I know I'm reviving an old thread, but...

Did you enable MDS on your Dakota? If you did, any issues and how did it do?

Did you need to use the higher octane gas to get the better mileage? Or, can you get that better mileage with a regular octane (89 where I'm at)?

 

Tried and no difference. I think it is just there for the 5.7 that has the feature.

I did and still do use the premium tune. Been using E-85 mostly for the past year or so. Cost savings over premium far exceeds the mileage hit. I think the only real MPG gain is when towing and using premium. It can motor up slight grades a lot better without downshifting.

I can tow a 6x12 box trailer with 4500lbs of crap all the way from Atlanta to Jacksonville at 65-70mph and it will never come out of 6th gear.

 

Sounds great! Thanks for the follow-up.

No E85 where I'm at. But, good to know that it still works even with the premium tune.

I'm guessing the tuner has more than paid for itself by now.

 

Almost 10 years and about 140k trouble free miles the Bullydog tuner has been removed.

Nothing broke. I ended up with HP tuners for another project. I had a few extra credits so I wanted to see what it would do on the Dakota. And oddly enough I was able to read the Bullydog tune on the truck before I reverted it back to stock. The only changes Bullydog made was a change in the throttle map and some additional timing advance throughout the RPM band. It worked though. It just wasn't a mind blowing difference.

With HP Tuners I was able to change the power enrichment tables, timing advance and some shift parameters. I also raised the RPM limit to 6200 and WOT shift point to 6000 versus the stock 5800.

Holy hell this truck rips now. It would rarely break the tires loose on dry pavement and now it will lay stripes across the intersection.

If anyone is looking for a Bullydog tuner, I'll have one available when I get it boxed back up.