MDS and Gear Shift

[Burstingbb]

Does the MDS kicking on and off have a negative effect on the engine?

Also I know you can turn it off by Manually gear shifting (+/-) but does this change the shift points of the transmission when you have it set to 8?

Just wondering because I notice the MDS activation with Carven R exhaust on my 2018 Ram 1500 (Slight noise change and a bump when the cylinders change)

 

[88ROOK]

i dont believe it has a negative effect but it is annoying as hell. I didnt notice the mds kick in until i put aftermarket exhaust on. you can change the shift points by putting in tow/haul mode. plus i usually just drive around town and keep it in 6th gear and it just eliminates mds

 

[huntergreen]

Agree with above, no effect on engine. With the stock exhaust, I can't tell when MDS activates or deactivates.

 

[16RamHemi]

i could tell every time mds kicked on with my 16 express (all stock). could tell you blind folded. my current 14 has a borla catback it it is pronounced. i forgot one morning and once it kicked in i had a little panic. ..what is wrong with my truck? then saw damn mds kicked in.

i currently do most shifting manually. much better driving experience. the way my truck sounds 3k up rpms is oh so nice. she loves being tached up. sounds great on decel too. still getting 15mpg with 4" lift and 35s and no highway. its annoying having shut it off but im used to it. i also run it in tow haul.

 

[grizzstang]

It may be in my mind but I find the truck hesitates noticeably with the MDS on. Some have speculated that it may have some detrimental effects on the engine but I haven't seen anything definitive. I don't like it and turn it off all the time since my aftermarket muffler was installed.

You don't have to set it to 8. I lockout 8 (set to 7) when I am bombing around town because the trans just shifts in and out of 8 constantly when I don't.

 

[Fatbob Frank]

I could tell when it kicked in by the vibration through my gas pedal.
Wasn't sure what was happening till I activated the ECO light.
Then realized they coincided.
Now I shut it off all the time with the -/+.
It doesn't change the shift points.
( Tow/Haul does...)

 

[Billyo]

speaking just specifically from a "design" point of view, the MDS is a very intelligent concept.
However, from a purist or connoisseur's perspective, it's a complete and utter sacrilege to the HEMI's character. i myself absolutely LOATHE the MDS. I'll even bet the SRT engineers silently wept among themselves while putting those abominations into a motor with such a revered heritage.
i have a pulsar and i still run my truck in "8" on the steering wheel. i have been doing it so long its natural. i paid for a V8- i demand all 8.

 

[Fatbob Frank]

^^^^This...

 

[seabrook]

Well I have had other brands with some sort of this crap and at least ram made it easy to bypass!

 

[gdawg55]

I'm not sure about hurting the engine, but something in my mind tells me that if all cylinders are being used all the time, then it could potentially lead to issues. I'm not a mechanic so I don't know what the issues would be, but I don't like the thought of using 4 cylinders more than the other 4. Plus it sounds horrible kicking on and off with aftermarket muffler.

I switch my MDS off every time I drive. I didn't buy a Hemi to run it on 4 cylinders....and I didn't buy it for great gas mileage. I'm just glad we have a means of disabling it without having to buy a tuner.

 

[Billyo]

I'm not sure about hurting the engine, but something in my mind tells me that if all cylinders are being used all the time, then it could potentially lead to issues. I'm not a mechanic so I don't know what the issues would be, but I don't like the thought of using 4 cylinders more than the other 4. Plus it sounds horrible kicking on and off with aftermarket muffler.

I switch my MDS off every time I drive. I didn't buy a Hemi to run it on 4 cylinders....and I didn't buy it for great gas mileage. I'm just glad we have a means of disabling it without having to buy a tuner.

I agree that thankfully we can turn it off. But, i just hate the fact that those 8 wacky collapsible lifters are even in there in the first place.