I have a 2006 Dakota: 4 door, 4X4, automatic

According to fueleconomy.gov my truck should average 13 MPG city ... However over the past few years I have installed several modifcations to improve my MPG. (i.e. intake, throttle body spacer, headers, exhaust, superchip (towing mode)).

However I am still seeing 13-14 at maximum. I average 10 MPD mon-friday.

Any suggestion on how to improve my MPG ?

 

How big are your boots?
I'm a terrible "economy driver".
I have tried to be fuel conscious and try to get better fuel economy but my size 12's get in the way.
Its one of the reasons I went diesel, reasonable fuel economy and still lots of fun.
If its not about having fun and enjoying the drive you might as well be driving a Smart car. ;>)

BTW, my other car is electric.

 

Lengthen your trips.

When my job moved twice as close to home (4.5 miles each way vs. 9 miles before, same type of city driving), my average MPG (V6, 3.55 gears) went from about 14.7 to 12.6 with no other changes.

Think of it in terms of a percentage of how much of your drive is in a "warm-up"state which uses more fuel: If half of your drive is spent warming up the engine and using more fuel, then your average MPG will "appear" worse than if only a quarter of your drive was spent warming up, when in reality your "true" mpg is most likely higher when considered only after warm-up.

 

Further, although all of the mods installed CAN increase fuel economy, they also are part of increasing the fun factor! Remember, as EVGuy said, the more you push the loud/fun pedal, the worse your economy will be.

(and a smart car can be fun too EVGuy! saw some in Europe that were pretty tricked out!)

 

Get rid of the throttle body spacer. It does nothing.

 

I agree that throttle body spacers are useless ... However I purchased it on eBay for $10 and could not resist.

What is the best fuel octane for the V8 4.7 ? Does the cost justify the MPG ?

 

Forgot to mention, my tires are 31.6" AT.

 

Best octane is what the manufacturer recommends unless you have a tuner which requirws different.

 

Greetings, I had a 97 Dakota some time back. 3.7 v-6, 3.90 rear end. 13 -14 was all I could get from it. 15-16 on the road. It did not matter how I drove..
Good luck
Ram Man 01