Banks Is NOT the way to go

[towworm]

In February, '05 I had Banks install it's 6-GUN, Speed loader, EGT & Boost gauges, and HIGH RAM intake on my '04. 5 Dodge 2500 4X4, 600. $2400. 00 later I'm on my way. The end of April, a little more than a month after installation I started to notice that the truck wasn't running right. I e-mailed & called Banks. "Victor" the jerk who was more than happy to sell it to me, wound not return my calls or e-mails. or tell me who I needed to talk to. In May I took a little ride out to Joshua Tree CA to see my Mom. About 3 hours each way. The next morning I went to start my rig and the amount of white smoke coming out the pipe was amazing! After 10 minutes it was still smoking. I took it for a ride, and it poured out white smoke in every gear. It hardly smoked at all before.

I took it to the dealer who didn't want to flash the computer because the high ram intake said Banks. We got past that and I gave them the TSB for the smoke problem and it helped for about 2 days. The dealer was ready to void my service contract, and suggested that there was something wrong with the Banks chip that was causing a problem with the OEM computer. Well, it's back at the dealer with the same white smoke problem, and while driving over there,I heard a loud bang when I accelerated coming from the bell housing, which is probably a clutch spring (NV5600).

Anyway, I'm on hold with Banks. We'll see what happens and I'll keep you posted

 

[JL penner]

Banks does great with mechanical..... but stay away from anything electrical with them. I've heard quite a few bad stories about that. I've witnessed a few of the mechanical (older trucks) installations and banks was great for that (except for the whole over-priced thing).





BANKS IS JUNK!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Cummins Thunder]

Just avoid them... . Well in the future anyway... ...



I am still curious about their VG turbo for our trucks.

 

[macdaddy]

Victor's a pushy loser!!!!!!

Hey Tow

I know who Victor is your right he's a pushy SOB. This so called "power consultant" hounded me for years when I first bought my 99 (at least if it's the same Victor). I almost made the mistake of going to those losers until I talked with some of the folks here at the TDR. Now I have used their exhaust systems both on a GMC gasser and the 4" exhaust for the 99, good quality stuff. Their software is completely BOGUS!!!!!! it does not interface well with any of the later model truck ECM'S.



Mac

 

[JCleary]

I love the Monster exhaust! It sounds great, has zero drone at any speed, and fit perfectly.



That being said, I did not choose to purchase any other Banks products. Their $800+ box makes only 80+/- horsepower on my truck.



I saved over $300 by going with a Quad box and got 140hp, with an easy install to boot!



Perhaps you could try to find a smaller Banks dealer that will help you with the product? Sometimes the little guy is more willing to help.

 

[RMalone]

I've got the banks six-gun on my truck, my silly but even bought the whole "bundle". At least my stuff works, well except for an intermittant drone at around 70mph, oh yeah and that damn crank position sensor code. Good luck getting with them it takes a looonnnnggggg time on hold to talk to a "tech". Funny thing though when I called to place an order there was someone to "help" me within seconds.

 

[tschwab]

TW - Sorry to hear of your problems. Looks like you are new to the TDR, too bad you didn't find us before forking over the money for your system. Some research here and I think you would have learned that you are not the only one who has had similar problems with that companies customer service.



Suprised the dealer did not void your warranty, these 3G's, exspecially the '04. 5 & newer do not like to be BOMB'd, way to tight of clearances. If this is a problem caused by your banks system, I hope your not trying to get the dealer to fix it under warranty, as this costs all of us more money down the road when we go to buy a new vehicle.



BOMB your truck and YOU become your own warranty station.

 

[DPKetchum]

First off why did you not unplug the Banks stuff and then see how it ran. I never would have taken a CHIPPED truck in for service and NOT expect them to void warranty or try to diagnois it with out taking it out of the system. . So far I haven't read were the BANKS stuff is/was the problem. Like no one elses box has ever caused a problem or a code if it is. Not defending Banks just the post is kinda cart before the horse deal. Now if its NOT the Banks stuff are you going to make a NEW post stating so?

 

[EBottema]

Before you go to the dealer, you need to remove the banks chip any box. The intake is no big deal. It does not hurt anything. I bet it is sofeware related. When you pull the chip out before going to the dealer, disconnect the battery so the computer clears the codes and memory of the banks chip. I'm suprised you still have a warranty too

 

[Car_nut57]

Drone

I've got the banks six-gun on my truck, my silly but even bought the whole "bundle". At least my stuff works, well except for an intermittant drone at around 70mph, oh yeah and that damn crank position sensor code. Good luck getting with them it takes a looonnnnggggg time on hold to talk to a "tech". Funny thing though when I called to place an order there was someone to "help" me within seconds.

You can eliminate the drone by adding an Aeroturbine as far forward in the system as it can be placed. Either on the outlet of the cat if it is a 04. 5-05 or right on the down pipe for the 03-04 trucks. The Aeroturbine will also help to lower Egts a little more and provide a nice tone to the exhaust.

