Gas Mileage

[Chet Jr]

What kind of gas mileage should I expect from my 89 Shelby Dakota?

I understand that the 318 TB engine and trans are fairly efficient.
Any suggestions to improve?

Thanks
Chet

[Sam Cler]

What kind of gas mileage should I expect from my 89 Shelby Dakota?

I understand that the 318 TB engine and trans are fairly efficient.
Any suggestions to improve?

Thanks
Chet

I forget what rear gear the shelby's have but it's a pretty lightweight body so I would say 13-14 mpg city and 19-20 mpg highway. It doesn't really make a lot of hp compared to the newer magnum ones (the tbi 318 makes as much hp as a 3.9 magnum and less hp then the new 3.7.) Because of this the engine may be straining a bit more to move it around.

Improvements for gas mileage... tonneau cover, do a complete tune up (filter, fluid, plugs, wires,) an electric fan, free flowing exhaust and advance the timing. Just be careful, the amount of money you spend to improve the mpg may not pay itself back in the gas you have saved unless you drive thousands of miles. If you want your truck to perform better and make more hp then the mpg increase is a good side effect.

Here's a good faq for Rams but it can apply to dakotas as well...

Ram Gas FAQ (http://www.dodgeforum.com/m_447500/tm.htm)

With my truck and the mods i have (see my sig) i get 14.5 mpg all city and I can sneak out 24mpg on the highway. It's a lot to do with your driving style also. Don't come to complete stops if you can help it, time the lights, accelerate down hills and coast up hills, avoid large throttle changes, etc.