Brian Wilson | 2000 Durango R/T

WELCOME

November 17^th 2008 After a trip to Toronto (ACC) and my usual morning city commute to work for a week I averaged 17.83L/100km. Not too bad considering I ran into heavy traffic due to poor weather conditions. I also pumped in an extra 2L of fuel after I would have normally stopped. But, at 91.6c/L for 91 octane it was hard not to squeeze more in there. If I took the extra 2L I pumped in, into consideration, the more realistic number is 17.38L/100km. Idling in the mornings to scrape off the ice/snow mix has sunk fuel economy to around 22L/100km during my morning commute through town. I leave early enough that I'll only hit a few lights rather than going out of my way a bit and taking the highway, which is not only on a slight incline from driving through town, it won't save me any time. I have yet to see the code P0138 appear for a third time. Canadian Tire has O2 sensors on sale this week for 20% off, so I'll pick one up and have it installed. I'll probably do an emissions test as well with the denser air so I won't have to worry about it come spring time. For the test, I'm going to leave all the mods on, and leave the Superchips installed on the 91 Performance setting.

November 3^rd 2008 Winter has arrived. Some light snow a couple days ago and I've been a bit lazy and allowed the truck to idle for longer periods than I should have. I drove 263km on 62.5L of fuel which netted me a terrible 22.08L/100km. Fuel was down to under $1.L so I did overfill the tank this round by over 2L, so actual mileage would've been closer to 20L/100km, still not the greatest. My next transmission service, due in Feb 2009, will include installing Amsoil ATF. The only downside is that I won't flush the transmission as Dodge transmissions with bands are notorious for failing after a transmission flush (with higher mileage by the way). This means I'll only exhange 4L of the 12L capacity. I am debating to do a flush, but everyone has been telling me not to.

October 27^th 2008 Fuel economy update: After driving 499.8km (rounded up to 500), my overhead overstated my mileage by nearly 1L at 18.97L compared to my actual (hand calculated as always) mileage of 18.04L/100km. Most miles were driven around town with a few short highway trips for those who are wondering. This is starting to be consistant with the last few tanks. My thought stays the same in thinking that a proper tune will allow the computer to learn the mods I've added to the vehicle. I'm not so sure it will in fact work, so I'm not going to go blow $1K on a proper custom tune at this time. I've had code PO138 pop up a couple times now over the last month. The code means that I have irregular voltage going to the O2 sensor. I'll have the wires to the sensors checked along with new sensors installed when the next service is due. This should further increase mileage as I have reason to believe the O2 sensors are OE. As I haven't had the time to install my MSD6 ignition this fall it'll be tops on my to-do list come spring time. I've also kept a closeful eye on my tire pressure, which for the most part have remained constant between 33-34psi. Once a tire drops to 32 or below I will add air just to keep everything on an even keel.

October 22^nd 2008 I've found some new added performance today after changing out the transfer case fluid with Amsoil ATF. I purchased two quarts of the fluid several months ago so I could save on shipping as I had to order other products, and the service was finally due to change out the fluid. I also had the engine oil and filter changed with Amsoil 5W30 Xl motor oil. It's rated at 7,500miles or 12,000kms. As 50% of my kms are put on around town I opt to change the oil around 6-8,000kms depending on how much I've been hauling/towing etc. The oil was black at 7500kms this time, so I had it changed out before the cold weather settles in. I'll change it every 6-7K in winter for optimal performance. This means only 2-3 oil changes per year as opposed to my 4-6 oil changes a year. Net savings is about $100/year over non-synthetic products. During that 7500kms I topped up the crankcase with 0.5/qt around 5200kms. At 7500 it could've used a 0.33/qt for another top up but with it being oil change time, I didn't worry. Once I put another order together I'm going to switch the transmission fluid over to Amsoil ATF as well. I will not do a transmission flush as higher mileage transmissions on Dodge products are known for failing shortly after having the service performed. It'll take a few transmission changes before the fluid is nearly all Amsoil ATF. I expect to see another mileage increase once I do the transmission change now that the transfer case fluid has been upgraded to Amsoil. Stay tuned.

October 19^th 2008 I've completed another mileage leg with good news. I drove 529km and put in 80.077L which nets a mileage rating of 15.137L/100km with 90% highway driving at 55-60mph and minimal idling. Overhead computer stated a bit worse so I would imagine that the computer doesn't fully compensate for the mods I've added to the vehicle that increase performance (and mileage!). Since I installed the mods all on the same day I cannot say which was is (or which one's are) responsible for the increased mileage. Once this exhaust system of mine rots out in a year or two and I upgrade the exhaust with a cat back system, I plan to get a B&M computer flash to get the most bang for my buck with the mods I've added.

October 11^th 2008 Mileage has improved over what was stated on the overhead to what I hand calculated. It wasn't as good as the last tank but it was just over 1L/100km better when I hand caluclated the mileage. 460km for 81.527L of fuel works out to 17.723L/100km. The overhead was in the 18L/100km range. I'm due for another fill-up in a few days and will post the results. Power steering fluid top up is still minimal. It ticks me off that I have to purcahse a quart of fluid for the sake of requiring a couple ounces every few months to top up the reservoir. Bilsteins are holding up well. I took the D down a few light trails and there was enough suspension squeaking and moaning to make sure the shocks got a good workout. I've searched online for ways to replace OE parts with lighter components, but have been unable to find any that are cost effective. Not to mention the fact that there aren't many aluminum parts available.

