How to improve Dodge Dakota performance/fuel economy???

[Reuben]

I wanted a small truck to get around in...needed a break from my f-350 4 door long bed 4x4

didn't want any payments so bought a second hand Dakota...2005 4 door, 4x4, 4.7 L magnum... coming home going up and down hills and traveling at about 75 mph on I-45 I averaged 17.5 miles a gallon...but the truck has oversized tires so the odometer reads lower so I actually got a little better than what the calculations showed...

I checked around and decided to try and increase the performance...Some folks say they get 21 mpg on the hiway...I was hoping to get 23 once I made the upgrades but now based off of what I averaged I will be glad to get 20 mpg...but city is about 16 and I would like to average at least 19-20...

 just ordered a K&N air filter for about 37 dollars that fits in the factory box...I couldn't see me paying 250 dollars for a cold intake air filter...but after I ordered my K&N I saw a cold air intake filter for 119 dollars...I would have bought that one...

also ordered a G-Force performance chip that is supposed to give me 4-7 mpg improvement...well if it gives me 2 mpg I will be happy. the cost here was about 55 dollars or so...if it works I will order one for the wifes car as well as for my f-350...the f-350 already has an edge performance programmer and the G-force is supposed to improve the programmer's performance...

fixing to add a Flowmaster muffler for better breathing...

changed the oil...the truck is used to synthetic so that is what I used...planning on adding militec 1 to the oil...

also giving a tune up...

Any other ideas on how to improve my fuel economy???

[Reuben]

originally I was going to buy me a Toyota Tundra 4x4 with 4 doors...but they wanted an arm and a leg for the ones I was looking at...the price was outside the range I had set before I decided to buy a small truck...

[BIG BEN]

 Reuben Id be happy as all get out with 17.5mpg in a V8 Dakota 4x4. Dakota's have never been know for great gas mileage, I know Ive owned 3. First thing Id do is get rid of the crapomatic and put a 5 or 6 speed manual in there, that will give you atleast 5 more mpg. If you own the truck for any time you will be replacing the auto trans anyways, Dakota are known for bad trannys. I have a 99 2wd 3.9 v6 and just got done doing the tranny swap, it was pretty straight forward and I noticed a major hp gain and better fuel economy. You are on the right track with the CAI, performance chip, and exhaust.

[Reuben]

I noticed a minor slip when I reversed out the drive way...

[MrsLouisianaHogDog]

I feel your pain. I LOVE my truck but gas is killer. I have a 2001 Dodge Ram V8magnum, I get around 300 miles to a full tank, which costs me close to $80. I also have slightly oversized mud tires. I was told it had a chip in it when I bought it, but I have no idea. I have an aftermarket air filter in it, just had it tuned up recently as well. >sigh< lol

[Reuben]

I feel your pain. I LOVE my truck but gas is killer. I have a 2001 Dodge Ram V8magnum, I get around 300 miles to a full tank, which costs me close to $80. I also have slightly oversized mud tires. I was told it had a chip in it when I bought it, but I have no idea. I have an aftermarket air filter in it, just had it tuned up recently as well. >sigh< lol

In should of known better...I bought it from some insurance salesman...he said it got 21 mpg...heck my f-350 4x4 gets the same mpg right now...   

Big Ben...I checked out all kinds of data on the net and it showed that the  6 cylinder with a standard transmission only got 1 mpg better than the v-8 with automatic.....well now that you brought up the crapomatic I am now thinking it might of been cheaper to have bought a toyota tundra...in the 2005 year model...the transmission fluid does not look burned but I will go ahead and change the fluid and tranny filter...I do know lucas tranny conditioner/additive works so I will add one bottle of that...I am starting to remember about 30 something years ago when I said I would never buy another dodge... well...never say never....might as well buy me a couple of heeler cow dogs to match my ride... ;DJK

I do remember a 1966 plymouth with a 318 v-8 that I did my best to blow that engine up as a teenager... and the only thing that busted was a motor mount... 

I was looking at a chevy colorado 4x4 with the 5 cylinder and that sucker was getting some very good gpm...my nephew said he loved his as long as he wasn't pulling a load...I probably should of bought it and just increased some horsepower on it...anyone out there have a colorado 4x4 and likes it???

another thing I said I would never do is buy a 4x4 truck...well...this is #4...

[charles]

 throw you a 5.9 cummins in it. there are a few programmers for gas burners. i just pulled my 37s out from my tck and fixin to take the lift kit out. i was getting 24mpg before the lift and 12-14 with the lift and tires. im driving a 4dr 4x4 long box dodge and with just the big tires gone, i have went up to 18mpg. my aint stock though. i have a few aftermarket mods on it.

[BIG BEN]

 The ultimate conversion for gas mileage in a dakota would be the 4bt diesel, it a 4 cyl cummins that I hear is getting 50-55 mpg with the NV3500 trans out of the Ram's. This is what I plan on doing when my engine craps out. When you go ahead and put the flowmasters on Id go ahead and install a high flow Cat on it also. Headers are nice but expensive as hell for a dakota, atleast it is for the v6 version. Let us know the results of all your upgrades when you finish.