try a complete tune up.. I have know idea what the mileage is on yours but if you read the
owners manual, it does tell you to replace the plugs at 30k I believe. I'd also stick with factory
plug name brand and number. Some say use this plug and some say this heat range. I guess
that's up to you.

I'm sure you'll gain some MPG using synthetics.. This may no longer be the case but I was told
it's not a good idea to switch to synthetic motor oil after a engine has lots of "K" miles on it..
Reason I was told is, you'll have gasket and seal leakage problems.

Good luck on your quest for better mileage...

 

Hey radman Thanks for the tips I have bought plugs today and I have about 1000 miles till my oil change I only have 38,800 miles on it I think I want to go to synthetic from what everyone I've talked to said nothing but good stuff about it thanks again Shorty

 

Shorty, just joined the forum & this is too late for you but maybe someone else can benefit from this info. AMSOIL says that you can use their synthetic oil at any mileage after breakin. As for the seals in high mileage vehicles, their oil has an addative that swells seals. They just came out with a new line of nano-technology filters that only need replacing 1 x per year or 25K miles under normal driving conditions which coincides w/their oil change interval recomendations since 1972.