MDS Question?

[Micks-hemi]

Hello All:

New member from Canada,first post. I have a 2014 Ram 1500 ST Reg cab,2WD,hemi and a 6 speed. My question is about MDS,while cruising on the highway at say 110KMH i notice NO change in my fuel mileage or RPM if i manually shift to 6th on the shifter. The only thing that changes is the ECO light goes off on the EVIC. Isn't MDS supposed to give you better mileage?

Thanks,Mickey.

PS,great forum and ton's of good info!

 

[Csanders1992]

It's supposed to but it doesn't always work. Most people turn it off with tuners and don't see much difference in fuel economy


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[Andy578]

thing is with these trucks they get the best fuel economy around 80km/h weather MDS is engaged or not but at 80km/h the MDS difference is pretty noticeable. also at a certain point MDS won't even engage which for me is actually right around 110km/h but it will vary on conditions such as wind

one other thing worth mentioning is fuel economy in winter goes to **** due to both winter blended gas being garbage and the lower temperatures

 

[xrsman]

At 110 km/h I'm not sure MDS would come on, but I could be wrong. Mine comes on all the time (Much more noticeable with my cat back than stock) and I do see the mileage drop on the evic.

The eco light you're seeing is not MDS. That just means you're driving efficiently. The only way to tell if MDS is on is by sound. You'll hear it kick on and off.

Welcome to the forum! Post a pic of your truck up soon!

 

[RR7_905RAM]

Hello All:

New member from Canada,first post. I have a 2014 Ram 1500 ST Reg cab,2WD,hemi and a 6 speed. My question is about MDS,while cruising on the highway at say 110KMH i notice NO change in my fuel mileage or RPM if i manually shift to 6th on the shifter. The only thing that changes is the ECO light goes off on the EVIC. Isn't MDS supposed to give you better mileage?

Thanks,Mickey.

PS,great forum and ton's of good info!

On a side note from what I have read on the forums once you hit the shifter up or down your disabling the MDS until you shut the truck off and start it again.

 

[Quint]

On a side note from what I have read on the forums once you hit the shifter up or down your disabling the MDS until you shut the truck off and start it again.

True on the first part, but MDS mode becomes available again once you up shift back to fully automatic mode. On my EVIC, if I downshift it will show the gear next to the 'D' for Drive. Even if I leave it at 'D8' meaning that it can shift through all of the gears, it will lock out MDS. Once I shift up one more time to eliminate the '8' then MDS comes and goes again.

 

[Limeybastard]

True on the first part, but MDS mode becomes available again once you up shift back to fully automatic mode. On my EVIC, if I downshift it will show the gear next to the 'D' for Drive. Even if I leave it at 'D8' meaning that it can shift through all of the gears, it will lock out MDS. Once I shift up one more time to eliminate the '8' then MDS comes and goes again.

This is what I've learned also. Thanks.

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[7777xm]

For the most part, the MDS is more for EPA reasons. When they could say half a million trucks turn to four cylinders and could save X amount of gallons per year, makes them happy.

For each individual driver, the savings is pretty small. I've tested a few times and maybe lose 1/3 MPG with it off.

Also it will not activate at the higher speeds on level or uphill scenarios where you need the engine power to cruise. Pretty much 60 to 65 mph for me and it would never come on anyways unless I go downhill

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[Jerry1984]

Also in an 8 speed if you shift out of drive and then back into it, mds will be active. 6 and 8 speeds are quite different in regards to mds. 8 speeds you can downshift then back to showing 8 and mds will be off. This doesn't work with the 6. Tow/haul mode turns off mds with the 6 speed, doesn't with the 8. I turned my Eco indicator off through the settings and like it better that way.

 

[BlownGP]

Also in an 8 speed if you shift out of drive and then back into it, mds will be active. 6 and 8 speeds are quite different in regards to mds. 8 speeds you can downshift then back to showing 8 and mds will be off. This doesn't work with the 6. Tow/haul mode turns off mds with the 6 speed, doesn't with the 8. I turned my Eco indicator off through the settings and like it better that way.

The 5/6 speeds are the same. You can manual shift and MDS will be off and if you hold the shift in the up position in any gear and back into auto mode. MDS will be on.

 

[Jerry1984]

The 5/6 speeds are the same. You can manual shift and MDS will be off and if you hold the shift in the up position in any gear and back into auto mode. MDS will be on.

Nice. From previous debates I had been told tow/haul had to be used. Good to know.

 

[THETANK]

Hello All:

New member from Canada,first post. I have a 2014 Ram 1500 ST Reg cab,2WD,hemi and a 6 speed. My question is about MDS,while cruising on the highway at say 110KMH i notice NO change in my fuel mileage or RPM if i manually shift to 6th on the shifter. The only thing that changes is the ECO light goes off on the EVIC. Isn't MDS supposed to give you better mileage?

Thanks,Mickey.

PS,great forum and ton's of good info!

for every 10kmph over 100 you are losing 10% in the fuel economy department, oh and welcome

 

[BlownGP]

Nice. From previous debates I had been told tow/haul had to be used. Good to know.

Yeah, you can turn it off with the tow/haul mode too.

 

[Andy578]

Yeah, you can turn it off with the tow/haul mode too.

not on the newer ones. i believe it was as of something like 2013 tow/haul no longer disables MDS and the only way to do it is with a tuner or changing to manual gear selection. MDS coming on while under load is also annoying as all hell

 

[R.L.K.]

Welcome to the Forum Micky ! We have many above the boarder members here , glad to have ya Sir .
Well this MDS Q always seems to get conflicting answers LOL !


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[Housemuzik52]

I ended up just buying a tuner and turning it off, truck is so much more fun to drive. Though my gas mileage did go down some cause my foot became heavier.

 

[Saltillo Express]

And the debate rolls on.... So do they lose mileage or is it not noticeable? I'm on the verge of tuning mine and would be glad to turn it the H off.

 

[Housemuzik52]

And the debate rolls on.... So do they lose mileage or is it not noticeable? I'm on the verge of tuning mine and would be glad to turn it the H off.

I kind of look at it like this, if I bought a truck and then decided to put a tuner on for more power I could really care less about what kind of gas mileage I'm getting.

I seem to have lost a few mpg since turning MDS off and tuning the truck though, but I also have a lot more fun driving it now too.

 

[Ramzaq]

MDS has the capability of operating at 90 mph, but I doubt that it will be in MDS mode on flat ground at that speed with the truck other than coasting.

Engine load is the prime factor when determining when MDS will be active. On a mild day mostly flat roads I can cruise in MDS mode at 70 mph all day long.

Depending on which rear end you have in you truck I would guess 75-80 mph would be tops unless you had a tail wind.

It does require attention to driving, a light foot on the pedal and paying attention to your ECO gauge.

 

[BlownGP]

MDS has the capability of operating at 90 mph, but I doubt that it will be in MDS mode on flat ground at that speed with the truck other than coasting.

Engine load is the prime factor when determining when MDS will be active. On a mild day mostly flat roads I can cruise in MDS mode at 70 mph all day long.

Depending on which rear end you have in you truck I would guess 75-80 mph would be tops unless you had a tail wind.

It does require attention to driving, a light foot on the pedal and paying attention to your ECO gauge.

and if you have no eco light.. WHO CARES. haha