Spend the money on smarty for better MPG?

[Mr. Hemi]

Okay, finally ready to do it just need to ask, Is Smarty worth the cost for better MPG?

ROI would be about two to three years, although the fun factor is not figured in that time frame!!

Just worried about blowing the stock transmission, although it still is under warranty

 

[robmints]

Okay, finally ready to do it just need to ask, Is Smarty worth the cost for better MPG?

Don't know a bunch of people that have Smarties but I would say no. If you just ran #1 with stock torque management maybe you would but I don't know anyone who has done that. One person told me he could get the best mileage with #3 He is the only one with numbers: Before Smarty 15, 14. 6, 13. 64, 14. 8 and he only has 3 after Smarty 16. 2, 16, 15. But he says he drives the truck harder post Smarty because it is fun.

Just worried about blowing the stock transmission, although it still is under warranty

I think you would be fine with sw#3 mild management and some common sense, it is still fun. But you might want FP and Egt gauges. Every time I look under the hood of his truck now the air minder is sucked down so you might want to find more air.

 

[LesStallings]

Just worried about blowing the stock transmission, although it still is under warranty

So if you blow your transmission due to the Smarty, you think DC should replace it under warranty????

 

[Mr. Hemi]

So if you blow your transmission due to the Smarty, you think DC should replace it under warranty????

Even it blew under warranty I would replace it myself, do not want another stock unit that overheats backing a trailer up a hill, and the dealer hassle, even on a stock never modified truck. (Already had this hassle as trans should not overheat backing up a 5 ton trailer 50 feet up a slight hill). Dealer was useless as is warranty.

I do not let the dealer touch anything, another story to why.



To answer your question, NO.

 

[nickleinonen]

my economy is a little better now with the smarty installed [#3]. . i think most of it was due to reprograming the speedo for the 315's

 

[jjack]

If you are trying to justify the cost of Smarty with fuel cost savings then you are wasting your time. While it may increase your fuel mileage a little,and that is totally dependant on how you drive, It will take you years to recoupe your money at an extra mile per gallon unless you drive a hell of lot more a year than most. You would probably see a much quicker retrun on your money with an under/overdrive even though the initial outlay will be substantially more. I have used both although I have only owned the Smarty. The power that Smarty will give you is worth the cost but you won't see a return on your investment except for that big smile on your face.

 

[Crunch]

If you are trying to justify the cost of Smarty with fuel cost savings then you are wasting your time. While it may increase your fuel mileage a little,and that is totally dependant on how you drive, It will take you years to recoupe your money at an extra mile per gallon unless you drive a hell of lot more a year than most. You would probably see a much quicker retrun on your money with an under/overdrive even though the initial outlay will be substantially more. I have used both although I have only owned the Smarty. The power that Smarty will give you is worth the cost but you won't see a return on your investment except for that big smile on your face.

Never underestimate the value of that smile.



But that does raise a good question. Are any of the power/horsepower increasing boxes a good investment if all you really want it better fuel economy? Now that I am within 15,000 miles of the death of my engine warranty I'm also considering some modifications. If I could get 15%-20% better fuel economy without having to worry about increased EGTs, destroying my transmission and having to deal with the codes that some of these devices cause I'd do it regardless of how much the horsepower increases. If I could get 50-100 extra horsepower in addition to all of the above I'd probably have a box installed within 5000 miles of cracking the 100,000 mile mark. But from what I've read here over the last several years, once you start messing with the engine you end up going down the tinkerer's road and have to keep up with the unwanted consequences caused by the boxes. I think the best scenario would be if a Cummins employee put the snatch to the program code they use to tune our engines and dump it into the public domain. Then it would be a simple matter of reprogramming the existing computer instead of fooling it.

 

[Regcabguy]

I miss Smarty.

Never underestimate the value of that smile.



But that does raise a good question. Are any of the power/horsepower increasing boxes a good investment if all you really want it better fuel economy? Now that I am within 15,000 miles of the death of my engine warranty I'm also considering some modifications. If I could get 15%-20% better fuel economy without having to worry about increased EGTs, destroying my transmission and having to deal with the codes that some of these devices cause I'd do it regardless of how much the horsepower increases. If I could get 50-100 extra horsepower in addition to all of the above I'd probably have a box installed within 5000 miles of cracking the 100,000 mile mark. But from what I've read here over the last several years, once you start messing with the engine you end up going down the tinkerer's road and have to keep up with the unwanted consequences caused by the boxes. I think the best scenario would be if a Cummins employee put the snatch to the program code they use to tune our engines and dump it into the public domain. Then it would be a simple matter of reprogramming the existing computer instead of fooling it.

I really don't see any increase in my fuel economy with my Smarty,however, the driveability difference is enormous. I've had it off for awhile due to minor timing rattle @idle,but am going to restore it to #1 today. I miss it. EGT's are definitely lower for everyone due to timing increase. I may download the aftermarket injector program and give it a try.

 

[BigDsCummins]

Okay, finally ready to do it just need to ask, Is Smarty worth the cost for better MPG?

ROI would be about two to three years, although the fun factor is not figured in that time frame!!

