Hey, lookin for some input from all the dodge engine guru's out there. Browsing for a new truck, gettin rid of my 03 5.9l gasser for a newer 5.7l Hemi. Both for performance gains and better mileage.

What year was the MDS inputted into the Hemi engines? What is your take on this system, does it really save that much gas? Has there been any significant problems with this system at all? That being said im often hauling at least 5-800 lbs of ladders tools ect. so im not sure how often it would even switch into the 4 cyl mode. I do mostly highway driving for the record.

Also im wondering does this mean with 4/8 cylinders running ALL the time in comparison to the other 4 getting a break. Are 4 of my plugs going to have to be changed more often and get fried quicker?

Off topic, found a 06 hemi with a TRX offroad package. Cant seem to get a straight answer what this entails. Anyone straighten this out for me? Thanks

Again, thanks in advance for all the help!!

 

MDS was added for the 2006 model year and up and they dont sound very good at all with aftermarket exhaust. The MDS can be turned off with a programmer. I havnt heard much about the diffrence in fuel mileage. maybe that will help you a bit until others chim in

 

I have an 06 with the MDS and I've gotten just under 18mpg. I've only had the truck a few weeks though and haven't hauled much in it. I don't think 5-800 lbs will make a difference with that much power though. I had an after market exhaust installed with one flow master 40 imitator muffler and a y-pipe after that for fake duels and you can here it kick in when I'm driving home at 55mph with cruise on. I think they are worth it but you will here different in here. You are supposed to change the plugs every 30k miles. All of them, according to the manual.

 

Look HERE
Lots of info out there about MDS and peoples opinions. You won't find many that do like MDS. 4 cylinders just isn't enough to keep a big truck moving so there's
constant in/out and downshifting going on with MDS.

Yup, 4 cylinders get shut-off. No spark plugs are every 30kmi for all 16 of them. 2 plugs per cylinder has Nothing to do with MDS.

If your worried about gas mileage DON'T buy a truck.

TRX offroad has like .5" difference in rear suspension, comes with all terrain tires and has skid plates. I don't think it has anything else?seriously.

 

As per the Ram website for 3rd Gens the TRX package includes:

Special badging
LSD
Front tow hooks
skid plate package
HD front shock absorbers
Extra HD rear shock absorbers
Added suspension height over standard models

(funny thing is, I can find NO reference from Dodge on how much this height is over standard. Some forum descriptions list it as 1/2" over and some at 1" over).

 

Thanks everyone for the knowledge. Ok well i am looking at 06 1500 5.7 hemi with the TRX package, glad to know if the MDS isnt working well i can always just turn it off with a flaspaq.

And DirtyDog, thanks for the link, was alot of good things to know on that thread. I need a truck to work (Own a roofing company), but i drive almost 200km a day, and that equals out to almost 50$ a day in my current truck. So gas mileage is a big concern for me, if I can cut that even by 10$ thats a huge savings to me over the year.

 

Do you haul much for work? If so, why not find yourself a gently used diesel? I got myself a 06 Laramie last year for < $30,000 CDN. I could not be happier with it. Fuel mileage is better than my 1500 was, and the fuel is now cheaper once again than regular. Yay me!

 

Ya, the thought has crossed my mind. I dont tow much besides a litlte 6x12 trailer occasionally, or my toys up the mountains. I've just dissmissed it because of the considerably increase in price.

 

If you don't anticipate anything larger than that, a Hemi will suite you fine...

Our problem is, when we bought our hemi 1500 truck, we decided to buy a trailer.. then realized our 6k lb trailer caused the hemi to suck wind (and Gas) on the highway. Although it was within the towing capacity, it wasn't ideal. When our CTD presented itself, it was a no-brainer.

 

MDS 1st used on the 5.7L in the 2005 model year. MDS 1st used in the Ram 1500 w/ 5.7L was the 2006 model year.

IMO MDS does not work well in the Ram truck at all. In the lighter vehicles running the 5.7L it does seem to help some. IMO it does nothing in the Ram.

I had a 2004 Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4WD w/ 5.7L( no MDS ) and I now have a 2008 Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4WD w/ 5.7L( with MDS ). The 04 had 17's and 3.55's and the 08 has 20's and 3.92's otherwise identical trucks besides the MDS and some cosmetics.

The 04 got much better MPG. IMO part of that is the 3.55's/17's vs the 3.92's/20's true. However, if MDS worked the MPG should at least equal out. It doesn't. The 04 consistantly got 1.5-2 MPG betetr on average and highway. I broke 20 MPG( barely - 20.2 but broke it )with the 04. Haven't broken 19 with the 08( 18.9 best ).

Nothing wrong with the MDS concept. It just fails to deliver in the Ram.