full time power pup. is it worth it?

[drno]

i have a 2004. 5 and am considering a power pup set on tow (low setting) . since i dont want to leave a constant reflash trail in my computer is it worth while leaving it on that setting. i doubt that bringing my truck to the dealer for an oil change or other routine service will trip anything that will put my warranty in question. also at the low setting it appears that it will not put unnecessary stress on my drivetrain. i have guages . tell me the up and down side

 

[wantabe351]

I have the pup and I leave it set at performance mode and love it,so does my wife... and when towing my 12,600# camper just 2 wks ago it pulled great, except you must have gauges,when pulling hills no problem... when climbing a WVa mountain then EGT will go up pass 1300*... ... its a great add-on for the buck... ... ..... Rich

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

That's what I thought when I bought mine, too. Just use it as a mild upgrade, and leave it alone. Performance mode seems to be the best compromise for me, also. It has never set a code, even on extreme. Performance mode doesn't seem to affect the transmission. I haven't really noticed any effect on fuel mileage, up or down, but the truck definitely runs better. Tow mode seems to be a little better on the bottom end, performance more for top end, and extreme a combination of both. Extreme will slip my transmission, but did seem to improve my fuel mileage, for the short time I had it there, just going by the overhead. I never ran a full tank through it.



Jim

 

[Donn]

I have had the pup on my truck now for about 10k miles. I have only used the performance setting and I like it alot. I have taken my truck back to my dealer for some work on the transfer case (grinding when putting it into 4 low) I left the truck set on performance mode and the only thing the dealer asked was how I liked the outlook monitor. The only thing that I don't like is the smoke when you first step on the pedal. I tow with it set on performance and I do watch the egt and back off when the temps get over 1050. I have been happy with the set up and would recomend it,

 

[Diesel Nut]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the outlook allow you to adjust the power. So, you could download the extreme setting and with the outlook you can tune it down to the performance or towing levels? My buddy has it and I thought that was how it was explained to me.

 

[Donn]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the outlook allow you to adjust the power. So, you could download the extreme setting and with the outlook you can tune it down to the performance or towing levels? My buddy has it and I thought that was how it was explained to me.

That is what the outlook monitor is reported to do, however I have tested mine by doing the 0-60 test with the monitor and with the programmer set to performance, my 0-60 tests were exactley the same with the outlook set to 100 % and 0%. The truck smokes just as much with the outlook set at 0 as 100%. So I would not rely on it to defuel. BullyDog has sent me a new monitor and it does the same. The funny thing is if you have the the program at stock, and now set the monitor to 0% the truck has no power at all. (go figure). Bulld dog has a new flash for the outlook monitor and they will reflash mine to the latest set up if I send it back. If I do and it makes any difference, I will post the information.

 

[drno]

does anyone know what the reported torque figures are at the 3 settings?

 

[Buffalo]

If preserving your warranty is a serious concern, I would investigate the use of a programmer a bit more.



I have been told by Dodge, diesel mechanics that the programmers are quite easy to detect. They, apparently, leave a distinctive footprint that is easily seen if you know what to look for.



The Bully Dog Power Pup seemed to be exactly what I was looking for, also, in the beginning. Didn't raise HPCR preasurers very much, good power & reasonably priced. I was ready to buy. Then, after a little more investigation, found out about the "footprint" it leaves.



Since the 3rd Gen's occasionally have fuel delivery issues (injectors & lift pumps) I was afraid to put anything on the truck that messed with the fuel delivery system. Dodge is becoming famous for denying warranty & I didn't want to give them a good reason to do so.



I'm not trying to sway your decision, one way or the other. You seemed to have some concern about what the BDPP might do to your warranty and I thought I'd pass-on some of the info. I had found. I hope it helps you make a more informed decision.



BTW, I can't wait til my warranty is up and I can start bombing. I paid for that warranty and I'd sure hate to lose it prematurely.



Joe F. (Buffalo)

 

[231jasonS]

I have run mine on all three and I get the best MPG on the extreme (18. 5, compared to about 16. 5 stock) cruising at 70 MPH up and down I-5. My EGT's are a bit higher than everyone else reports. I m not sure why, but empty pulling a slight grade on the extreme mode I can get to 1400 without breaking 1/4 throttle and if i stay on in it, it will climb to 1600+.



I have towed on the tow setting and it did make a noticable diffrence pulling my 12k lb 5thW. I dont think I could tow very well on the extreme, but did try it on the perf mode. You have to watch the EGT closely and I found im better off just leaving it on tow mode.



The extreme mode will slip the T/C at the upper RPM range. Smokes nice on extreme, and a little on Perf. I have left the perf mode on twice when I had some warranty work done. (non eng/per stuff) The tech was amazed at how well the "Exhaust and Intake" worked. What he don't know wont hurt him, Right?



My 36K miles mark is about 1500 miles away.



I dynoed on a mustang dyno on extreme at 367 HP and 780 ft Lbs.

 

[DocDetonancour]

You guys seem to like the PUP. I have heard that MPG will be better with the 600's, but no improvement with the 555. Anyone to verify? Thanks, Doc

 

[MUDDY]

bttr on the 555 too. i had a bit of an improvement mainly running on perf, around a couple mpg. a friend who hotshots with an early 04 and keeps good mpg records is getting a good 2 mpg increase on perf over stock while towing excact trlr on same rte



other folks i know with the 555 and 600 have reported a mpg increase on tow and perf and some on extreme