Just worried about blowing the stock transmission, although it still is under warranty

I have done alot of research on the Smarty because I too want one. I have seen few people report fuel mileage increases and alot of people claiming no real difference in mileage.



As far as the stock transmission is concerned I have seen almost everybody say that #3 setting is all a stock transmission will hold on the Smarty. As far as warranty goes I was told that the dealers have ways of finding out the amount of boost and other things through the truck ECM to see if it went over stock. Plus if you burn up a transmission because of too much power the fluid in it will tell on you. If they can blame it on you they will.

 

[MStrain]

I don't think I would buy one for mileage, plus even if you could theoretically get better mileage, its hard to keep your foot out of it. You can buy alot of diesel for $680.

 

[johnnyMac]

I don't think I would buy one for mileage, plus even if you could theoretically get better mileage, its hard to keep your foot out of it. You can buy alot of diesel for $680.

Yeah, 'bout 222gals at the current price. That's about 6. 5 fills. That ain't a lot.

 

[Regcabguy]

Smarty undectability?

There's a D/C tech who has posted that so far using D/C supplied scan tools,that he's ben unable to detect a trace of Smarty's use. I'm sure D/C knows about this device though and has or will be able to detect something in the future. You play,you pay.

 

[JHardwick]

any[/I] of the power/horsepower increasing boxes a good investment if all you really want it better fuel economy?

None that I've seen, and I got my first box for this truck in the spring of '03.

 

[jjack]

Yeah, 'bout 222gals at the current price. That's about 6. 5 fills. That ain't a lot.

OK, here is the actual math for this discussion. For the sake of the math equation we will assume the truck get 15 miles to the gallon stock and 16. 5 after the smarty load. Current fuel price where I am is 2. 749/Gal. At 2. 749 per gallon at 15 miles per gallon it costs you 18. 33 cents per mile. At 16. 5 miles per gallon the cost per mile 16. 66 cents/mile. That is a price per mile difference of 1. 6 cents per mile. It will take 42,500 miles to get back to even on your money. Like I said previously, If you want a Smarty then get it but don't try to justify in mileage savings unless you drive more miles per year then the average person.

 

[Mr. Hemi]

Aw, shoot you guys just blew my excuse to the Mrs, but honey it will get me better mileage and pay for it self in fuel savings!!!
Well that would still be true, just left out the 4 or 5 years and the cost of a new trans.
The benefit in MPG from a DTT, ATS, or other trans and converter would probably be more than any other add on, but try justifying $4K to the Mrs.

 

[Regcabguy]

OK, here is the actual math for this discussion. For the sake of the math equation we will assume the truck get 15 miles to the gallon stock and 16. 5 after the smarty load. Current fuel price where I am is 2. 749/Gal. At 2. 749 per gallon at 15 miles per gallon it costs you 18. 33 cents per mile. At 16. 5 miles per gallon the cost per mile 16. 66 cents/mile. That is a price per mile difference of 1. 6 cents per mile. It will take 42,500 miles to get back to even on your money. Like I said previously, If you want a Smarty then get it but don't try to justify in mileage savings unless you drive more miles per year then the average person.

Kinda reminds me of a Honda salesman relating that his sales manager said to steer around the fact that it would take 150,000 miles to recover the cost difference of a Honda Accord Hybrid compared to a V-6 Accord. I believe the Prius only takes 100,000 miles to make up the difference. :{

 

[jjack]

Kinda reminds me of a Honda salesman relating that his sales manager said to steer around the fact that it would take 150,000 miles to recover the cost difference of a Honda Accord Hybrid compared to a V-6 Accord. I believe the Prius only takes 100,000 miles to make up the difference. :{

And I would like to point out that this assumes you are only getting 15 miles/gallon to start off with. If you are getting more miles/gallon now it will take longer to recoupe the expense provided that the mileage increase stays the same at 1. 5 miles per gallon.

 

[klenger]

... and the more you put the on your face, the less likely you are to actually see any gain in MPG.

 

[Crunch]

The benefit in MPG from a DTT, ATS, or other trans and converter would probably be more than any other add on, but try justifying $4K to the Mrs.

Bingo! You've broken it down to the science. If it's higher MPGs you want, change the gearing, front to back. Period. It would be sweet to have a transmission that performs one last shift at about 70-75 MPH. 1800 RPMs at 80MPH would be sweet fuel economy on those long, unloaded highway trips.

 

[JimB1]

Tall skinny tires, 19. 5 rims- 245 width load range G helps mileage and weight carrying and handling but slow payback. DTT transmission full rebuild helps mileage and more rwhp due to improved efficiency but slow payback. Smarty helps mileage due to improved engine management but slow payback. Each selection improves a performance characteristic which you immediately recieve that benifit and ALL items will slowly pay themselves back. I drove old used Dodge gassers 'til they dropped out from under me, meanwhile saving the price 'til I had it. I'll drive my new rigs 30+ yrs 'til I'm to old to get a leg behind the wheel and will make all the above upgrades plus a few more and they will slowly pay themselves back and give great performance soon as installed. Did I say they'd slowly pay themselves back?