Long-Term Update

'96 Dodge Grand Caravan ESOne of MT's editors recently took a three-week trek through the dusty West in our long-term Grand Caravan ES, clocking 3837 miles. The driver noted plenty of cargo space, with the third-row seat removed for luggage, camera gear, and souvenirs. After several fuel fill-ups at 220- to 240-mile intervals, when the fuel gauge indicated an eighth of a tank, the driver performed a maximum-range test. Using 19.9 of the available 20 gallons propelled the Caravan only 345 miles, with 98 miles passing between indicated eighth tank and true empty. Needless to say, the pessimistic fuel gauge made travel somewhat frustrating while traversing long stretches of untamed land, leaving us to guesstimate fuel range. Since its last update, the Caravan has been drinking gas at an average rate of 18.1 mpg and has consumed two quarts of oil. With the 3.8-liter/166-horsepower V-6 engine, climbing hills and passing slower traffic are never a problem, even when the van's fully laden. The first service at 7500 miles cost $65 for an oil and filter change, tire rotation, and brake inspection.