Hi guys, I have a 2000 Roadtrek, which is 1999 Dodge Ram 3500 full-size van with a 5.9L engine. Due to the coach house modifications, I get only 13MPG tops on the highway and about 11MPG in city.

Someone told me to install a performance chip, and I'll gain about 50 HPs and about 5MPG in improved mileage. I have done some research and there seems to be no drawbacks in adding one (and since it is 2000 model so no warranty ramifications either)

I am wondering which brand of performance chip works best with a 1999/2000 model Dodge van. "Banks" is the most respected performance chip maker but they dont support dodge till 2003 engine, so I cant use that. The only one that make it for my van is: "Edge Evo HT Tuner". They are not well-known and they are priced same as Banks at $349, so I am perplexed if I should get the Edge brand or not.

Please chime on what you all think?

 

Have you thought about writing or calling the RoadTrek company in Canada and asking them what they think? I googled them and it looks like they built about 13000 of these over the years, which would pretty much make them the experts.

Just a suggestion.

Jason

 

No. Roadtrek does not support gas mileage tweaks, neither does Dodge has much to do with it, nor do they recommend any modifications nor do they support them and in fact they void the warranties if they suspect such and in some states it is illegal ... I dont want to belabor on this distraction ....

Has anyone on this forum used performance chips on Dodge vans, and if you have any recommendations on the brand/model, please advice???

 

I am not a fan of Perforance 'Chips'. Most are nothing more than a resistor that tricks the computer to think the reading for a sensor or two is different than it should be. Many times the computer will see a problem and turn on the check engine lamp and ignor the sensor that chip is on.

A true PCM tune is the best at adding hp if you have opened up the exhaust and intake. But most tunes will give you more hp at the cost of mpg.

If these so called chips worked at truely increasing the hp and mpg the factories would have bought them up and used them in production by now.

 

I dont think this notion is true that well if these performance chips/tuners/programmers really worked then the likes of Toyota, GM would themselves be employing them. They cannot because of state/national emission standards, various international certifications, and the fact they have to make a product ready for a generic/durable usage ... i.e. they dont know if as a consumer you would ever change their oil for next 100k miles, and so on, and manufacturers dont want to risk engine catching fire and so on ...

And it is obvious that these programmers/tuners in the wrong hands could play havoc with your engine. So these appliances are not for every clumsy out there ... that is for sure. And this notion is not just applicable for auto engines, it is valid for any configurable appliance ... even common for PC's/computers where enthusiasts program/tune/over-clock their processors and add as much as 30% extra processing power.

So I dont want to belabor on the validity of these tuners. Respectable brands like 'Banks Power Engineering' - they do work. Likewise there are more brands out that are their to skim money and are more trouble than any benefit they are worth of.

 

I want to weigh in here for a min. I understand your point of view, and I can appreciate what you want to do.

If your heart is set on this, what I would suggest is that you find one that plugs into your system where you do not have to alter or cut into any of the wiring. That way if you do not get significant results, you can remove.

Unless I misunderstand the PCM (power control module) constantly monitors and adjusts the fuel/air mixture based on the signals that it receives from the sensors. You are correct that the initial control is designed to meet and work within the emission standards.

I think I remember there was a thread in this forum about a modification to the throttle body ports that is somewhat effective. Maybe Stev can chime in about that modification and point you to that thread.

You are probably aware, these performance chips usually work by changing air/fuel ratios and sometimes but not always the timing of the spark or ignition in the cylinders. This is all in an effort to increase the performance curve. As with everything in life there are tradeoffs. Even if these chips work, what would those tradeoffs be? That would be the question I would be asking.

I certainly have no problem using your example about overclocking computers. I have been building, and modifying them since the 80's. Even a computer motherboard based on design has limitations. You can push those limitations but when you do, you shorten the life of your components. As anyone knows, heat is the enemy of electronic components. This is why many computer over clockers use water cooling and other types of exotic cooling systems or modifications when they overclock. So its not as simple as someone might think. Heat-sinks on memory, bigger power supplies, graphic card coolers, and more. Even so, you are still at the limitation of the data paths of the motherboard and components and how quickly they can exchange information and communicate with one another. Lets not forget there are bottlenecks in every design and computer design changes constantly so in most cases those over clocked computers are not running for 3, 5, or ten years like a car engine is. Also lots of those computers have components the end up failing so those overclocked computers end up being nothing more than pet rocks because it ends up costing more to repair them than it's worth.

I apologize for getting off track and playing devils advocate here.

I am very interested in any kind of information you can turn up in regard to doing this to your RoadTrek. I certainly am open minded but as you can see I have reservations.

If money were no object I would go for the Banks System. I am familiar with them because I own a 37 foot motor home with a Cummings Diesel.

One thought in regard to this is that you might give Camping world a call because they used to deal in performance enhancement and carried banks. They might know of an alternative you can use since they specialize in the motor home area.

Jason

 

I have to say I have seen gains on vehicles with the Superchips an Hypertech units on lighter duty(gas) applications. These vehicles usually had other mods (intake and exhaust) that probably needed a different tune or AF ratio to take advantage of the upgrades in air and exhaust flow. The factory parameters that have to be taken into account when developing an all around state of tune(emissions,how hot or cold,what load,etc.) leave the factory a rather small tuning "box". This means that you probably can gain some performance and economy with a tuner of some sort but to make any sizable gains you have to upgrade some of the afore-mentioned items also. Plus if you tow with this rig exhaust and trans temps are very good things to know when you change your tune.

 

If you have the 5.9 and an ecu then you can get a Superchips 3815. Just plug it in and tune it. You'll gain some mpg's on economy tune. On performance tune, you'll get 46 hp and 59 lbs of torque added.

 

I'm not as mechanical (though willing to become), what kind of mods - intake and exhaust are you referring to?. How can I get started on this? are these mods going to cost a lot?

 

I think Superchips 3815 is for 2004 and forward Dodge vans. I have a 2000, it does have ECU and OBDII port to plug into, so far I only found Edge EVO HT that works with it.

Update: I called Superchips, they said 3815 could work on a RAM truck though they are not sure if it would for a RAM van. They did say that I wont notice fuel gains until I make other mods too?