Performance chips

[gschmidt211]

Has anyone had any luck, good or bad, with aftermarket performance chips?  I just purchased a 2014 ram with the 3.6L.  I really want to try and improve the fuel economy and wonder if the chips are worth it.  I am not too consider wth it from a horsepower aspect.  It would also be nice to hear if anyone had any problems with them that caused a problem with the vehicle and or warranty.

[A383Wing]

don't take this the wrong way, but one does not buy a 2014 Ram for fuel economy...you want gas mileage? Buy a Prius....

there are chips out there you can add, or controllers you can tap into the data link connector to flash the ECM...but if you have to take it in for warranty or runnability issues, you will have to put the original Chrysler program back in or take out the add-on's that you installed

If dealer or warranty people find out you modified the engine, or any programming....I doubt they will help you if something goes wrong

[Cooter]

A buddy brought his 2001 Chevy 2500 4WD truck to the shop and I hooked up one of the "Bullydog" programmers on it. He's getting 26 MPG on the highway with a 5.3.
They work, but fresh air [Cold air] kits and high flow exhaust hedders, etc. also make up a total package.

My '99 Ram 2500 5.9 [360] Cannot get over 15 MPG I don't care if it was dropped out of an airplane. It has long tube hedders, TRUE cold air, T-Body porting mods, Chip, My own mod for the Intake air temp; And a few other mods. It's Just too heavy and even the 6.0 Liter Chevy is a pig on fuel. I think the 5.9 Mopar Magnum needs Aluminum heads and more compression to be as efficient as the Chevy 5.3...

[gschmidt211]

That's a bunch of bull.  The mileage of the new ram is the only reason I am getting back into a truck.  I had an '05 ram with a hemi and after three years was tired of the gas bills.

This new truck gets the same mileage as my current vehicle and  can tow 6100 pounds.

I don't see anything wrong with having a truck that gets great mileage.  At 18/25 that is only 6 MPG less than my wife's Jetta.  And with a 32 gallion tank, I think it would be fantastic to go 800 plus miles without a fill.

don't take this the wrong way, but one does not buy a 2014 Ram for fuel economy...you want gas mileage? Buy a Prius....

there are chips out there you can add, or controllers you can tap into the data link connector to flash the ECM...but if you have to take it in for warranty or runnability issues, you will have to put the original Chrysler program back in or take out the add-on's that you installed

If dealer or warranty people find out you modified the engine, or any programming....I doubt they will help you if something goes wrong

[gschmidt211]

I was thinking a cold air intake as well to help air flow or at least a K&N filter right out of the gate.

I had a 2001 Dakota with the 4.7L and I put dual exhaust on it.  I remember the tuck being much more responsive and seeing a slight increase in fuel economy with that as well.  Not sure if I would do dual exhaust on a V6, but may consider it later on.

I plan on a tonneau cover as well to reduce drag.  I just think there is something to be said for having my cake and eating it too.  I just love being back in a truck and if I can improve my mileage I am all the better off.

A buddy brought his 2001 Chevy 2500 4WD truck to the shop and I hooked up one of the "Bullydog" programmers on it. He's getting 26 MPG on the highway with a 5.3.
They work, but fresh air [Cold air] kits and high flow exhaust hedders, etc. also make up a total package.

My '99 Ram 2500 5.9 [360] Cannot get over 15 MPG I don't care if it was dropped out of an airplane. It has long tube hedders, TRUE cold air, T-Body porting mods, Chip, My own mod for the Intake air temp; And a few other mods. It's Just too heavy and even the 6.0 Liter Chevy is a pig on fuel. I think the 5.9 Mopar Magnum needs Aluminum heads and more compression to be as efficient as the Chevy 5.3...

[A383Wing]

it's been proven that a tonneau cover does not increase mileage...open bed was proven to be less drag,

yer gonna put all this extra money onto truck & engine to increase mileage...how long do you think it will be before you ever see a "return" on your parts investment?

You will never get 800 miles out of a tank of gas in that truck...those mileage numbers on the window sticker are predicted going downhill with a tail wind behind you

[Ghoste]

Was it tonneau cover or was it open bed with closed versus down tailgate?

[A383Wing]

open bed, tail gate up, least drag

tonneau cover on, some drag

open bed, tail gate down, most drag

[Dino]

open bed, tail gate up, least drag

tonneau cover on, some drag

open bed, tail gate down, most drag

I remember that.   

[Indygenerallee]

If you wanted the best fuel economy in a full size truck you should have bought a Cummins.... 

[Ghoste]

Anyone remember why there was less drag with tailgate up and open bed?

[Cooter]

Theory goes, the wind over cab makes a rolling thingy behind cab and wind coming over next rides right over tailgate...
Or some sh*t like that.

