thanks to everyone investigating the Vehicle Performance TSB #18-037-04...

just had my truck done...made my overhead console accurate and improved my mileage quite a bit....reset my overhead and set the cruise on 75 mph....was averaging 17.2 mpg for my first 36 miles and it was still increasing when i got home...

i'm happy!

 

That sounds great! Can I ask what your fuel economy was before the flash? I am trying to decide whether to get it or not because my fuel economy is pretty good now.

 

My fuel conomy is pretty good now, too, but it's lower than what everyone who's gotten the reflash done is now getting. For my normal around town commute combination city/highway it's getting roughly 15.7. Everyone so far has reported good things, so I made the appointment to get my truck flashed on Friday.

 

My combined is more in the range of 12.5 - 13.5. Highway is about 16-17 (all empty). I thought I'd wait and see before flashing, but now I'm wondering . . .

 

Got mine set to reflash this Thursday. I'll let you know how it does. Current mpg: about 17 hwy (some city) and overhead off by 2+ mpg

 

I run between 2 cities a lot. I have been avg around 14.4 to 15 mpg on this trip empty (65% hwy). I had the reflash done last night and did the same trip today and I avg 18.6 mpg!!! What makes this even more impressive is the fact that it was much colder on this trip then it usually is, plus I was pulling my small trailer w/ my 4 wheeler on it. I guess I should say that I also run a TST that did increase my mpg slightly. I think the new TSB has helped my truck in many ways.

 

Just contacted my dealer about the reflash and they said they wont do it because the motor hasn't been broken-in yet. I have 3500 miles, they said wait until 6500.
Anyone else get the reflash with low miles?

 

Oh, and Coolslice, the TST will throw-off the overhead and it will read high. You will need to hand-calculate your milage for actual.

From TST's webpage:
"Advancing timing with power level 1 or above should improve fuel mileage 5 to 10 % if the driver can resist the temptation to use lots of power. Don?t be misled by the in-cab mpg meter in that it does not know about the extra fuel we add thus it shows really big improvements in mileage."

 

I have an appointment for Thursday, The service manager asked how many miles on my truck. Just under 3000 and he said ok. Not sure why he asked.. I may ask him when I drop it off.

 

Setting 1/1 is timing only. No extra fuel is added so on that level I don't see how the overhead is being fooled?

Per TST: Power level #1 advances timing only for good fuel mileage, reduced exhaust temperature, and adds about 30 wheel horsepower but does not add extra fuel.

 

T&T
The tsb flashes the engines computer.Not the actual engine. When you purchased your home computer, Did you have to wait till it was broken in before adding games, software ect...The dealer was feeding you a line of $****. Besides I believe the brand new rams sitting on the dealers lot already have this upgrade and I'm pretty sure they don't have 3500 miles on them.
Just a thought
Odie

 

Are dealers charging for the reflash or is it a free service??

 

odie2219,
I agree, however the dealer related the bad milage and white smoke at startup to the fact that I only had 3500 miles on the engine, and that it will improve with a few thousand more miles. I will still have it done, just may wait though.

Coolslice,
Yep 1/1 is timing only, sorry you didnt specify what setting and I assumed the worst. Sorry.

 

Mine was covered under warranty. You MUST complain about bad mileage and white smoke at start up. I'm not sure, but I don't think they can do the TSB just upon request unless you are telling them your truck has a condition that it will fix.

T&T- My bad, you were right. I failed to mention my setting and the TST will fool the computer on other settings. For what its worth, I just drove about 150 hwy miles this morning doing between 70 -75 mph. Overhead was reading 19 mpg at the end!!! I was a bit worried about the computer being off and it may be, but I have done approx 190 miles on about 1/4 of a tank which it never has done. I'm loving this new TSB so far.

Ryan

 

One question that I have before I make the call is whether y'all have noticed any change in power? or performance?