'98 Durango drinking gas

[c0untryf1sh3r]

My fiance has a '98 Durango with the 360ci that drinks gas worse than any other vehicle I've seen. I hooked up the scanner and it said that the o2 sensor after the cat was not getting any voltage so I unhooked it thinking it wouldn't make a difference anyways and now it gets even worse mileage. Its getting too expensive to drive the thing with the price of gas let alone how it burns through it. I know the 360ci isn't the most economical motor but is anyone else with a '98-'01 or '02 Durango or Dakota have or had the same problem?

[Dozer]

What does it get for milage? My Brother in-law has a 99 that only gets 12mpg down hill with the wind!

[Scott K]

12-14 on a good day would be average.

[c0untryf1sh3r]

I'd say on average it gets about 13-15 regardless if its in town or on the highway. She's got just over 247K on it but my dad had a '96 Suburban with the Vortec 350 that had 250K on it that averaged 18-20 in town. I don't want to sound like I'm naging but does anyone have any idea what's going on because I'm drawing a blank.

[StrangeBrew]

I had the same year Durango up until a few years ago. I purchased it new and from the day I left the showroom with it, the best millage I ever got was 13-15.

That is just the vehical and Dodge.

[CJH]

my dad had a '96 Suburban with the Vortec 350 that had 250K on it that averaged 18-20 in town.

Cough, Cough. That thing was rated at 11MPG's in town using the OLD GENEROUS EPA mileage testing (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/13223.shtml). No gas full size SUV gets 18-20 in town. The highest I have seen is the new Ford 3.7L V6 @ 17 City in 2wd in the F150.

I have an 06 Durango 5.7 and get around 12/13 City. My old Explorer 5.0 got 10-12 City.

My point is if you are expecting to get the mileage above, it isn't going to happen. Not trying to start a big ruckus, just trying to be realistic.

[highlife4me]

13-15 MPG with a 13 year old Durango with 247K, I would not be complaining. I would not stick much into it trying to boost the milage. Start saving your pennies cause that thing won't last forever.

[1johntimm]

Cough, Cough. That thing was rated at 11MPG's in town using the OLD GENEROUS EPA mileage testing (http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/13223.shtml). No gas full size SUV gets 18-20 in town. The highest I have seen is the new Ford 3.7L V6 @ 17 City in 2wd in the F150.

It's about time someone tells it like it is! I completely agree!

[PurpleFloyd]

I had a 1998 dodge ram 1500 with the same motor and it got 11-12 driving empty and 10 pulling a small enclosed trailer. A friend has a nearly identical truck and his mileage is essentially the same. This is the mileage we got when calculated by hand over a period of a decade or so of ownership. If you are getting that kind of economy with a Durango you are doing good.

I have had relatives tell me the same thing- 18-20 with their suburbans until I ask them to take me for a ride and run the calculator. Then the story changes....

[MNexpoler]

13-15 sounds about right for a 360, if not on the good side. But no way a 96 Burban 350 gets 18-20 in town.

[SkunkedAgain]

The only way that Suburbans (or other vehicles of that size) get 18-20mpg is when the owners are talking themselves, and others, into why they keep driving those things. It's wishful thinking and foolish beliefs.

[c0untryf1sh3r]

Ok,ok I was wrong, it didn't get 18-20 in town but I know for a fact that it got at least that on the highway considering it burned only half a tank fully loaded pulling a 2 ton boat for 4 hours.

[Dozer]

Ok,ok I was wrong, it didn't get 18-20 in town but I know for a fact that it got at least that on the highway considering it burned only half a tank fully loaded pulling a 2 ton boat for 4 hours.

Seriously............................that is what you are baseing your figures on?

[delcecchi]

Well, it has a 42 gallon tank. In 4 hours you drove 220 miles more or less. Half of 42 is 21. 220/21 is 10.5 mpg.

Any more questions?

[RumRiverRat]

Ok,ok I was wrong, it didn't get 18-20 in town but I know for a fact that it got at least that on the highway considering it burned only half a tank fully loaded pulling a 2 ton boat for 4 hours.

LOL, the tank is 42 or 45 gallons IIRC.

So a half a tank of gas is 21 or 22.5 gallons. Which would be about 10mpg based on going 65mpg for 4 hours.

[Esox_Magnum]

My 01 GMC 1/2 tom 5.3 gets me to Vermilion and back on a bit more than 2 tanks of gas pulling the boat, roughly 900 miles round trip on 50 gal or so depending on wind. Other than that it never leaves the county here at home and back and forth to work and the lake I get around 16...