MDS deactivation

[Wild one]

MDS sucks and you get better gas mileage without it.

That's debatiable.I'm tired of this argument,so you can think whatever you want,but i know i can always get better milege with mds engaged,but then again i know how to drive for milege.I can pull down over 30 mpg out of a 1320 Challenger with a 6.4 any day of the week on a long distance trip.

 

[RamDiver]

I am in Australia so products I use may not be available but similar products probably are. What I do is run Penrite Ten tenths Racing 5 which is a 5w 30 Pao Ester full synthetic engine oil. I also add 140 ml of Cost Effective Maintenance AW10 Anti Wear. Finally a Ryco Z663 ST synthetic media oil filter. My hot idle oil pressure went from 2.2 bar to 2.9 bar. Along with that I removed blades from the AGS and fitted an 88 deg thermostat which keeps engine temps down. So after all that only time will tell how effective those measures are in preventing cam and lifter issues. The 5.7 is fairly new at this point. The engine is very quiet on start up only after days of no start do I get a slight rattle on start, pretty normal. I am very happy with that result.

That sounds great, many have tweaked the AGS setup over here too.

You gained 10 PSI with adjusting the oil viscosity and with a couple of additives, bravo.

2.2 bar to 2.9 bar is about 32 to 42 PSI.

For the cold start after several days scenario, try the flooded engine start technique for no more rattle.

Whenever my truck has sat idle for several days, I hold the accelerator to the floor, step on the brake and press the start button.

After 4 or 5 seconds, I release the accelerator and the engine starts fast and quietly with no irregular noises.

.

 

[Soileau]

Wild One, I also wanted to thank you for your input and good advice on this forum as well. You have helped me countless times with questions I've had on the Ram truck systems, MDS system being one of them, and your advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Stever68]

I've gotten really good at holding a fast idle. About 800 rpm. According to the dash it's keeping my oil pressure in the high 40s compared to the 32 at normal idle

 

[Stever68]

That sounds great, many have tweaked the AGS setup over here too.

You gained 10 PSI with adjusting the oil viscosity and with a couple of additives, bravo.

2.2 bar to 2.9 bar is about 32 to 42 PSI.

For the cold start after several days scenario, try the flooded engine start technique for no more rattle.

Whenever my truck has sat idle for several days, I hold the accelerator to the floor, step on the brake and press the start button.

After 4 or 5 seconds, I release the accelerator and the engine starts fast and quietly with no irregular noises.

.

I need to remember this, 8 will be out of town for a week in July for work and am worried about that initial start up. Thanks for the tip

 

[RamDiver]

I need to remember this, 8 will be out of town for a week in July for work and am worried about that initial start up. Thanks for the tip

You're most welcome.

Out of town for a week while your truck sits at home? Depending on the vintage and health of your battery, you may want to consider a low-current battery maintainer to keep the state of charge useful.

Something like a NOCO Genius 2D. I appreciate that this device uses temperature compensation to prevent under or overcharging. Especially useful in the Florida climate.

Amazon.com

It's currently on sale for $40.

.

 

[JHoward]

I know there's so much controversy and disagreement on causes, etc. I did find this video very interesting and info is backed up with testing. Not saying it's the gospel, but I believe it's informative.

Do Thin Oils Destroy Engines? Lessons From GM’s Massive Recall

After 28,000 engine failures, GM is recommending thicker oil. Will it work?Do Thin Oils Damage Engines - https://youtu.be/IKdhgKUZhPASubscribe to Engineering...

www.youtube.com

What I picked in in this video and had already considered, the EPA is the problem.

 

[JHoward]

I've been using the gear down going down hills to engine brake. But I always have to shift up or put it back in drive once I start accelerating again. It doesn't seem to shift on it's own when it's in the +/- mode. Am I doing something wrong? Do I have to press the - and then select 8 to get it to shift on it's own while keeping MDS off?

Whatever gear that is selected manually, let's say sixth gear, year tranny should shift from first to sixth each time you stop and go ... by doing this, MDS is deactivated.

Manually selecting eighth gear, MDS is deactivated and your tranny will shift from first to eighth gear until you put into park/neutral.

Well, this is how my 2017 HEMI powered RAM 8 speed worked.

 

[Lil Red Express]

Whatever gear that is selected manually, let's say sixth gear, year tranny should shift from first to sixth each time you stop and go ... by doing this, MDS is deactivated.

Manually selecting eighth gear, MDS is deactivated and your tranny will shift from first to eighth gear until you put into park/neutral.

Well, this is how my 2017 HEMI powered RAM 8 speed worked.

Yup, I got it now. Basically what ever gear you choose the truck will not shift past that gear. So when I use the - to downshift and engine brake it will not shift past that gear (usually 2nd or 3rd) so when I start accelerating again the rpm goes up. That's why to me it felt like it was basically in manual mode. But its technically not.

 

[JHoward]

Yup, I got it now. Basically what ever gear you choose the truck will not shift past that gear. So when I use the - to downshift and engine brake it will not shift past that gear (usually 2nd or 3rd) so when I start accelerating again the rpm goes up. That's why to me it felt like it was basically in manual mode. But its technically not.

Excellent ... hammer down and Happy motoring!

 

[1979PowerWagon360]

What I picked in in this video and had already considered, the EPA is the problem.

I picked up that GM had some serious issues during manufacturing, causing the issue.

 

[Dusty]

"My biggest issue with this subject is that Ram, Mopar, Stellantis are not willing to share any information with us on what is causing these failures. Without real data which can identify the issue, everything we discuss here is pure speculation."

I would guess the primary reason is potential lawsuits, although they did admit that during the 2013-15 period they had supplier issues with the lifters.

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 132102 miles.

 

[joesstripclub]

I've been using the gear down going down hills to engine brake. But I always have to shift up or put it back in drive once I start accelerating again. It doesn't seem to shift on it's own when it's in the +/- mode. Am I doing something wrong? Do I have to press the - and then select 8 to get it to shift on it's own while keeping MDS off?

If you want it to downshift more aggressively going down hills, run tow/haul mode.

 

[mikeru]

I would guess the primary reason is potential lawsuits, although they did admit that during the 2013-15 period they had supplier issues with the lifters.

I wasn't asking a question in that post lol. I agree that legal liability is one of the reasons why they wouldn't want to share that information. But it's likely there other reasons too. But without it everyone is speculating based on their own individual knowledge and experience. And like I've said before it's fun to speculate.