Does anyone actually sit down and figure up how much money they save for every 1 mpg increase with a mod??
I drive around 35K a year. I average 18-19 MPG with my 4wd 4.7V8/45RFE auto.
For the sake of argument 35K miles a year @ 19 MPG is about 1842 gallons. If I get 20 MPG that goes down to 1750 gallons. Thats 92 gallons if my math is right. Figuring $2.90 a gallon thats $266 dollars a year IF you drive as many miles as me or get a bigger MPG rating.
I wonder how many people get snookered into spending FAR more chasing fuel economy than just living with it and paying for the fuel.
Myself since I have decided recently to keep this Dakota for the long term(probably going to get a base Calibre next spring to drive into the ground) I am trying to do some easy things for MPG, Mobil One exteded, I hope to see a MPG for this one but its more for engine life, Im also going to try the Champion Irridiium plugs. Again its a 2fer, longer change interval plus MAYBE a bump in milage. Im thinking of adding a cold air intake but Im still not convinced the MPG is there.
If everyone got the "claimed" MPG from all of the mods we do guys would be getting 30 MPG.

 

I agree about spending big bucks in search of mpg or hp and there's plenty of companies willing to take your $,everybody sells that fuel Tornado crap when there's not any evidence that they work yet Summit,Autozone or whomever will take your 90 bucks.As far a synthetic oil goes extended oil changes great,I did Hotshot work around Houston thru out the 90s,that means delivery work,running back and forth across Houston for around 10 hours a day at least 5 days a week.My ex 97 GMC reg cab with 4.3 V6, last I heard it was still going strong with 180k on it.I just kept the oil changed around 4 or 5k at one the oil change places using bulk 10-30 Pens and the cheap Pen filter.I think maintenance is the key not so much as the money for long engine life.I don't know about the iridiums aint they like around 9 bucks a plug?I'd have to see some serious test on them,I'll stick with the $2 NGK V power copper cores,the 4.7 is the easiest motor to change plug on I've ever done,I have around 20k on em and they seem to be working good,so no biggie if I have to slap another set in around every 30k or so.I remember on a Hemi forum a young man ordered 8 iridiums for his 5.7 saying he heard that they were good for an extra 3hp a piece,somebody told him that he better order 8 more sense the 5.7 runs 2 plugs per cylinder and does he believe he's gonna gain 48hp from the swap, I told him to order a Tornado while he's at it and his RT would be SRT8.Anyway I guess we all wish there was some magic part we could buy and see substantial mpg or hp gians I'll probably blow some more of my $ on something with that in mind.You should check out some of the 5.7 Magnum,Charger,300 forums people spending crazy money on performance mods, I'm not so convinced that the results are worth it.,,,,,,,JMO,,,,,Hopefully it'll cool off here so I can get my electric fan installed and smoke the rest of you 3g Dak guys while getting 25mpg.

 

I have to agree with you changing the plugs on the 4.7L is quite easy. In fact I just finished changing mine about ½ hour ago. I took my time and may have spent an hour on this project. I replaced the stock plugs with champion 4071 truck plugs. These have a larger copper core and are suppose to be better than stock. I had 18,700 miles on the stock plugs and averaged 17.9 driving to work on back roads 35-55 mph for 45 miles round trip. I’ll see if there is any improvement in mileage.
I have always changed the oil and filter at around 3k on all my vehicles. The engines always last longer and stay cleaner inside. I plan on running the dak for twenty years if it will last. To get the benefits of synthetic oil, without spending a lot for oil I just substitute one quart of my regular brand (castrol gtx) with one quart of synthetic castrol.

 

Yea I use to run Castro I'm probably going start running Havoline 5-30.Went to Walmart to get some only had 10-30 so I bought some Mobil Clean 5000 also picked up some Supertech oil filters for around $2.06 before you roll your eyes, they're made by Puralator,I was using NAPA Gold made by Wix they go for around $4.60, Anything is better than a Fram. A site for alot of good information on oil is http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/ this site has opened alot of peoples eyes including my own.