I have a couple questions about my D. The first is do I need to be running premium in my truck? I noticed a post on here talking about that. I have a friend that owns a mercedes and their car says right on the gas gauge to only use premium because of the higher compression. Mine doesn't say squat and neither does my manual. My other question is if the 4.7L engine the only one to sludge up the oil because I have been taking preventative measures with using only full synthetic but it hurts to have an oil change that costs me $40+ when I do my own work. Oh and I have a 5.9L SLT see my sig.

 

If I remember, the 5.9's did not have a sludge problem, only the 4.7's even if the owners were doing 2-3k oil changes, it can still build up. Somewhere on this forum if it still exist, a user posted a message that there was a TSB about the intake manifold gasket being defective that may cause anit-freeze to leak into the oil chamber thus creating the sludge build up.

As far as requiring premium. It will be listed in your owner's manual or a sticker on your gas door indicating that your durango requires premium. Only some year models of the Durango R/T requires premium because Dodge have recalibrated the main computer to tweak out a few more HP's by requiring the use of premium fuel.

My 2000 Durango R/T manual states premium required for my year model and when I pop open my fuel door to fill up, there is a big yellow sticker with red lettering that states "PREMIUM FUEL REQUIRED" so I am paying out the wazhoo for gas for my D.

 

Yeah I figured I didn't need it or it would tell me. I'm glad to know that I have an engine that doesn't produce sludge except for when I let someone else change my oil . Some lube place told me I had sludge when I've never had any problems like that in my truck and wanted 60 $ on top of the oil change to take care of it. HA I told him to sit on it lol. My next oil change I did myself and there was nothing like that going on.

 

My manual and tank to say to use premium, I alternate between prem and super and I haven't noticed any difference. Just saving a few bucks at the pump. Oh yeah, I was at the pump the other day and someone asked what the R/T stood for.... I laughed and replied "Real Thirsty"
Haaa

 

Ain't that the truth. I actually drove the spare car the other day to save a little on gas (the truck was on E and I didn't want to look at a $70+ fillup that day). Oh how I hate not driving my D I was in the 96 nissan sentra "beater". I live in The Bronx, NY so everybody and their brother has hit that thing while it's parked, I don't have even one straight panel.

 

my 03 sxt manual says to use regular fuel but mine is a 4.7 and i never had a problem with oil sludge....but i did just blow a head gasket and a head is bad. Damn glad i git the extended warranty!!!!! dealer told me its like a grand just for labor

 

The sludge problem is only in the 4.7L. The 5.9L doesn’t have that problem.

While synthetic’s are great you need to change the oil out at no more that 5000 miles. If you go to Wal-Mart you can buy Mobil 1 in a 5 quart container for about $20 and just get a good filter $5. The 5.9L holds approx. 5.5 quarts.

As for octane requirements. The 5.9L, 5.2L, and the 4.7L are all 87 octane. The other models are the R/T only that require 91 or better in the first generation.

 

What's the difference between premium and super? I always thought those two words mean the same when it comes to fuel? At least here in Texas we have 3 levels of fuel, regular, mid-grade, and super/premium.

Before the end of the year, I am going to buy that hypertech programmer to reprogram my computer to accept regular and also see if I can get better mpg's from the reprogramming. Finally the hypertech's dropped in price just a little but every cent counts.

 

Don't want to rehash the premium requirement and the 1st gen R/T's, but we have discovered that some year model R/T's or just plain some model R/T's based on geographical location where they are sold, do not require premium. Very strange. Alot of R/T users came forward and said they do not use premium and is not stated in their manuals. If this is true, I wonder what their HP/Torque would be? It may be possible they just have a regular un-modified computer straight from factory because of their geographical location that may have emissions restrictions?

 

The octane levels for Regular @ sea level is 87 were @ 5000' above sea level the same Regular is only 85. This is in part by altitude and the aspheric pressures. This is why in all owners manuals the minimum octane requirement is 87, which is regular @ sea level. (Federal Standard)
Premium @ sea level is 93 octane were at 5000' the same fuel is 91 octane.

The R/T's that were built have been altered from the factory. The factory puts the internal parts for the R/T's in, and are build to sea level. The R/T's have different more upped emissions restrictions based on factory install of the intake systems. R/T's are going to produce more emissions due to intake calibrations. There for all R/T’s should be made to run 91 octane or better. If in fact the factory made an R/T that did not take 91 minimum octane, then all that R/T has is a more aggressive computer and no other intake system which is not a true R/T only badged.

R/T's have different Heads and different Cams. So the intake stroke takes in more fuel there for upping the compression. This is why you must use 91 or better octane to ensure that the motor doesn’t ping. If the motor pings (This is called pre Ignition) it is firing against compression stroke. This is bad on the motor. Even if you get the Hypertech Power Programer III it will not fix the problem inside the computer of our truck so you can use Regular fuel. The problem is in your intake. The only way to safely use Regular fuel in your D is to remove the intake hardware and put regular stock hardware in. Then you can run Regular.

Now if you plan on using that method, I'll sign up as #1 to exchange parts with you as good R/T heads are about $1300 and up.

As for the Super/Premium question. Some places call it one or the other but both are the same.