High gas prices and mds

Octane · Mar 5, 2022

As there has been much discussion over the function of mds. Are there any out there that will start using it ,even with the slight improvement in mpg it affords?(if any actually imo)Since the price of oil is well over $100 barrel?

Docwagon1776 · Mar 5, 2022

I technically use mine in that I've never turned it off. I don't think it kicks on much for me, though. Most of my driving is interstate at 80-85mph. I could save gas by slowing down, but I could also buy a Prius or take a Greyhound...

Octane · Mar 5, 2022

Docwagon1776 said:
I technically use mine in that I've never turned it off. I don't think it kicks on much for me, though. Most of my driving is interstate at 80-85mph. I could save gas by slowing down, but I could also buy a Prius or take a Greyhound...

I'm not usually a lead foot but I feel my truck is gonna pretty much use what it needs regardless.But I guess with 4 cylinders shut off at times at least it pollutes less?

Mister Luck · Mar 5, 2022

I have mine dialed in with just a pedal modulation device for my specific driving habits and terrain.
That being said I won’t buy any less than 92 premium since there is a distinct difference in timing and shift patterns using lower a octane fuel.

DILLIGAF · Mar 5, 2022

My MDS lifters are in the garbage were they belong ! There's no going back once your in the Cam swap club !

Fuel millage is for soccer moms

tones2SS · Mar 5, 2022

I'll continue to turn it off using the gear buttons.
Still filling up with the Mobil 89 octane.

***edited by staff for rules violation - political content***

Bigskyroadglide · Mar 5, 2022

I have mine turned off via a tuner and have zero interest in turning it back on for the unproven mileage improvement. I run the highest octane available which is 91 or 93

You have to have gas, unless you have an electric vehicle, pump it, pay for it, move on. If you are having financial difficulties due to gas prices you have a bigger problem.

Get rid of Netflix, Hulu, Amazon prime, cable, and any other financial leaches, drive less, ask your employer to let you work remotely and focus on necessity. Gas prices, oil prices and availability are not the issue

Octane · Mar 5, 2022

I've always ran 89 octane. And I have tried the 87 a few times but every time I do it looks like I lose about 2 mi to the gallon, or at least very close. And I know that's not much but I suspect it's sort of detuning the engine somewhat and I like to get to the ultimate performance out of my machine. And I'm old school even back when 87 octane came out in the 1970s here I've never been a regular user of it mostly. Maybe I am OCD but I've always been able to notice a difference in the engines using different octane ratings. What I have seen in my Ram truck though, when I have tried to run the hi octane gas in it I've never been able to distinguish any difference between it and the 89 octane. And I usually try several tankfuls before I make my final observation. But I do see a difference between the 89 and the 87

ramffml · Mar 5, 2022

I've gotten 25 mpg on a 100% highway loop at 3 hours; MDS disabled. Whatever MDS does, it's not going to get me much better than that so no, MDS can take a hike. I'll just sit tight and plan my trips a little better instead of running off every chance I get.

HEMIMANN · Mar 5, 2022

I'm using MDS again only while deadheading, based on @ramffml report of effect on valvetrain tick reduction, indicating some positive effect on providing oil to lifter rollers.

Could care less about MDS mileage. I've never seen any documented mileage information for MDS - not from the manufacturer, or from users. This tells me something - the results are likely so miniscule as to be an embarrassment for all the complex and costly mechanisms employed to make it work. Nor have I noticed any substantive mileage change from the EVIC with MDS on or off. To me it's just a science fair. Far more concerned with keeping the engine from failing. $9,000 engine + months of loss of vehicle use.

I have downgraded octane to 87 for the time being, since I'm not towing this winter. Saves app. 20 cents per gallon, which isn't much ~ $4 a tank.

kurek · Mar 5, 2022

ramffml · Mar 5, 2022

HEMIMANN said:
I'm using MDS again only while deadheading, based on @ramffml report of effect on valvetrain tick reduction, indicating some positive effect on providing oil to lifter rollers.

That wasn't me!

Somebody did suggest that using MDS quieted his valvetrain noise, I've avoided MDS like the plague but have reduced my valvetrain noise everywhere (minus second cold start rattle) by running Redline.

turkeybird56 · Mar 5, 2022

tones2SS said:
I'll continue to turn it off using the gear buttons.
Still filling up with the Mobil 89 octane.

***edited by staff for rules violation - political content***

I turn off MDS by gear selector in town. Since I do not travel much, when on highway, just depends upon traffic flow. I also stay with 89 Octane.

ramffml · Mar 5, 2022

kurek said:
View attachment 487582

It's all about perspective; you think MDS is harmless so using it saves you fuel (a few drops per tank but hey...). My perspective is that using MDS harms your engine long term (it may be contributing to lifter failure, as well as warped manifolds due to uneven heat patterns) so it's not worth the fuel savings.

If you think about how it works, MDS is stressing those 4 cylinders out heavily when active, those 4 cylinders get an additional 90-ish percent increase in fuel + air. It used to be common understanding not to lug your engine and that's exactly what those 4 active cylinders are doing.

Besides, I didn't pay good money to have my truck jerk me around.

Treburkulosis · Mar 5, 2022

I turn mine off via the shifter as well. MDS is worth maybe 1 mpg with mine. I dont want the lug when it goes into eco.

Octane · Mar 5, 2022

My engine has been a pretty quiet engine mostly.Certainly quieter than the 2000 Silverado 5.3 that I had.That thing rattled even at low mileage like the valve train or something was coming out.At 118k I got rid of it and got a Ram, then I found out about the lifter/ cam thing.I'll run it till it stops I reckon.No sign of failure yet at 180k. I run 99 % of the time without mds

2012RAM1500RT · Mar 5, 2022

I won't be enabling MDS regardless, I turned it off with a tuner many miles ago. I just got back from a 1400 trip last weekend and I got 19 MPG with 4.10 gears and a 6 speed running 70 MPH and 87 octane gas via a 87 Hemi fever tune. I do believe in higher octane but with .35 cent increments I can't make the MPG work out with 89 at this time.

Octane · Mar 5, 2022

2012RAM1500RT said:
I won't be enabling MDS regardless, I turned it off with a tuner many miles ago. I just got back from a 1400 trip last weekend and I got 19 MPG with 4.10 gears and a 6 speed running 70 MPH and 87 octane gas via a 87 Hemi fever tune. I do believe in higher octane but with .35 cent increments I can't make the MPG work out with 89 at this time.

That's good mileage,mine has 3:56 gears and I get 20 mpg on a long stretch of interstate.

Dodge 1500 4X4 · Mar 5, 2022

I also run it 99% with MDS off and use 93 octane Mobil Fuel, I don't like the fact that 4 cyl aren't running and the valves aren't active, I think it might be a heat issue for the manifolds when MDS is active.

indept · Mar 5, 2022

Just watched a YouTube video saying that they're starting to build the hemi replacement, an inline turbocharged gasoline 6 cylinder rumored to be 3.0L.

High gas prices and mds

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