[Indygenerallee]

Theory goes, the wind over cab makes a rolling thingy behind cab and wind coming over next rides right over tailgate...
Or some sh*t like that.

epic reply

[hatersaurusrex]

I don't know about the V6, but I do know that when I added a K&N to my 5.7 and pumped my tires up to about 38psi apiece (from around 30 due to the cold), I picked up about 2MPG on the next tank.

Keeping your foot out of the throttle is probably the largest part of the equation though.   The EVIC system is constantly giving me feedback, and although I don't know how accurate it is, I do know that at 68MPH I can kick the MDS into eco mode whereas at 75 or so it's revving too high to kick into eco mode and stay there.

Either way, the 5.7 with MDS is an amazing piece of technology.   My old 300HP 5.4 F150 never got better than 13 (thought that was largely due to the cam phasers wearing out and locking into full advance the whole time) but my 400HP 5.7 gets about 19MPG on the highway, despite 100 more horses and several hundred pounds more weight.

Yes, I love my Ram.

No matter what you have - what Cooter said is the truth.   A 'true' cold air setup will increase efficiency without having to get into the heads, chip, or exhaust.   Combustion engines burn mostly oxygen -- the gas just helps kick off the reaction.   Colder air is denser and has more oxygen.  The colder/denser the incoming air the better, but it's not like what I'm saying is new or groundbreaking knowledge to anyone who knows a bit about cars.   If the intake sits somewhere away from the engine heat (up high or closed off in its own system), you get denser air so the engine doesn't need as much gasoline for ignition.   Same reason a screw charger doesn't work so well at high altitude - outside something like nitrous, air density is everything.

[gschmidt211]

Thanks for the advice.

I don't know about the V6, but I do know that when I added a K&N to my 5.7 and pumped my tires up to about 38psi apiece (from around 30 due to the cold), I picked up about 2MPG on the next tank.

Keeping your foot out of the throttle is probably the largest part of the equation though.   The EVIC system is constantly giving me feedback, and although I don't know how accurate it is, I do know that at 68MPH I can kick the MDS into eco mode whereas at 75 or so it's revving too high to kick into eco mode and stay there.

Either way, the 5.7 with MDS is an amazing piece of technology.   My old 300HP 5.4 F150 never got better than 13 (thought that was largely due to the cam phasers wearing out and locking into full advance the whole time) but my 400HP 5.7 gets about 19MPG on the highway, despite 100 more horses and several hundred pounds more weight.

Yes, I love my Ram.

No matter what you have - what Cooter said is the truth.   A 'true' cold air setup will increase efficiency without having to get into the heads, chip, or exhaust.   Combustion engines burn mostly oxygen -- the gas just helps kick off the reaction.   Colder air is denser and has more oxygen.  The colder/denser the incoming air the better, but it's not like what I'm saying is new or groundbreaking knowledge to anyone who knows a bit about cars.   If the intake sits somewhere away from the engine heat (up high or closed off in its own system), you get denser air so the engine doesn't need as much gasoline for ignition.   Same reason a screw charger doesn't work so well at high altitude - outside something like nitrous, air density is everything.

[Silver R/T]

Edge makes pretty good chips, I have bought one for my diesel Ram but haven't installed it yet.

[Mardoin]

I know this is late in the game but, for anyone coming along now to find the same answer: Don't refer a chip if you haven't tested it for one, Two, there is NO chip out there that will do what it claims, Three: DO NOT FOR ANY REASON spend more than $50 on a performance chip. Even $50 is a waste. When I first started messing with performance chips, I researched and bought one from a brand everyone was claiming to be legit. I did real world testing before and after. The chip at best gave me a 2 mpg increase and mainly if I was staying at the speed limit on more level terrain. I did see very slight improvement in overall responsiveness, shifting, hp, mpg. But, we're talking so slight that most anyone would never notice unless your very in tune with your vehicle... a lot of mechanics are like this... I kicked myself in the arse for having paid the $100 price tag on that first chip... as someone stated.... downhill with a tail wind... is the ONLY time you'll see anything close to the fabulous mpg claims be it manufacturers mpg or chip improvement claims. Chips simply are not worth your time unless you get one for under $20 bucks... who doesn't have $20 dollars to throw away on their rig with hopes of seeing a slight improvement, right?

[67tbird]

A buddy brought his 2001 Chevy 2500 4WD truck to the shop and I hooked up one of the "Bullydog" programmers on it. He's getting 26 MPG on the highway with a 5.3.
They work, but fresh air [Cold air] kits and high flow exhaust hedders, etc. also make up a total package.

My '99 Ram 2500 5.9 [360] Cannot get over 15 MPG I don't care if it was dropped out of an airplane. It has long tube hedders, TRUE cold air, T-Body porting mods, Chip, My own mod for the Intake air temp; And a few other mods. It's Just too heavy and even the 6.0 Liter Chevy is a pig on fuel. I think the 5.9 Mopar Magnum needs Aluminum heads and more compression to be as efficient as the Chevy 5.3...

I thought the 5.9 Magnum came with aluminum heads(prone to cracking)