Hi everyone, boy what a story I have for you. If anyone remembers me a while back I posted a few threads about how my 1997 Dodge GC was getting such bad gas mileage. Well I found out what was causing it and I cant believe it myself. I tried everything all of you told me to do and you name it I checked it. Even checked at several garages and was told the same. Well back in 2005 I decided to change motor oil and I had heard of how well synthetic motor oil was. Well I checked first from the lady I purchased my van from and she had a list that she gave me and she had taken this van to the Dodge dealer from day 1 when she purchased it new and had the oil and filter changed every 3,000 miles. Well I do the same thing every 3,000 out goes the old and in with the new and filter. Well I checked with the Dodge dealer where she purchased and dealt with and they showed me the oil they used in all vehicles. They get it in barrels, its Quaker State 10W30. I do the changing myself. So the third time for a change I went to (stayed with the same brand) but I got Quaker State 10W30 Synthetic. And that is what I have been using since 2006. Well since then my mileage has been going down hill all the time, if you read my other threads I was only getting 12.6 to 13.4 no matter if it was city or highway use. And there was absolutely nothing else wrong with my van. So 2 weeks ago I went to get 5 qt.s and a new filter for it and the price of synthetic went from 2.39 a quart to 6.59, I had had enough.
I figure Im getting rotten mileage so I am going to put in it what I have used in my VW's for years and that was Valvoline 10W30.
I have run 2 tanks of gas through it so far and here is the part your not going to believe, my van has went from12 to 13 mpg to 19.3 city and 22.6 highway. I cant believe it myself so the second tank of gas I done the math the old way I sat there in my van after a fill up and done it on paper and pencil and I be darn, same mileage as the digital was reading out to me on the ceiling of the van.
I told you it would be an unbelievable story, but tell you one thing I am so happy now I don't know what to do. Thanks everyone for reading my long story.
Calvin
RB24
09-11-2008, 04:44 PM
interesting...
TrueRollers
09-11-2008, 04:58 PM
So you are saying switching to conventional oil instead of sythetic is whats helped you get back your milage? Because I switched to synthetic and noticed lately all i get is about 12-13mpg too...
CTDreamin
09-11-2008, 05:02 PM
hmm interesting...if I dont plan on hauling anything for a few weeks I may give it a shot, never hurts to save money and get better gas mileage
CWRdodge
09-11-2008, 05:13 PM
Well no sir I am not saying for you to change your oil back, I am just saying that I came on here months ago asking for help and I got some really good points on how to help me with my mileage.
I was told to make sure I had the right amount of air in all my tires, make sure the air filter was new, all sorts of things I was told to check and I have done them all. Even the garage told me to start my van and let it set running at idol for 15 to 20 minutes, then smash the gas pedal to the floor and immediately leave off and watch the tail pipe to see what color smoke comes out. If it was black or dark color it may be my oxygen sensor, if it were white it may be oil burning. I done this several times and I have yet to see anything come out of the tail pipe. I even had a friend follow me close climbing a mountain and watching for any discoloration coming from the tail pipe and he seen nothing.
You could try it going back to conventional oil. But here is another thing I have been told, I have heard this from a lot of people, saying that its ok to change from conventional oil to synthetic, but dont change back because it will cause the vehicle to start using oil. I took a chance because I was getting sick of buying gas and was about to get my old VW out of the garage and start driving it again.
So I am working on the third tank of gas so far and still getting 19.3 and 20 some highway and with no loss of oil and no colors coming from my tail pipe.
So please if you do this it is you doing it not me telling anyone to try this, so far my van is using no oil and it has 98,000+ miles on it now and I am very happy with the gas mileage now.
Calvin
TrueRollers
09-11-2008, 05:18 PM
Anything I try reading in a forum I understand is my own choice, I would never come back to a forum and cry because it didn't work. But I also have done all the others... tune up, tires, inflation, air filter, etc. I have gone back and forth in my chevy with synth and conventional, and haven't had a problem, so I'll try it once in my van. for 7mpg @ $4/gal it would be worth a little burnt oil.
CWRdodge
09-11-2008, 05:26 PM
Hi Truerollers, yea I have done the same thing if I try something someone else says works and it dont for me I would never go back to that forum and raise heck. I have done all the thing you posted also even paid a garage 250 dollars to change my plugs and wires, if you can find my other threads on this you will read that I was about to junk this van. Its bad enough paying like you said 4 dollars a gallon and it takes you no where hahahaa. My old 1970 VW bug almost came out of the garage, but I am older now and sure wasn't ready to give up all the bells and whistles that my van has over the old bug you know. Thank you sir for your replys and if you do this I sure hope it helps you also take care and good luck.
Calvin
mfahey
09-12-2008, 01:44 PM
Interesting read because I just recently changed to synthetic just before we hauled our sailboat out to Maine. With the trailer and the stuff in it, I guessed that it weighed 1500 pounds and it certainly didn't help with the aerodynamics. At that, I got 21 mpg which I thought was pretty decent considering we normally would have gotten somewhere between 24-26 mpg on the same trip without the trailer.
CWRdodge
09-12-2008, 03:57 PM
Hi There well sir I am glad it hear from someone that synthetic worked for you. Just wish it had for me. But after years of putting up with the gas mileage I got and changing back to conventional I am also glad conventional worked for me, due to the fact that I love Dodge products. Thank you for your message.
Calvin
