RE: Mileage 2

From: Rick Barnes (barnesrv@comcast.net)
Date: Thu Jul 08 2004 - 10:28:59 EDT


Ken, to add to your good notes, an electric fan gained 2 mpg for my 5.2

Rascal

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net
[mailto:owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net] On Behalf Of Ken Allgood
Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2004 8:14 AM
To: dakota-truck@dakota-truck.net
Subject: Re: DML: Mileage 2

> Date: Wed, 7 Jul 2004 17:38:38 -0400
> From: Andrew <showwork@earthlink.net>
> Subject: DML: Mileage 2
>
> Thank you, to those who posted their real world mileage. My 93,
3.9
> Automatic, ex-Cab is getting "only"(??) 17 mpg. Had the truck 10 days
> or so and went on a second trip this past weekend.
> So Far, (before I left on my trip), I changed the oil and filter,
tire
> pressure is a 35psi all around, the air cleaner didn't look to bad, but
> I will change it anyway. I guess also the plugs, at 75K might also be a
> good replacement idea (no idea when/if they were changed).
> The Tranny and rear end fluids need doing too.
> For now I intend to keep the wires.
> 17 mpg is disappointing. I traveled at 65mph and had the AC on and
> ran into very little traffic. Is there a chance I can get this thing
> over 20 mpg?? I had in mind a wish of 25 mpg, am I dreaming far beyond
> reality?
>
> Where else is a good place to seek better mpg?
>
> Question 2. I need to repair the air dam. It's cracked and if I
knew
> what it was made of, and had the proper glue, it would likely hold. I
> may also consider making or buying a lower/bigger air dam,
> suggestions anyone.
>
> - --
>
> Andrew
>

Andrew,
    You're going to be hard pressed to see 20mpg with a club cab with the
3.9. Though the 93's are lighter than the Gen 3's, typically what happens
is the 3.9's don't see any better mileage than the 5.2's in a club cab. On
a recent trip, my 97 CC SLT (with AC) managed to get just over 20mpg. Few
tips on what you can do:

Cold Air Intake - This will add 1-2 mpg depending on driving style/traffic.
I instantly saw a 2mpg jump on my highway driving with this, plus the 5.2
really came alive from 3k RPM to redline
Performance computer - *IF* you can keep your foot out of it, this will
probably add .5-1 mpg
Cat-back exhaust - won't really notice much power gain here, but will add
maybe .5mpg on the highway

Those got me up to 19-19.5 mpg on the highway, up from 16.5 stock. The rest
of my mods (rockers, intake manifold, headers, Carsound Cat) added up to the
last .5-1mpg. I've only seen the 20mpg once, and that's because I babied it
at 45-50 mph on a 4.5 hr trip (not a highway, but a road with 45mph
speedlimit with only getting lights as you pass through small towns). Also,
my CC probably weighs 400-500lbs heavier then your 93 (4,380 with me in it)

Ken Allgood
97 CC SLT 5.2L



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