new truck

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

feldman28

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Posts
101
Reaction score
16
Ram Year
07
Engine
hemi
So yesterday I pick up my new to me 07 hemi. I traded my toyota in and love this truck already. It came with remote start. A 100k warrenty . I belive you call it quad cab . It did have a leveling kit and 275 60 20. Not I know it's a big truck and it's hard not to drive it cause when them tires are humming and the motor just talking. I out just about 85 miles on it all hwy about 75 80 mph. I was in between 3/4 and 1/2 tank. I filled it up this moring took 8.2gal. Now I don't know if dealer filled it or just about fill it. But I hope she gets better than 12. And is there a way I can tell if I have the mds in it or not and if it works. Sorry for all the random questions guys. Thank you for your help.
 

Harley Harrold

USAF Ret. 36+ years service
Navy Badge Air Force Firefighter
Joined
Mar 25, 2014
Posts
6,638
Reaction score
1,648
Location
Mississippi
Ram Year
2007
Engine
5.7L HEMI
If you're 07' is a 1500, it has MDS, if it is a 2500, or 3500 it will not have MDS. Usually you can feel the MDS engage, around 45 MPH, on level ground it will cycle out when you are going up a slight grade, or if you accelerate the truck.
 

MADDOG

Living in a Firepit
Staff member
Administrator Moderator Community Manager Supporting Member Air Force
Joined
Dec 26, 2011
Posts
15,170
Reaction score
11,387
Location
Arizona
Ram Year
2024
Engine
6.4L HEMI
Congrats on the new truck. 5.7L HEMI powered trucks (except in the MegaCab or 2500's) will have MDS.
 

RonJon '06

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2014
Posts
3,372
Reaction score
1,184
Location
Southern Minnesota
Ram Year
2014, 1985
Engine
6.7, 360
Congrats on the new Ram. :favorites13:

If you're driving along on an easy stretch you can disable the MDS by putting in in Tow/Haul mode. You should be able to feel a difference in the engine and hear a difference in the tone of the exhaust.
 
OP
OP
feldman28

feldman28

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Posts
101
Reaction score
16
Ram Year
07
Engine
hemi
I was messing around with it last nite. I'm in love with the truck. My guage said instant was 17.5 and avg was 14.2 . But that was with 87 ethonal . I'll run it till gas light comes on and put in 93 with kut. See if that helps. I get ready for work today and my wife goes I'm tanking the "black beast" today.
 

WulfGang

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2014
Posts
441
Reaction score
76
Location
PA
Ram Year
2006
Engine
Hemi 5.7
You are probably getting on it more right now than you will later because of the reasons you stated, HEMI, Humming, etc :D
That could be contributing to your MPG. Also, idle time.

I'm just now starting to hit over 13mpg because of not having to idle as much.
But, here's why my MPG sucks; I often keep the truck in a gear that "sounds good" and has a good throttle response. Meaning, if I'm cruising through town at 35mph, often I keep it in "2". Where as the truck would put itself in "3" and it wouldn't have the same throttle response and "HEMI" sound. Though, I am running a stock quiet exhaust, so YMMV. Likewise, at 45mph, I have the "O/D OFF" on and running about 2200rpm at 45mph. I will put it in OD after that though for anything much faster for a sustained amount of time.

My wife came from Mustangs and Camaros. First time she drove the truck it had a Hemi Fever tune on it and she was very impressed.

You may just have to get a 2nd RAM :D
 
OP
OP
feldman28

feldman28

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Posts
101
Reaction score
16
Ram Year
07
Engine
hemi
Prolly . Now wulf have you seen a diff in running 87 vs 93 in a stock truck. I will be getting a set of summer tires to help with milage. I'm save now for msd coil packs ds tunner and plugs. Getting a mangnaflow muffler Wednesday.
 

xb1230

Hobby Mechanic
Joined
Aug 22, 2014
Posts
960
Reaction score
227
Location
South Shore of Montreal, QC, Canada
Ram Year
2020
Engine
5.7 HEMI
Although MSD coil packs are very good, if your current OEM coils are not faulty, this is not money well spent as it won't provide you with any improvements. Get a cam over a set of coils it will provide you much more bang for the buck.

Or since you are getting a cat back system, another option over the cam would be a set of Headers (long tube) and high flow cats. Again much more bang for the buck over a set of coils.

As for the Octane level, until you get your tune, moving to higher octane than recommended in the book serves absolutely nothing. In some cases people have actually seen a lower MPG as with more octane the Gas is harder to ignite and burn appropriately forcing the engine to compensate with more useless fuel...

You will always get better performance (throttle response and MPG) with the octane level that s recommended for the tune your engine runs.

Also if you have a tablet or smartphone, you may think about spending a few $$ and get yourself a bluetooth OBDII interface to monitor engine performance and condition. They are cheap and provide good information to help troubleshoot some conditions, and also just for the fun of monitoring the engine parameters.

As for the plugs, don't get fancy. The HEMI's run best with copper core plugs like the OEM champion 439 or similar plugs from other manufacturer. Most here prefer the stock OEM plugs, but I personally run copper core NGK's without issues. If you tune your ride though, you may consider a set of hotter running plugs to better withstand the additional heat generated by the tune and higher octane gasoline.

