In an attempt to increase the gas milage on my D I did what I think non of you would. I purchased a mod chip on e-bay. Spent $26 on a chip that connects to the air temp sensor and it's suppose to full the computer into spending less gas. I mostly do city driving, the D is lifted and I'm running on 33's. Only getting 9.5 mpg, on a good road trip I'll get 10.5. If I can get an extra 2 or 3 mpg I'm happy. I've changed the plugs, plug wires, O2 and MAP sensor, K&N filter and AirAid Throtle body spacer. I just added the spacer together with the chip so I probably will not be able to tell which one is working. They both claim to help save on gas. I've notices a notisable differance in throtle responce but not nearly as good as it was 5 years ago. The D has become sluggish, only really taking off after the rpms are over 2000. I'll let you all know how I do the next couple of days. Wish me luck!

 

Well man I wish ya would of asked us first about the spacer.. You just wasted ur money on it because they do not work on your setup. The chip? well again you wasted your money..

What kind of wires do you have? are they 8mm?
What kind of spark plugs do you use?
What cap and rotor? are they brass or copper terminals?

Have you cleaned your throttle body lately?
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...ttle-body.html

this will help a little far as fuel mileage.
CAI
Custom made Front RAM air intake:

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...s-mileage.html

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...ml#post1736713

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...ir-intake.html

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...e-ram-air.html

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...-for-5-2s.html



Your tire pressure effects it more then what you think it would.

 

You know what, I'm not sure on any of those questions regarding the plugs. I got them at Discount auto parts and they where what came up on their computers as replacement items.

I did clean the throttle body when I installed the spacer.

Regarding the plugs and wires, what do you all recommend?

By the way, when I replaced the plug wires there was one that I was not able to find where it went.... I replaced all the ones that connected to the plugs but there was a short wire in the kit that for the life of me, I was not able to find where to put it. Any ideas???

You can tell I'm not a mechanic!!

 

That goes to what I think is called the coil? It is on the left front of the engine. Yes as I have a 99 too. Both ends should be elbow shaped to if I am thinking right on what you speak of. That coil as I call it is right next to and a hair under from the Alternator.

 

Well for a tuneup you would want parts like these.
https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...hange-out.html

Cap and rotor should be brass or copper terminals.
Wires name brand and no less then 8mm
CHAMPION PLUGS.. this is whats mostly recommended. some have had luck with Autolite 3923's
DO NOT use any platinum plugs of any kind. they simply will not work well with your engine.

https://dodgeforum.com/forum/1st-gen...-plugs-ok.html

To backup what i said about your throttle body spacer, this is actual dyno proof.. plus many tips on items you can upgrade that may help ur MPG... (you will need adobe pdf reader)
http://bionicdodge.com/Download/Spee...d%20Tricks.pdf

Please keep us updated on what you change and how it effects your truck. We always need people to report back in order to help others.

 

I just got finished reading up on the home made air rame systems you all are putting into the Ds. Looks like another project!

I'll try that next week.

So Champion plugs, any in particular? How about the wires??

 

I suggest to use OEM Champion Rugular plugs, Champion Truck Plugs, Or Champion Iriduim.
Truck plugs cost just a little more, Iridium to be honest cost a lot more and u will not really see much gain over truck plugs (I have Iridium).

Wires,
Well any name brand wires will work, best to have 8mm or better (8.5mm)
My personal preference are mopar performance and Turner, but like I said any name brand will work.

 

Just go get OEM wires from the dealership. Only install Champion plugs listed:
Champion Regular Copper plugs(OEM), Champion Truck Plugs, Or Champion Iriduim.

Do the TPS mod as listed in the tips and tricks.

Custom intake.

Remove the chip you installed and maybe install the chip (resistor = .50 cents) into your computer.

Remove the TB spacer and use it as a expensive paper weight.


But first, what motor are we working on?

 

He has a 5.9L so any TB spacer is making things worse, not better. A tiny improvement can be had on the 4.7ls and CERTAIN TB spacers due to the way they install but that increase is TINY and not worth the money. They are simply useless on a 5.9L TB. They are sold for our 5.9s but only because the unknowing continue to buy them. That is likely your throttle response issue.

In regards to your 'chip'... get ANY chip out of the system ASAP. PCMs are expensive, damageable and smart. ANY chip (a $1 chip, a $20 chip or a $100 Jet Chip) will only change settings for a short while. Dodge did a wonderful job programing our PCMs to continually adjust and pull any Durango back into specifications as the sensors start to age and give different readings. Over time (about 100 starts) the PCM will re-learn and re-adjust rendering any chip useless in short order. It simply adjusts everything until it gets the readings it wants to see as a standard baseline within standard deviations. Any chip in the system is only running the risk of electrical damage to the PCM. From there, you have an expensive repair bill.

IndyDurango

 

Gears gears gears

X2 what others said
Ditch the TB spacer (great paperweights)
Ditch the resistor

Get a hypertech/superchips/sct/etc etc for a computer freindly MPG/econ tune