Dodge04

What is the best way to get better performance, without sacrificing fuel mileage. Which is 18 mpg. Would like for truck to have a little power when towing and be a little quicker empty.

Truck is a stock 04 ctd 5spd with 17,000 mi. I don't want major changes, just mild ones to start with, and anything to help mileage.

Any help or suggestion would be appreciated. Thanks!

madhat

I'd go with some guages, air and exhaust mods... then a smarty jr...

Is it an 04 or an 04.5?

If you do not know how to tell, look at the build date on the sticker inside the driver side door jam, if it was built after Jan 04, it's a 4.5...


Welcome to the DTR, BTW...

Dodge04

The build was 9-03 , I will check.

Dodge04

The date of mfg was 9-03.

Does freeing up exhaust and getting more air, do much alone.

Or is it just prep for adding smarty jr?

2003Ram

The 5 speed tells you it's a 2004 SO. The sticker on the engine will tell you if it is 250 or 235 hp. You are right - you need more towing power. A Smarty Jr. will get you there. Intake and exhaust will help you keep things cool. It can be done relatively cheap. See my signature.

Dodge04

It has 235hp.

I like your ram air mod. That will help let in enough air, what needs to be done for exhaust?

Also what gauges?

2003Ram

I have the '03 SO and have been at this a while. I did my intake first using the stock filter and that was good. I added the Quad box and Isspro gauges and that was good for towing. I added the other stuff later including the 4" straight though muffler and the Smarty. My truck tows like a champ and stays cool but I have yet to get better than 16 mpg empty in 50/50 mixed driving.

Dodge04

My 18mpg is not 50/50, it would be more highway than in town.

I thought that was bad mpg's, every diesel for sale in newspaper gets 23+mpg.

Also that is what overhead says, I am checking with odometer on next fill up . After reading on this forum, I find they are not always accurate.

Jason_K

don't trust the overhead!! before i got the smarty i had the diablosport predator. overhead said that i was getting a consistant 24mpg driving around town. in reality i was getting around 16-17mpg. with the smarty my overhead hovers around 19.5 and i'm getting around 18mpg. The best i've seen so far is 22.1mpg(100% highway) and 19.2mpg(90%around town 10%highway). As long as you don't plan on going crazy w/ power adders, a smarty jr. should work great for you. however if you think you might want add more power down the road get smarty sr. now. you can always turn it down to begin with. whatever your decision, make sure you get yourself some guages to keep an eye on things, i also have isspro guages

Dodge04

I don't need to make crazy wicked power or smoke the neighbors out of their houses right now? Maybe one day, when truck is paid for.

Right now I am just trying to get better performance, without dropping fuel mileage to 10 when empty. All bets are off when towing.

Also what systems should i monitor first?

Jason_K

i'm sure that you would be very happy with the smarty jr then. once you hook it up it will feel like a whole different truck!

Dodge04

Should i start with adding gauges first , if so which one to start with egt,boost,fuel ? Maybe all three?

Then work on air and exhaust flow, after i have all that add a smarty jr? Would this be the right way go.

Or just go straight for the power first!!!

Dodgezilla

Well, the Smarty Jr was not out when I had my 03 SO. Just running a BHAF, better muffler, and an Edge EZ put me right at where my 08 truck is stock (300rwhp). That's a lot more power for towing. (Your truck in stock form probably makes about 180-190rwhp).Luckily for you, you will still get great mileage while my 08 mileage stinks. Sometimes I miss my 03.........
My 03, even when fully modified, was putting down 16-17 city / 20-24hwy / 13-14 towing....

2003Ram

Yes, all three. EGTs will be your first concern. I don't have a fuel pressure gauge, but many recommend it.

madhat

For guages, I'd get a fuel pressure guage, pyro, and tranny temp. I also have a boost guage, and I have not needed anything else.

Also, a lot of members here are against digital, myself included, so the majority of us run analog. That choice is yours, tho...

Supporting mods first... guages, air, exhaust... You can run a programmer without all the guages and other mods, but I would not do it long.

I did a DIY CAI for around 70 bucks including an airaid drop in replacement filter. You can get muffler delete pipes fairly cheap, so don't go ordering a whole exhaust... however there are a few cheap ones in the classifieds. (if they are still there) You say you have an early 04... it should have the 4" all the way back with no cat, right? Maybe just a resonator?