If I'm not mistaken, I believe you have the option of continuing to run 87 octane via a setting dedicated to the consumer who has a thirst for more power, just not a wallet to accomodate the expenses that stem from it.

 

Sounds like a lot of money for not enough HP gain.....

I think I'll just hold off unless there is something out there with bigger HP gains for a few hundred.....

Thanks guys,

-Eli

 

There are 3 settings on the superchip. economy 87 octane, tow haul 91 and performance 91. I run mine on ecomony and I get a considerable power gain over stock. enough to say that I recomend it. I have 18,500 on my truck and have not had a problem with it that the chip has caused. If you are in need of a sample ask somone you know with a same truck (flashpaq) to detune there truck and let you tune for a week. if you dont like it, dont buy it. If you are in phoenix I will let you try it for a week.

 

Speaking as a software guy, I can tell you that a lot of negotiating and cost-benefit analysis goes into making the ECU on any vehicle. To expect to greatly improve on the factory design is a little bit naive. Havng said that, I'm certainly not saying that the difference experienced by SuperChips users is not real. I'm simply saying that in order to give it that extra kick by modifying the programming, one of those delicate balances expressed in the factory programming must be upset.

There are only a handfull of things you can do to get more power out of a previously tuned engine, and none of those things are free. They all have some side effects. If you alter the timing, you will induce knocking (failure to combust in the cylinder at TDC because the chemistry is off). If you play around with A/F ratios, you will lose gas mileage (air to fuel ratio controls how much gas is burned in the cylinder). Emission control is self-explanatory.

Yes, any combination of the three methods above will improve the performance of the engine, but not without the side effects also mentioned. You can compensate for knocking by going to a higher grade fuel (higher octane rating means more power per cubic inch means less knocking). You can mitigate against higher gas consumption by playing around with emission controls for a more complete burn, but this is likely to produce a much higher CO2 emission than stock. Cracking down on tailpipe emissions usually requires modifications to A/F ratios and/or engine timing.

My point is that DCX spent quite a bit of time and money on the design of the truck and the ECU. It's a little unreasonable to expect to get a much better truck for just a few bills. If you improve in one area, chances are that you're losing in another area. So do your research, ask questions, and make sure that you are comfortable with the side effects for that little extra increase in performance.

Just my $0.02

 

So after hearing this and that...... Anyone on this forum supercharge a 2006-7 yet?

-Eli

 

superchargers in general are a rarity on the hemis, most people who go forced induction go with an sts turbo. If you're looking for some serious power, a turbo would get you over 400 rwhp. Another route could be ported heads, the 6.1 intake, stroker kit. Tons of options out there, just depending on how much you want to spend. (the most popular/reputable brands for heads cost 1500-2300 bucks)

 

I wouldn't mind shelling out the dough but I just don't want to waste more gas then I'm using at this point... This is to be my daily driver even though it uses as much gas as the Porsche..... Forced inductions usually save some gas, any links to other people putting these kits on their trucks 2006-7 with success?

Thanks,

-Eli

 

pm kenihemi . He's a seller or distributer of the sts turbo systems, and he could probably be the best source of any information related to them on this forum.

 

I echo some of the concerns about the use of higher octane gas. My durango has the 4.7 and even on Superchips web site the gains for the 4.7 are not that great (compared to the Hemi) and that is using premium unleaded gas which will most likely soon be over $3 per gallon. I am not convinced that spending $300-400 for a programmer plus and extra 15-20 cents a gallon for gas for 10-15 HP is worth it. The Hypertech I had for my 5.2 Ram had decent gains in the low octane setting, but from what I have read the low octane setting for Superchips on the 4.7 does very little. Firming up the shifts would be nice but wouldn't a shift kit be able to accomplish that for the same or less money?

 

FastForward, for the amount of money you're going to be spending to strap on a turbo, you can buy a heck of a lot of gas. Assuming you actually get fuel savings with a turbo, of which I am not convinced. Getting a turbo for the extra power makes sense. Getting one for fuel savings does not.