Diesel or Fuel Economy Performance Chip

[AH64ID]

The timing is electronic on your truck, a tuner is best way to change it. A Smarty Jr has a good timing profile.

 

[cerberusiam]

Also, You may be "more smarter" than I, but why isn't the BSFC at the max torque RPM?... which I think for the 600 Series motor is 1650...

Well, not sure about that. You have enough "smarts" to see the obvious and question why, that is frequently worth a whole lot more than being smarter.

The answer to that is bit more complicated and invloved. BSFC is not neccessarily a function or even related to max TQ. Suffice say thta BSFC has multple parameters that go into its derivative value not just the TQ.

As far as the TQ is concerned max TQ is not at 1650 rpms as installed in these trucks. Actually, Cummins advertises it as TQ peak starting at 1600 rpms, they say nothing about max TQ other than it is 600 ft\lbs. The truth is as installed in the platform of a Dodge truck you have a TQ peak that runs from roughly 1800-2900 rpms with the peak TQ sitting about the middle 2400-2400 rpms. That is with a stock factory tune, installed in a truck, and verified on a chassis dyno.

Advertised numbers from Cummins are for engine only, with only their tune on it all the safeties and TQ management pulled, on an engine dyno. As installed in the vehicle the engine is heavily TQ managed under 1800 rpms to save the light duty components from destruction. In that light, BSFC at 1950-2000 rpms makes sense because you are running far enough in front of start of the peak TQ to maintain energy but not so far ahead you are using more fuel than neccessary.

Drive assuming you have a TQ band that runs from 1900 to 2900 rpms and 2500 rpms will activate the emissions controls which includes a 3rd injection even. Stock it is not always possible to do that so we use the Smarty tuners to redo the timing curves, fueling curves, etc, which reduces the TQ management and gives the engine a TQ map that looks like a 12V, peaking around 2000-2100 rpms. Cruise at 1900-2000 and shift at 2400 has proven to be pretty efficient in terms of fuel use.

 

[MedicGuy71]

JJ - You were right when you sad take the time to get acquainted with the truck. Sometimes I get caught up in the whole "You need a chip or else" type of thinking. I work as a Paramedic so I get the crazy driving out of the way at work. Lol. At home in my personal vehicle I have found that I drive a lot slower and pull out and stop like you are supposed to and I have been getting good numbers which is great! I have read that by upgrading the exhaust and possible a larger intake basically let the truck breathe and "exhale" it helps all around and may help a tiny bit with mpg's. Any truth to that? Do you or anybody have a recommendation for exhaust or intakes?? I have standard all around right now I would love to have that Cummins rumble with the exhaust what do you run?

Bill

Until you get very acquainted with the truck, I would not do anything at this point. Get used to it as it is, then if/when you change something later, you will be better able to judge it's affect.

Any claims of huge mileage gains by a fuel box or programmer are mostly false, you may get 1 to 1. 5 mpg gain by timing only and that is doubtful unless you drive delicately.

Does your truck have a standard or auto trans? Since you are claiming a 600 series, it must be a 2004. 5 model year with the 325 hp motor. If you are hell bent on a power/fuel upgrade, I also vote for Smarty(JR or SR), but until other upgrades like a built auto trans or clutch are completed, you will be limited to Smarty's lowest level of performance, lest you be wanting to waste $ on repairs...

Jess

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

A turbocharged engine breathes differently from a normally aspirated one. It will work fine as is because you aren't planning to add a lot of power. It takes in so much air that oiled element filters tend to let in too much dust over time. Mufflers and noise are personal preference. The Walker 21471 has 4" inlet and outlet, straight through design, not too loud.

 

[DNDracing]

I have a bully dog programmer on my truck, happy with it although I run it in stock mode 90% of the time. I do notice a power difference when I run some of the different set ups, but as many have commented on already, there is really no need for this as the truck has plenty of power IMO, even pulling my 11,000lb race trailer.

I have seen no improvement in fuel economy.

My neighbor has a 2005 2500 4x4. Not sure on any other specs on his truck other than he runs an Edge computer and some kind of chip that he says he has "wired in series with one another". He claims his truck gets 26 - 28 MPG, and that is his calculations, not the computer.

I have no proof, but he is full of s--t. It has taught me that the best way to improve your fuel economy is to just lie about it, like he does. That seems to yield the best results.

 

[JJPage]

JJ - You were right when you sad take the time to get acquainted with the truck. Sometimes I get caught up in the whole "You need a chip or else" type of thinking. I work as a Paramedic so I get the crazy driving out of the way at work. Lol. At home in my personal vehicle I have found that I drive a lot slower and pull out and stop like you are supposed to and I have been getting good numbers which is great! I have read that by upgrading the exhaust and possible a larger intake basically let the truck breathe and "exhale" it helps all around and may help a tiny bit with mpg's. Any truth to that? Do you or anybody have a recommendation for exhaust or intakes?? I have standard all around right now I would love to have that Cummins rumble with the exhaust what do you run?

Bill

Bill

You already have a full 4" turbo back exhaust, so you have plenty of flow, you could give it a good rumble by replacing the OEM muffler with a straight through Donaldson, or my favorite an MBRP(might be too noisy for some). As far as intake filtration, there is a drop in replacement to the OEM, but it has deeper pleats(4"?), someone here surely has the correct part # for it, I do not because my truck has lost most of the OEM exhaust and intake....

If you use an open element intake system, it will make more noise, but performance could actually suffer while towing, so I would stick with the drop in replacement unless you have future plans of 500+hp. Sounds like you are enjoying your new truck, glad for that, sure do like mine.

Jess