MPG/programmer

The Peddler · #1 07-03-2008, 02:22 AM

What is the best programmer out there for mpg gains. I know alot of you on here have them, so give me some info on this. I don't care about added horsepower, or shift points, I just want more mpg. I have a magnaflow exhaust, and a trueflow cai (that I don't have on, but can put back on), so give me some info on what mpg I would be looking at, because if I'm going to spend the $400 - $500 for one I want to know it will be worth it.

Brother Rob · #2 07-03-2008, 05:32 AM

Don't get a Superchips, then. I haven't seen any MPG gains with it. Great performance, but lost MPG...of course I put on new wheels, too (from stock 17's to custom 20's).

L and R Two · #3 07-03-2008, 07:47 AM

I have the Bully Dog Power Pup

Last year I went on a 3000 mile round trip and I was getting 17 mpg on the highway until I hit the mountains, then it dropped to 14. With my daily driving here in Florida on flat roads, I average 14 mpg with mixed hwy/city driving. However, I do like to put my foot into it alot. I am sure if I didn;t run 80 mph on I95 and there were fewer lights in town I might get more.

I run the performance tune and run nothing but 93 octane in the tank. Also remember that I have a Megacab.

ray97 · #4 07-03-2008, 02:32 PM

My SC added about 1mpg on the peformance tune.

bwhite757 · #5 07-03-2008, 04:56 PM

Used to I wouldn't even look at something that only got me a 1.5 MPG gain that cost over a $100, would take too long to make my money back on it, but check this out if my math is right:

If you average 15 MPG now 1 gallon of gas equals $3.90 = 3.84 miles per dollar

If you average 16.5 MPG w/programmer= 4.23 miles per dollar

That's a .39 mile improvement per doller, so for the $400 you spend it takes you 1025.64 miles to pay for the investment, so in my case less than a month...

Anyway, in economy mode with my edge using 87 octane, driving like I normally do, I've only got one full tank through, but I averaged about 18 MPG, which is well above my normal 16.5 I got stock with 89 octane, I'm quite happy with that investment now...

Again, the Edge Evolution is only for the 07 1500 Hemi's...

SeVeReDiStOrTiOn · #6 07-03-2008, 06:13 PM

Using the money on gas instead of a programmer is the best way to go IMO. Say you save $30 a month in gas with the tune(that's a stretch IMO)...being that most programmers cost $400+ it'll take you over a year just to break even. If you have plenty of money then go for it...but being that you're worrying about your mpg like the rest of us i'm guessing you don't.

The Peddler · #7 07-03-2008, 07:07 PM

Quote:

ORIGINAL: SeVeReDiStOrTiOn

Using the money on gas instead of a programmer is the best way to go IMO. Say you save $30 a month in gas with the tune(that's a stretch IMO)...being that most programmers cost $400+ it'll take you over a year just to break even. If you have plenty of money then go for it...but being that you're worrying about your mpg like the rest of us i'm guessing you don't.

That is kinda what I was thinking. Right now I am getting about 18 mpg on the highway, and 14.5 in city. I was just wanting to know if a programmer would really make it that much better.

Scott06HEMI · #8 07-03-2008, 07:13 PM

ok, took me a few minutes to figure out why but bwhite's math is wrong. actually the math is right, the thinking is wrong. you are thinking of the .39 as 39 cents per mile...it's actually .39 miles per $dollar. it is going to take about 14,000 miles to make up the difference. Look at in 1000 mile increments.

1000miles @ 13.5mpg = 74gallons x $3.90 (per gallon) = $288.88 dollars spent for every 1000 miles driven.
1000miles @ 15.0mpg = 66.6gallons x $3.90 = $260.00 dollars spent for every 1000 miles driven.

thats a difference of $28.88 per 1000 miles if you are getting 15mpg vs 13.5mpg
$28.88 per 1000mi (or divide and get .0288 dollars per mile saved)
$400/28.88 = 13.85 (lets round up to 14)
$28.88 x 14 = $404.32 (or at .0288 dollars per mile x 14,000miles = $404.32)

Sorry but I spent 20 minutes trying to figure out how it didn't make sense. I WISH i could save $400 for every 1000 miles i drove.

bwhite757 · #9 07-03-2008, 07:59 PM

lol, see I told you my math was bad... wow, I didn't realize it was that bad though... hmmm...

I know it didn't make since to me either... Geezz, lol...

Ok, well in that case it'll take me roughly 6 months to pay for it... Dang...

SeVeReDiStOrTiOn · #10 07-04-2008, 12:29 AM

Yea his math was wrong but his heart was in the right place... I just try to keep it simple.

Say you go from 15 mpg to 16 mpg like White stated with a tuner...that's 1 mile per gallon increase on a 26 gallon tank which is 26 extra miles per fill up.

So againgetting 16 mpg you're not quite saving 2 gallons (1.6 gal) and at a gas price of 4.30 per gal you're saving $6.88 per tank. I fill up close to 3 times a month so I'd be saving $20.64 and would take me almost 2 years to break even with tax and all that. Of course there's other perks a tuner has but buying one strictly for mpg isn't a great idea IMO.