Is it a 4x4? Does it have overdrive?

Carl

That is the best that you can expect and with what you are saying about you
current mileage, you are doing better than most.

That's about right. My friend gets about the same mileage, with a pretty
much identical Dak. He really wishes he got a V8, since his truck's slow
as hell. My hemi ram gets 11.5 or so around town, and is a hell of a lot
more fun..

BDK

The 3.9 V6/auto is not known for good mileage. I had a 3.7 V6 in my 2002
Ram with stick shift and got better than what you are getting, but the
3.7 is a more efficient engine. I have a 4.7 V8 in my Dakota with
automatic, and I'm getting a little lower than what you're getting. It's
hard to say if what you're getting is good or bad though, because
everyones city driving is different. (Red light every block or every few
blocks; does your truck idle while you're scraping snow/ice or are you
in South TX where you can take off right away; is your city commute 2
miles where it never reaches operating temperature, or 10 or more miles;
Do you like to accelerate slowly or rapidly). Too many variables to
compare one persons mileage with yours, so I'd take any high mileage
claims with a grain of salt.
My city mileage in the winter on a rural 5 mile commute is only about 13
MPG with my 4.8, and when it's cold (below 30) the transmission seems
more like it's filled with molasses than trans fluid for about 3 of
those 5 miles.
Mileage is the only complaint I have with the Dakota, but then this is
the first truck I had with an automatic. My stick-shift Dodges and Fords
were all better fuel misers.
The only thing I can think of that will help you get better city mileage
is slower acceleration, synthetic lubes, warmer climate, or a different
truck. Any other add-ons will probably cost you more in the long run
than what you would save in fuel costs.

JPH

I get 18mpg city and 21 to 22 mpg on highway (using the cruise).  Have a '96
Dakota Xtra Cab SLT, 98,047 miles with 3.9 V6.  Bought it used with 48,000
miles in 2001.  Change oil every 3-4,000 miles, use only synthetic Mobil1
10W30, change the PCV & Air filter at same time.  When I bought it, I
changed the oil and added a quart of  synthetic treatment, I think it was
called one-lube or something, comes in an orange & blue box and be bought at
Auto Zone & Wal-Mart.  Next oil change I added synthetic oil treatment for
engines at 50,000 miles.  I also put in a gel treatment in the
auto-transmission to smooth shifting, can only add once in a lifetime to a
tranny, found it at Auto Zone, but haven't seen it on shelf lately.  At
about 51,000 miles the mpg finally reached 22 mpg on highway (was getting
15city/17hwy when bought it). I put Valvoline Fuel Injector cleaner
(synthetic) in fuel tank twice a year. I run Bridgestone Duelers H/L
225-70R15's on the wheels.  Once a year or so I take the breather off the
throttle body/intake with engine running and spray gumout to clean the
butterfly and upper area where breather sits (have to be careful not to
overspray on hot exhaust or u will see flames).  Truck still starts and runs
good (although I need to replace the starter, it has developed a dead spot
that requires several key turns to get past for starter to turnover).