Hi. I am thinking of installing a new cat back exhaust on my Dakota. However, I do not want to have the gas milage go down... does anyone know if a high performance cat back exhaust system will help orr hinder the gas milage?

 

It is supposed to helpit but because most people have a tendency to drive a little harder (to hear the new throaty exhaust) it tends to be a wash or a decrease in mileage.

 

I never thought of it that way, but it makes sense!!!!

 

I run a Spin Tech cat back on my 04 1500. Haven't noticed any mpg decrease, but I also don't mash on the right pedal alot to hear it.

 

It will help the mileage unless you drive like a maniac all the time.

~Amanda

 

In almost any and all cases, any time you increase the engines ability to breath in or out the better it will perform and the greater your gas mileage will become. It usually will not lower your gas mileage until you use an aftermarket computer to make better use of the increased air flow. And to do that it advances the engines timing and adds more gas causing a drop in gas mileage. But here is the nice part, if you put on a nice new high flow exhaust and a cold air intake, you will gain fuel mileage and if you then decide to put in a high performance computer, the loss in mileage from the computer will be countered by the gain from the exhaust and the intake leaving you at about the same gas mileage as stock. So if your just looking for better gas mileage and a little performance gain, then just get the exhaust and intake and you will be set.[sm=goodidea.gif]

 

What Dakota do you have? I've read that the 4.7L engines don't respond to exhaust changes, including headers and systems.

 

I have a 3.7 V6. So far, the engine has about 1300 miles on it, and I've been getting between 18-19 city, 23-24 highway. I don't "mash" the gas; I drive like there's a raw egg on the accelerator, and it's made a very big difference in milage.

 

does the coating of the pipes affect performance? because aluminized is WAY cheaper to buy. i couldnt care less how it looks, it's under the vehicle, heh.

 

When i got the Flowmaster catback i started getting almost 3MPG better on the highway. It has since in only a couple of months gone back to where it was before i put it on. I am currently getting about 17.5 on highway at 60MPH. Hope this helps.