Gas mileage (Dodge Dakota)

I drive a 2000 Dodge Dakota Sport with a 4.7 liter V8. This vehicle has the towing package, which means wide ass tires and wide ass wheels. I need a truck to haul materials and parts to the cabin so getting the best gas mileage is job one with this vehicle. The truck currently has grill inserts, a grill blocker, front air dam, cab spoiler and side skirts.

Here are the government ratings for mileage that I use as a baseline.

Media photo of my truck

Update: Combining two additives. Would we reap the benefits of both? Well, we combined a friction reducer and the Acetone. Our mileage in the truck now stands at 25.2 mpg. 

The drive train is powered by a 5 speed manual transmission and a 3.55 ratio rear axle. The EPA says I should get 15 in the city, 20 on the highway and a combined average of 17. As of 5-19-08, I get 22.9 in the city, and an astounding 26.7 on the highway.  Not bad for a vehicle capable of scooting down the 1/4 mile in 15 or so seconds, eh? However, there is a caveat. Most of the driving I do is in a open loop condition, that is before the computer cycles into it's warm engine fuel mixture. I expect to do a closed loop cycle in the near future. Here is how I managed to do this:

First, I switched the lubricants for the engine to synthetic oil. Bye bye dino. I use Mobile 1 in the engine, changing it every 5000 miles. Mobile 1, being a synthetic oil can be run farther than 5000 miles so you've got a little bit of room here.

The air intake system has been replaced with a Airaid 3 inch inlet cone filter, installed in the front passenger fender. This provides cleaner, cooler air into the engine.

I run standard 87 octane gasoline in the truck. I have not done any engine management (plugs, injectors, cooling) as yet.

Photo of my air dam

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