I would have to agree with this. My old 2.5L V6 Contour got 36MPG and I didn't usually drive conservatively. I don't know what it was rated at but i'm sure it was no more than like 26MPG. Now I drive my Dakota much more conservatively and still hardly get 20MPG.

 

Has anyone found anything to improve gas mileage? I tried the old "no tailgate" trick for a week and there was no difference. Would getting a tonneau cover help?

 

it wont do anything either, even if it did you spend 300bucks on a cover by the time you recover 300 bucks in gas savings you will be 80yrs old.

 

Mythbusters did an episode on the truck tailgate myth.

Results
- no tail gate - worst
- tail gate down - just as bad
- one of those cargo net looking things was the better than with tail gate.


Things that helped my MPG
#1 - put an egg under your gas pedel
#2 - coast as much as possible
#3 - keep tires at correct psi
#4 - keep oil changed
#5 - magnaflow exhuast
#6 - bored out TB

 

Well that's perfect cuz my 80th birthday is in 3 months lol, jk

 

all you guys that get 15+ mpg, how many of you have a stick truck is?

 

Mine is a stick. I usually get between 17-19mpg but I saw 22mpg one time.

I don't think there's much difference in MPGs for an automatic or manual Dakota. Anyone else wanna chime in on that cuz I'm not sure?

 

I can get 16 with 3.55 gears and an auto. Im on the 91 performance superchips tune.

 

Might as well floor it all the time. At least you will feel good about sh*tty gas milage.

 

I dont track my mileage, except for maybe 3 or 4 times a year. The 2-3mpgs isnt worth driving like a grandpa, imo.