 

[Luke Warmwater]

The Aeroturbine will also help to lower Egts a little more and provide a nice tone to the exhaust.

I'm interested in one of these doohickies. Can you explain in technical detail how the AeroTurbine lowers EGTs?

 

[JGK]

Tow,



Get down and dirty. Call up their order line (like RMalone said, they'll answer quick) and tell them you want to place an order but tell then you need to ask a technical question or two and need to talk to a tech. If you can get a tech, start out by explaining the issue as if it were a friend's truck but you're trying to get some info to avoid the issue, then unload on them that is yours if they press you.



Might be a bit low-handed, but sometimes you gotta do that to get some answers.



JMHO,

-Jay

 

[Car_nut57]

Aeroturbine

I'm interested in one of these doohickies. Can you explain in technical detail how the AeroTurbine lowers EGTs?

Take a look at these pages http://www.dieselpowerproducts.com/aeroturbine http://www.dieselpowerproducts.com/exhaust2 When using an Aeroturbine on a Cummins, it is critical to get it as far forward in the exhaust as possible. On the 2003-2004, that is right on the 4" down pipe and on the 04. 5 and later on the outlet of the Cat. The reason for this is two fold, one the more heat you have on the Aeroturbine the better it performs and the other is to change the frequency of the exhaust to eliminate the drone issues. The Aeroturbines can be used stand alone or simply cut into any 4" system, with or without the straight through muffler in place. On the 2004. 5 and newer trucks many are choosing to use the 4040L which incorporates a 6" resonator on the outlet of hte cat and then pipe to the factory tail pipe to eliminate the restrictive factory muffler. This combination works very well and sounds great, not too loud and no drone.

 

[Luke Warmwater]

the more heat you have on the Aeroturbine the better it performs

Can you explain why this is so? Thx

 

[Car_nut57]

Can you explain why this is so? Thx

One reason may be that the hotter exhaust gases take up a larger volume and therefore move through the unit at a higher velocity enhancing its effect. Also if the exhause is hotter you would see a lrger change in temperature through the unit as well. The most convincing thing is simply that we have seen the difference it makes getting the Aeroturbine all the way forward and it is very noticeable in EGT reduction and ability to stop drone compared to farther back in the system.

 

[Luke Warmwater]

One reason may be that the hotter exhaust gases take up a larger volume and therefore move through the unit at a higher velocity enhancing its effect. Also if the exhause is hotter you would see a lrger change in temperature through the unit as well. The most convincing thing is simply that we have seen the difference it makes getting the Aeroturbine all the way forward and it is very noticeable in EGT reduction and ability to stop drone compared to farther back in the system.

What might one expect in regards to a reduction of EGTs?



For the longest time I have been confused how any device in a closed system that is not influenced by an outside energy source, could accelerate the flow of exhaust gasses as a whole. Can you shed any light on this? Thx

 

[Tim]

One reason may be that the hotter exhaust gases take up a larger volume and therefore move through the unit at a higher velocity enhancing its effect. Also if the exhause is hotter you would see a lrger change in temperature through the unit as well. The most convincing thing is simply that we have seen the difference it makes getting the Aeroturbine all the way forward and it is very noticeable in EGT reduction and ability to stop drone compared to farther back in the system.

Using common sense an logic that is impossible.



No matter what it is on, the farther back in a system any muffler is placed:



#1 the more the exhaust will cool before it enters the muffler and the less volume of gas that will have to be muffled



#2 the less restrictive it will be



#3 the more noise it'll cancel



Due to the length of the pipe afterwards, I *might* believe noise reduction with it further forward, but even that is reaching. EGT reduction, or more power/faster boost with it further forward is impossible.



You said it yourself, "larger change in temperature".



In order for this to happen, it has to be more restrictive, and installed further forward, it is.

 

[Car_nut57]

What might one expect in regards to a reduction of EGTs?



For the longest time I have been confused how any device in a closed system that is not influenced by an outside energy source, could accelerate the flow of exhaust gasses as a whole. Can you shed any light on this? Thx

Reductions in EGTs vary greatly so I can't really tell you what to expect. We have seen 50-200F reductions.



As for accelerating exhaust gases, the energy is already in the exhaust in the form of heat and motion. Basically if you have a cubic foot of air at the intake at atmosheric pressure and temperature, that same air occupies a far larger volume in the exhaust due to its elevated temperature. I cannot explain exactly how this thing works as I was more skeptical than most until we used them and saw what they do.

 

[Car_nut57]

Tim,



I thought the same thing, the first time I saw one of these and figured it to be nothing more than added restriction in the system. I was wrong, it lowered my EGTs more than just the 4" exhaust and sounds good too. Impossible or not, it works for me and lots of other folks as well.

 

[Tim]

It lowered your EGT more than a straight pipe?