2009 Dodge Ram - how much timing advance?

[ogdog2009]

I just received my Predator this afternoon. I was really excited because I had some great results with the one I bought for my '04 GTO. The only performance bolt-ons I have purchased so far are a Volant CAI and MagnaFlow custom performance muffler (mufflex). I already have 3" dual exhaust STOCK. What would be some good parameters to modify? I messed around and did the following:

#1 - Turned off the MDS.
#2- Spark Advance (+5 degrees) for 1K-3.8K & 4K-5K, (+6 degrees) 6K-7K
#3 - WOT Fuel (+4 RICH) for ALL (3) fuel curves
#4 - Adjusted my shift points for (1st - 2nd) & (2nd - 3rd)
#5 - Increased my Throttle Sensitivity to +5%.

I already have a 3.92 rear-end. I am trying to get the truck a little quicker off the line. I have alot of trucks trying to take me off the line! Is there any other '09 Ram 4X4 1500s out there that have some bolt ons that can give me some advice with this Predator? Thanks guys!! Awesome product!!

[DGatzby1]

Everything looks good, but you need to check on advancing the timing 5-6 degrees more, could be too much. Check your ST knock at that setting. I would be surprised that the engine is really taking that much additional timing. Have you checked to verify that it is quicker with the timing that far advanced over the DS settings? You do understand that the fuel and timing settings you can set are only changed at WOT?

The 3.92 sounds fun, it should rock off the line!

[ogdog2009]

I am still a novice at this...what is a "ST" knock and how do I check it? The truck seems alot more responsive. I changed alot of these settings on my '04 GTO w/ another Predator. That vehicle does not have electronic throttle control though. What is the best way to figure out if I am running too little or too much fuel as well as timing? I could never figure it out on my GTO. I figured w/ a CAI...I am gettin alot more air? This truck is just screamin' for me to get a ram air (functional) hood! The throttle body is sitting right on top of the intake manifold looking at the bottom of the hood!!! Thanks man...

Benny

[concoursd]

ST knock is short term knock. Its basically pinging. When the vehicle pings because of bad gas, too much timing, oil burning, or too lean of a fuel mixture, the truck will compensate by reducing the spark timing and consequently reducing performance as well.

So, ST knock can be monitored, among other things, by using the diagnostics features of your predator. Specifically, the datalogging feature. If the predator is left plugged into the truck and setup for datalogging, you can drive around as it records what your truck is doing. You can view the recorded "runs" on the predator screen or on your PC. You can also stream the datalogging to a laptop inside your truck.

You want to minimize knock. The hemis will have some knock inherently. The goal is to get it to zero but that is pretty much impossible. The oil vapors from the PCV system on the hemi further complicate the knock issue which cause hemis to knock under stock conditions and modified conditions.

You can reduce knock, if recorded, by adding fuel and reducing spark timing with the predator. This is should be based on datalogging and not random inputs without information. So, dont go adding spark timing to the diablo tunes until you have done some dataloggin with them as is.

[Nanner5.7]

Does anyone still frequent this forum? I’m fairly new to tuners and what they can do. I just got a Diablo trinity ex 2 platinum and installed it in my 06 Dodge Ram 2500 with the 5.7 Hemi. I’m trying to get more power out of the engine. I did a full rebuild on it a couple years ago. Didn’t do anything special. Truck now has a generic brand cold air intake, throttle body spacer which doesn’t seem to do much but it’s there, a 3” exhaust cutout after the cats and 35” tires. I’m not trying to race the truck. I do a bit of towing with it. Last load of gravel was 10,000lbs plus the weight of the trailer. My truck probably weighs about 10,000 as it sits. I carry chains and cables, a chainsaw, oil, coolant, my automotive tool and other miscellaneous crap. I’m using the 91 octane tune and have been putting 92 in the truck. I cranked up the throttle booster to 20% which is max. I’ve advanced the timing 2 degrees at WOT spark and MBT spark and I’ve changed the WOT fuel setting to +5%. I’m also using the pre programmed performance trans tune. The truck is quite a bit different than it was without the tuner and I’m loving it. What else can I do without hurting my engine? Of course I got some more power and now I want even more…

[mikel]

adding 2* to the 91 tune is the same as running the 93 tune...
have you logged for knock?
should always start there before adding timing.

[Nanner5.7]

Still pretty new to the tuner and what it can do. Haven’t done any data logging yet. It doesn’t have an option for a 93 tune. I just don’t want to hurt my engine but I want more power. Am I on the right track other than skipping a couple steps like the data logging?

[mikel]

Id really never suggest adding timing without confirming its first happy at the current timing level.
if its already knocking, adding more will just make it worse.