chipping my 05 5.9CTD

[ray fischer]

I have a 410 rear end in my 2005 dodge 5.9 ctd My MPG averages 13 local, 16 highway w/o f/w I get 10 to 11.5 towing. Most miles not towing. I've had it reflashed twice. I'm now out of warrenty with 75000 miles, but 6 years old. Is it worth getting a performance tuner. A guy on RV net claims a Smarty Jr gave him +3mpg solo and 1.5 to 2 towing. It would pay for itself in one year if those figures are solid averages. Any advise appreciated. As stated, out of warrenty so no concern there.

[thor]

i had the edge power progamer in my 2003 chevy diesel.i would say i really didnt notice a difference in mileage but more in power.the manufacture says 10% but on 13 miles per gallon that is only 1.3 mile advantage if the manufacture is correct.thats with perfect conditions.

[ols1932]

quote:Originally posted by ray fischer

I have a 410 rear end in my 2005 dodge 5.9 ctd My MPG averages 13 local, 16 highway w/o f/w I get 10 to 11.5 towing. Most miles not towing. I've had it reflashed twice. I'm now out of warrenty with 75000 miles, but 6 years old. Is it worth getting a performance tuner. A guy on RV net claims a Smarty Jr gave him +3mpg solo and 1.5 to 2 towing. It would pay for itself in one year if those figures are solid averages. Any advise appreciated. As stated, out of warrenty so no concern there.

Ray,
For what it's worth, I chipped my 95 Ford in January 2002 and have not been sorry. I said "chipped" but that is not all; I had the Banks Power Pack installed as well as the Banks Exhaust Brake. There are many who will tell you that if you chip it when still under factory warranty that the warranty will not hold. But since you're our of warranty you don't have to worry about that.

Go ahead and add the tuner if you're going to keep the truck. But if you are one of those who trades often, I wouldn't advise adding anything because you won't get anything extra for it being on the truck. Go with your own sense and don't let others persuade you.

Orv

[Wiesehan]

I put an Edge with attitude in my 04.5 CTD and am very pleased with both the power and the additional milage. I get 20 plus mpg without pulling and 11.5-12.5 mpg when towing our 3400 RL. Good luck with what ever you decide.
Don

[clutch]

The Smarty Jr seems to be the hot item for the Cummins at this time. They have fewer problems than the Edge products which have been outsourced to some Asian country.

I had an Edge EZ on my 5.9 and it was set on the middle setting. I didn't notice any change in mpg but the extra power was really nice.

If you are only interested in better mileage you will probably wait for many years to just break even as far as cost goes.

[ray fischer]

Thanks for the replies so far. I don't need additional power, that 410 rear and ctd gives me all the power I need. My trailer loaded for a trip scales out at 12000 lbs. My main interest is improving MPG and I'm getting mixed reviews, some improve, some don't.

[JimF]

I went with the HyperTech tuner, improved performace a great deal and I am getting a solid 2 mpg improvement, pulling and unloaded. I run a 5.9 also.

[blarkman]

I have a 2004QC 3500 5.9 diesel,2X4,LB with 99500 miles on it, so assume it is broken in!!! I get 20mpg arond town, 23-26 on the freeways doing 1700rpm or about 62-63. Towing on long hauls like 1200 miles to Yuma I get about 13mpg with same rpms using cruise control. I looked at the variou chips available and most said with the tuner, I also needed gauges,bigger trans pan, and probably need larger exhaust pipe system. So after some research I went cheap, and many comments, I spent $50 for a DIY hydrogen generator kit. I did get a 25% improvement in milage, I had about 60,000 miles on when I installed it. I am a happy camper and if anyone wants to tell me how wrong I am forget it I am happy with results on my Dodge diesel
bod

[ray fischer]

Blackman, whats a hydrogen gen? Also, do you have 3.73 or 4.10 Does my 4x4 vs 2x4 plus 410 rear make that much diff?

[blarkman]

Ya the bad part is the 4X4 gets lower milage, I have two friend with 06s, one 2X4 and the other 4X4, and the two wheel drive gets better milage and Jerry does rub it in!! I have the trailer towing pkg on the Dodge, with 3.73 rear end. Carl figures he gets about 2-3 miles less per gal.He lives up steep slope and needed the 4X4 to make it up the grade.
You can just type it in on the tool bar, and should still be on my posts. It is just running electricic current through water that has baking soda in which produces hydrogen gas. If you want to PM me I can tell you more about it and yes I just use 6 canning jars
bob

[mojavemike]

quote:Originally posted by blarkman

Ya the bad part is the 4X4 gets lower milage, I have two friend with 06s, one 2X4 and the other 4X4, and the two wheel drive gets better milage and Jerry does rub it in!! I have the trailer towing pkg on the Dodge, with 3.73 rear end. Carl figures he gets about 2-3 miles less per gal.He lives up steep slope and needed the 4X4 to make it up the grade.
You can just type it in on the tool bar, and should still be on my posts. It is just running electricic current through water that has baking soda in which produces hydrogen gas. If you want to PM me I can tell you more about it and yes I just use 6 canning jars
bob

PMed you

[ray fischer]

Thanks for all the replies. It seems my mileage is fair considering 4x4 and 410 rear and the hilly terrain of W.Pa If I needed the extra H/P I think I'd go with the smarty jr.