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From : roy

Q: i have a 2001 dakota quadcab 2wd 3.55 axle 5 speed manual lsd 4.7 v-8 about 24000 miles on odometer. the trip computer which i have verified as being pretty accurate on several occasions reported 20-21mpg at 70mph 22-23mpg at 65mph along a 150+ mile stretch on a recent 850 mile trip in late august. conditions empty/no load a/c on except for about 100 miles driver only negligible wind interstate highway light traffic outside temp. around 90 degrees. average trip mileage was right around 22 driving most of the time between 65 and 70mph. i did draft a few semis but only for about 100 of those miles. i figured i spent about $100 total on gas. i have averaged right at 17mpg over all 24000 miles mostly in-town with some freeway driving. mileage really drops at 75mph i get only 18-19mpg at those speeds. i try to upshift at 2k or less unless i am having fun or accelerating on a freeway ramp etc. i think being a 2x4 and not 4x4 and 3.55 vs. 3.92 really helps the mileage. i dont think the manual tranny is inherently more fuel efficient than the auto. --clay my 2004 dakota 4x4 with automatic acts like it is in neutral occasionally when you first start it up and put it into d or r. if you shift back into p and wait a minute it goes into gear when you try it again. the fluid level in the transmission shows full. is this a shifter or transmission problem also mileage sucks at 16mpg on the highway at 70mph. anyone else have this problem thanks lee .

Replies:

From : roy

in the gas tank. .

From : mac davis

john wrote i totally agree. it makes absolutely no sense to spin a bunch of gears bearing shafts u-joints and seals that should be at rest. besides the loss of mileage how about wear and tear is this another thing you have to give up to have a truck that is less expensive than a ford or gm product or do they also have full-time locked hubs. at the very least why not offer it as an option i remember my 80 f-150 had locking hubs. if they were engaged you could feel it in the steering wheel. it made a bit more noise. it also needed a little more force on the brake pedal to stop it. unlocked gave you a noticeable difference in gas mileage as well as a smoother ride. dynatrac does offer a kit but at $1500 its not cost effective. at $330 savings per year payback in five years isnt worth it. ford offers lockout hubs on some sd models and gm disconnects the right front axle shaft so the other side spins off in spider gears and ring and pinion does not move not perfect but a lot better than taking every thing along dodge missed a perfect opertunity to fix this problem in 03 when they started using a new front axle in 2500 and 3500 4x4 trucks built for them by aam the one that made the tried and trued 10.5 inch 14 bolt for gm for years and the then new 11.5 that gm uses in 2500 and 3500 trucks and gms ifs front drive axles it uses the same 9.25 ring and pinion as used in gm ifs in 2500 and 3500 trucks but dodge specd it to have no disconnect or ablity to support lockout hubs. it is a shame because it is a very stout axle but has no support to disconnect the axles in 2wd with a redesign. ----------------- any hub conversions for the aam front axle al .