Here is some good explanation on the Spark Plugs Heat range :
Spark Plugs Heat Range explained
The adjacent pages can also help in making an engine diagnostic based on spark plug condition. I often take my plugs out, just for good measure and see if they can reveal an issue with how the engine is running.

Hope this helps your decision making in your build.
Have fun and stay dirty.
 

justin13703

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 15, 2014
Posts
1,174
Reaction score
394
Location
MD
Ram Year
2008
Engine
Hemi 5.7
Although MSD coil packs are very good, if your current OEM coils are not faulty, this is not money well spent as it won't provide you with any improvements. Get a cam over a set of coils it will provide you much more bang for the buck.

Or since you are getting a cat back system, another option over the cam would be a set of Headers (long tube) and high flow cats. Again much more bang for the buck over a set of coils.

As for the Octane level, until you get your tune, moving to higher octane than recommended in the book serves absolutely nothing. In some cases people have actually seen a lower MPG as with more octane the Gas is harder to ignite and burn appropriately forcing the engine to compensate with more useless fuel...

You will always get better performance (throttle response and MPG) with the octane level that s recommended for the tune your engine runs.

Also if you have a tablet or smartphone, you may think about spending a few $$ and get yourself a bluetooth OBDII interface to monitor engine performance and condition. They are cheap and provide good information to help troubleshoot some conditions, and also just for the fun of monitoring the engine parameters.

As for the plugs, don't get fancy. The HEMI's run best with copper core plugs like the OEM champion 439 or similar plugs from other manufacturer. Most here prefer the stock OEM plugs, but I personally run copper core NGK's without issues. If you tune your ride though, you may consider a set of hotter running plugs to better withstand the additional heat generated by the tune and higher octane gasoline.

Here is some good explanation on the Spark Plugs Heat range :
Spark Plugs Heat Range explained
The adjacent pages can also help in making an engine diagnostic based on spark plug condition. I often take my plugs out, just for good measure and see if they can reveal an issue with how the engine is running.

Hope this helps your decision making in your build.
Have fun and stay dirty.

This man speaks the truth. Run 89 octane until you get a tune for 93. And use the standard cheap copper plugs. I think I got all 16 of mine for around 50 dollars. As he said, maybe a different heat range if you plan on tuning for 93.
 

WulfGang

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2014
Posts
441
Reaction score
76
Location
PA
Ram Year
2006
Engine
Hemi 5.7
I still think the first thing you should get is the Diablo Sport T1000.
Sean (?) Hemi Fever gave me a HF tune and said that if I build my truck he'd give me another one. Heck, even just the Tuner changing the shift points really wakes the truck up. I know, I know lol - hey, I've already maid the disclaimer about not being able to say enough about the Tuner. No smoke. Just personal experience.

Once you start tuning everything else the Tuner will bring it all together in "sync" so to speak, if I understand things correctly.

As far as Octane goes - if I wasn't running a tune I'd run 87oct in it unless I ever heard any spark knock. In which case, I'd run 89oct like the manual SUGGESTS but goes on to say 87oct should be ok *scrathing my head on this one*

According to Matt from Moes Perf, a Tuner 1st, and if you're wanting to do things properly and best bang for the buck, GEARS next. Matt told me gears offer more b4b than headers/exhausts do. On a 4x4 though, gears are a pricey upgrade.



Regarding the MDS....

Today I went on about a 3 hour country ride (averaging about 15.5 mpg ;)) and when I would get lightly in the throttle with "O/D OFF" on, I would hear a real throaty sound.
I found this odd being 1) I have MDS turned off when I installed the 93oct canned DS tune 2) People here have been saying hitting the "OD button" to turn OD off cancels out the MDS.

What I'm hearing is not very loud but it is definitely there. It doesn't sound 'bad' at all I'm just curious as to what I'm hearing. I do have a stock exhaust. But I have heard this with the truck the whole time unless I had the HF tune installed. Then, I don't recall hearing it.
 
Last edited:

WulfGang

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2014
Posts
441
Reaction score
76
Location
PA
Ram Year
2006
Engine
Hemi 5.7
*EDIT*

I was off on my OD/off rpm numbers.

At 45mph I'm at app 1800 rpm. Not 2200 like I had previously stated. I'm at 2200 when I'm running 55mph in 3rd/OD off.

Where I'm hearing the throaty sound is when I'm in 3rd gear, about 1200 rpm and lightly increase the throttle. I figured it was MDS. Or.... the "HEMI SOUND"?

*EDIT 2*

OK LOL
I really screwed that one up. The "*EDIT* was supposed to be in the previous post. Somehow I clicked the wrong button and posted another reply.

sorry
 
OP
OP
feldman28

feldman28

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 4, 2013
Posts
101
Reaction score
16
Ram Year
07
Engine
hemi
That's ok. I'll start to look for a tuner . Thanks again man.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
210,869
Posts
3,059,064
Members
170,765
Latest member
Rgesse
Back
Top