04 1500 w/ 5.7... gas mileage increase

[67charger04ram]

first off let me state i know what i was getting into when i bought my truck gas mileage wise lol. i knew to expect bad gas mileage as we drive our bricks lol. that being said i baby the **** outta my truck and on the overhead im averaging 18 mpg right now which from basic math im computing around 14 mpg combined. i was looking at CAI and tuners and possibly a better true exhaust (PO took the muffler off to make it louder) to increase mpg while im babying the truck to and from work, but also to give it more power when i use it for towing... who do yall use for parts? i was looking at K&N for the CAI, diablo trinity for the tuner and havent even started looking at exhausts yet... ive also found this little package if yall could tell me what you think of it as well

RPM Outlet Stage Kits for your 2003-2008 Dodge Ram Durango 5.7L

 

[SFD213]

K&N is probably your best bang for the buck. Theyre very cheap (price wise) and are an improvement compared to the stock box, but not drastically. Personally i went with the S&B because it was a closed box, which means its less affected by the heated air in the engine compartment, which is essentially the whole purpose of the CAI. Some people have the vararam and say its a noticeable difference, but i was throw by some of the reviews indicating shoddy build quality. Vararam is generally regarded as the best followed by S&B.

As far as tuners go, any diablosport tuner is the way to go. Dont use the mpg tune though as the engine wont make enough power and has to work harder to move the brick. I used a 91 octane tune with a few adjustments by my mechanic. Very noticeable power increase and i can still get 16 mpg in my 04 2500HD QCLB (im confident i can get it higher lol)

Exhaust is one of the things you should do with the CAI but doesnt have to be done at the same time. Unfortunately, i have a flowmaster 50; it sucks. Id go with a magnaflow. Ive seen a few posts on here about a Carven/Craven(?? Someone will correct me) and that seems pretty good. The trick is to have a slight bit of back pressure. Back pressure isnt good at WOT but a cruising speeds, a very little bit does help.

Hope this helps a bit

 

[67charger04ram]

K&N is probably your best bang for the buck. Theyre very cheap (price wise) and are an improvement compared to the stock box, but not drastically. Personally i went with the S&B because it was a closed box, which means its less affected by the heated air in the engine compartment, which is essentially the whole purpose of the CAI. Some people have the vararam and say its a noticeable difference, but i was throw by some of the reviews indicating shoddy build quality. Vararam is generally regarded as the best followed by S&B.

As far as tuners go, any diablosport tuner is the way to go. Dont use the mpg tune though as the engine wont make enough power and has to work harder to move the brick. I used a 91 octane tune with a few adjustments by my mechanic. Very noticeable power increase and i can still get 16 mpg in my 04 2500HD QCLB (im confident i can get it higher lol)

Exhaust is one of the things you should do with the CAI but doesnt have to be done at the same time. Unfortunately, i have a flowmaster 50; it sucks. Id go with a magnaflow. Ive seen a few posts on here about a Carven/Craven(?? Someone will correct me) and that seems pretty good. The trick is to have a slight bit of back pressure. Back pressure isnt good at WOT but a cruising speeds, a very little bit does help.

Hope this helps a bit

ok thank you greatly for the info, i was looking at the vararam and so far i was impressed ive been asking around on facebook groups im in and have heard great things (found it after i asked about recommendations) as far as the diablosport tuners go, what was the increase for you? 16 in a 2500 seems impressive to me granted i have way more experience with 1500s lol. now on to the exhaust im contemplating going true dual if i can find a kit but if i cant magnaflow is the way to go?

 

[SFD213]

ok thank you greatly for the info, i was looking at the vararam and so far i was impressed ive been asking around on facebook groups im in and have heard great things (found it after i asked about recommendations) as far as the diablosport tuners go, what was the increase for you? 16 in a 2500 seems impressive to me granted i have way more experience with 1500s lol. now on to the exhaust im contemplating going true dual if i can find a kit but if i cant magnaflow is the way to go?

Before everything id hope for 11. The 16 was cruise control at 60mph with all my mods now but the 3 youre talking about got me to 14.5-15. That being said. Mpg comes down to how you drive it. I can very easily get 9 but can avg around 14 and usually do.

The thing with going true duals is it might be a little overkill if you dont intend to do too much to the engine. I have a single in dual out (3" to two 2 1/2s). I didnt bother with a kit so i wouldnt know about the magnaflow kit. I just know that magnaflow mufflers have a much better flow than flowmaster. I took mine to the exhaust shop next to my mechanic and told him what i wanted. Everything he did was custom, to the exception of the flowmaster muffler, and from the cat and back only cost me $550. Was driving it a few hrs later.

 

[67charger04ram]

Before everything id hope for 11. The 16 was cruise control at 60mph with all my mods now but the 3 youre talking about got me to 14.5-15. That being said. Mpg comes down to how you drive it. I can very easily get 9 but can avg around 14 and usually do.

The thing with going true duals is it might be a little overkill if you dont intend to do too much to the engine. I have a single in dual out (3" to two 2 1/2s). I didnt bother with a kit so i wouldnt know about the magnaflow kit. I just know that magnaflow mufflers have a much better flow than flowmaster. I took mine to the exhaust shop next to my mechanic and told him what i wanted. Everything he did was custom, to the exception of the flowmaster muffler, and from the cat and back only cost me $550. Was driving it a few hrs later.

ok thanks again man i definitely appreciate your opinion and advice on the matter, overhead display reads usually around 17 mpg hand calculated is around 14.5 combined im assuming the overhead just reads a persons driving habits because of the difference. i will say i definitely baby the hell out of it unless i need to pass someone or just feel like showing one of buddys what the hemi can and will do lol which isnt to often

 

[SFD213]

Oh btw im going off the overhead. Its only half an mpg difference when i hand calculate so i take it as a pretty close idea of what im getting

 

[ST-8]

I'd kill for that kinda mpg

 

[67charger04ram]

Oh btw im going off the overhead. Its only half an mpg difference when i hand calculate so i take it as a pretty close idea of what im getting

haha thanks again for that, ive personally come to the conclusion that the overhead gives the drivers tendencies and then the other factors come in and thats why its always different than the hand calculated mpgs... my over head says 17.2 right now and my hand calculated is 14.5-15.5 but the center of the city i live in is always a cluster f*ck. when i can avoid driving through on for the entirety of the tank which has only happened once since i bought the truck mind you, the area my hand calculated rockets up to around 16.5 ish. still a difference between the two but a lot more reasonable in my opinion lol