Tracking Gas Milage and Performance of an Intake

[TheBigAndy]

I decided about a month ago to see if this mod is worth it. Here is how I am going to determin it...


gas milage (averaged over a month) Before and after the mod.
1/4 Mile Slips


I know this is not all scientific as there ar many variables, but we will see if there is noticable difference in MPG.


Pre-Mod Numbers

Gas Milage (87 Oct)
Date Of Fill Up Milage
9/18/2006 20.44
9/25/2006 19.02
10/7/2006 17.92
10/14/2006 21.45
Total 19.66

Track Times (best of 6 runs May 06, LVMS 99 Degrees F)
R/T --- .352
60' --- 2.525
330 --- 7.207
1/8 --- 11.001
MPH --- 65.12
1000--- 14.242
1/4 --- 16.959
MPH --- 83.04

Now To buy the Intake and track the results...

I have decided on the K&N 63 Series Air Intake 63-1117, Which I have found for about $250 Shipped. So here is my math to justify the purchase...
I currently Spend on average $163 on gas a month. If I get 1 more MPG (up to 20.66 on average) it would bring my monthly gas cost down $7.50 a month. With that savings it would Pay for itself in just about 33 months (or 2.7 Years).

I should have the extra cash to buy one on... November 10th... So we should expect results in december-ish. I will be sure to update, and I am throwing a link to here in my sig.

[LoneStar]

It might not be scientific but real world numbers don't lie. Good luck and I look foward to your findings.

[TheBigAndy]

It might not be scientific but real world numbers don't lie. Good luck and I look foward to your findings.

Thanks for the support. In all of posts I have never seen any one support any evidence to support better gas milage or to disprove it. I plan on continuing this (1/4 stats and MPG tracking) with other mods. Here is my list of whats to come after the intake...

Jet Stage 2 Chip
Mopar Dual Cat Back
Headers (if the other thread pans out)
Throttle body (if possible)
Lighter wheels (anyone know the weight on the stock ones?)

[charginscott]

It might not be scientific but real world numbers don't lie. Good luck and I look foward to your findings.

Science is science but real world - well we all know that is where it is.

[cjsCharger]

I really look forward to your findings also. You might try to keep note of what your driving conditions were for each fillup. (Highway, city, playing around, outside temperatures) This would make it even more of an accurate study. I think I improved my power with my intake, but I never saw a change in my mileage, so good luck!

[broc2238]

I'm looking forward to your finding. Just remember to keep your foot out of it with the new intake on or the MPG may take a turn for the worse :D

[TNCHARGER]

Remember that weather may affect your mileage...mine drops approx 1.5 mpg during the summer... probably due to running the a/c....this may skew your results...

[TheBigAndy]

Hey thanks for all the input. I actually only drove the charger to works and never used the AC, and I floored it only a few times per tank. The driving is along 15 miles each way, and is kinda highway kindy not. It on the 215, speed limit 55 (i do 65) and a 3 mile strech of construction (45). The only catch is that on this road there are no over passes, so I can potentialy have to stop for 5 lights. (hence not really all highway). Hope this info helps.

[superdart]

Are you going to do before and after dyno runs?

Myself and a few friends "engineered" and built 3 CAIs for the Dodge Ram 4.7.
This was back when they were NEW and there were no CAIs on the market yet. We went to a small ricer shop. We put the truck on the dyno and got a baseline. Then, without taking off the dyno, we installed the CAI and ran it again.

We saw a 9.2hp & 26ft/lb gain!! Best of all we only had $100 invested in the whole thing ($50 was the K&N cone filter). Yes, that is header tape to keep the engine heat out of the pipe. Here is the kit as it is installed on my truck currently:

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=11602&stc=1&d=1161462477

http://www.chargerforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=11601&stc=1&d=1161462360

[BLKCHARGER]

Are you going to do before and after dyno runs?

Myself and a few friends "engineered" and built 3 CAIs for the Dodge Ram 4.7.
This was back when they were NEW and there were no CAIs on the market yet. We went to a small ricer shop. We put the truck on the dyno and got a baseline. Then, without taking off the dyno, we installed the CAI and ran it again.

We saw a 9.2hp & 26ft/lb gain!! Best of all we only had $100 invested in the whole thing ($50 was the K&N cone filter). Yes, that is header tape to keep the engine heat out of the pipe. Here is the kit as it is installed on my truck currently: PICS OMITTED


What size piping did you guys use for that setup?

[superdart]

I used 3" I.D. exhaust pipe. Since the 4.7 is a 68mm TB, the 78MM pipe is capable of supplying more than enough air.We had it bent at the local Midas shop based on a cardboard template we made to show the angles we needed. Unfortunately it is compression bent, so there is likely some restriction in the bends. I would love to build a new pipe later that uses mandrel 90 degree bends, but with the power this kit is producing, I'm not complaining.

Currently, with 3.92 gears, the CAI, all Amsoil fluids, Edlbrock muffler, and a tonneau cover, my truck is getting 17-18mpg city/hwy combined. Using the cruise on the highway, no city driving, gets me about 21mpg. Pretty good for a truck.

BTW my truck currently dynoes 201hp & 265ft/lbs. Nothing impressive, until you take in to account a 4.7L is ONLY suppose to make 235 & 295 at the flywheel. Next I will be going to an electric fan, and installing a ported TB, along with a high flow cat when the factroy one craps out. I'm not actually worried about power, but it's nice to see my mods are working, and it's FUN :D

After seeing a few of the Charger CAIs, I think I'd build my own again, as it was cheap, fun, and you get braggin rights!