September 19^th 2008 After a tire rotation my tires have only lost 1/32" of tread (started out with 13/32). I imagine these tires will last well over 100K which makes them an excellent deal at a mere $0.00973/km! Another note in regards to fuel economy and modifications done to the 'D'. After another tank of mixed city/highway driving my overhead computer calculates my fuel use at 12.5mpg (US), or roughly 18.8L/100km. After filling up (68.348L for 408km) my average is 16.75L/100km. My last tank was similar with nearly a 2mpg difference. I keep fueling until the nozzle shuts off for the third time. Needless to say I'm quite impressed for a 360 cubic inch V8 with full time 4WD. I would imagine the computer cannot compensate for the mods done to the vehicle. I've also noted over the last month that when travelling with over drive off, it used to engage as low as 55km/h (1150rpm), now it won't engine until a touch below 60km/h @ 1300rpm. Not that I'm complaining any, as it helps driving performance but why I also get better mileage than the overhead is another story that I plan to keep an eye on. One last thing that I want to point out is comparing my mileage to smaller engined vehicles that weight less: The Dodge Nitro from the reviews I've read by editors haven't gotten any better than 15.2L/100km, which isn't too good for a 3.7L V6 and a single speed AWD system. The V6 2wd Ram with the 3.7L averages close to the same mileage as it is a heavier truck but geared a bit longer allowing lower highway rpm. I find this intriguing because if I were to find a way to lighten my Durango even by a few hundred pounds, how much better performance will be, as well as mileage. Stay tuned.

September 4^th 2008 It's been over a week now with the Bilstein's installed. Ride quality is much improved. The squeaking and groaning of the old OE shocks is gone. Only if I turn over large pot holes do the Bilstein's let out a little chirp. The u-joints are in dire need of replacement now. The shock loading when changing gears from park is bad enough that I know it's going to happen, but I can't brace myself enough for the impact now! It's getting more annoying when I stop, then accelerate again as it gives off a subtle 'clunk' sound. I'll get the rear two u-joints changed out next month and the front two replaced before winter sets in. Last, I have to point out that the BF Goodrich Long Trail T/A tires that I purchased over a year and a half ago are holding up great and the tread is still like new. Over that time period I've rolled 30,000kms on the tires. Another rotation is due now.

August 25^th 2008 After an attempt to install the shocks myself, I found out that my hydraulic jack, or the spare tire jack, cannot lift the D to the required height to install the shocks. I have no way to compress the shocks so I took it into the dealer for the install. I've been putting off installing some Amsoil ATF in the transfer case, so that will be done this afternoon as well. From centre pin to centre pin, the rear Bilstein's measure just a touch over 25". The stock shocks on the D with the D resting on the ground, measure 21" pin to pin. I could only get a 24" reach out of both jacks. Just over an inch short!! Dealer ended up doing the install unfortunately. Pics have been uploaded of the Bilsteins installed.

August 18^th 2008 Bilstein's have arrived! With any luck I'll be able to install these within' a week, unless I get an early day off from work then I can take a couple hours and install them in the evening. They're larger than I had thought, but as I've never held new shocks before I suppose it's OK. The boots are thick rubber and should last a long time. I can't wait to get the old shocks off!

August 17^th 2008 Bilsteins should arrive by UPS tomorrow! I had some relatives loaded into the D today and noticed even more axle hop when driving around the pitted mall parking lot at low speeds. It's almost as if the shock loading, err, rebound if you will, is nearly non-existent. I've pulled out my Hayned manual and plan to do the shock exchange myself as soon as I get a day with no rain!

August 13^th 2008 I ordered Bilstein shocks and they should arrive in 3-5 business days. Total out the door including Customs and taxes is estimated to be $312 or roughly $78/shock. I have two quarts of Amsoil ATF that I'll get installed in the transfer case at the same time the shocks are installed. The last week I've really noticed the ride deteriorating. Even driving over manhole covers and small potholes the rear axle wants to do the steering for me! Needless to say I should be quite impressed with the Bilstein's once they're installed.

August 11^th 2008 Rust. It's starting to appear all over the front bumper. I'm thinking of taking it off and spray bombing it with dupli-colour once I have a couple days off. There's about 14 small rust spots that have formed now and it's aggrivating me. I've also been going through some power steering fluid ever so slowly. I have to add an ounce or two every 1500kms. It's not frequent, but still has be a bit concerned. I had a couple P.S. lines replaced over a year ago and for the life of me I cannot see any noticeable leaks. I drove through an automated car wash today to get rid of the grime but it still needs a good soap & brushing before I can wax the beast. I patched up a few paint chips around the doors and covered up some rust spots around the rocker panels. My radiators are getting full of bugs/road debris so I'm probably going to purchase some grille guards instead of trying to install a makeshift screen that I'll probably screw up! New shocks are also in the works. I will probably purchase a set of Bilsteins off E-Bay for around $275 to my door.

July 24^th 2008 Testing is complete. I put on 50 miles of spirited driving after rush hour this evening and I didn't hear any engine knock! Just a shame I have to feed the 360ci V8, 91 octane fuel. I tuned the Superchips to 91 Octane Performance setting and it just WORKS! I'm quite impressed by the ferociousness of my new found V8 power. Once this tank is burned off I'll do accurate mileage tests and am hoping for a slight gain due to the increased oomph.

July 23^rd 2008 I'm in trouble. The purpose of me purchasing the Superchips 3715 programmer was so I could save $500 a year or so in fuel running the 87 octane program. I'm in the final phasing of testing and installed the 91 performance setting. Months ago, I orignally installed the 91 towing performance setting which gave off an idle sound that didn't quite sit well with me. The 87 octane setting works, but I can't step on the go-pedal without some serious pinging happening in the higher rpm range. Normal driving it works fine but even when I encounter hills and put the pedal only to maintain speed it pings/knocks. My test drive proved wonderful on the 91 octane setting. I pretty much drained my tank of 87 octane and threw in 50L of 91 octane and programmed the PCM to the 91 performance setting. When coasting there is a noticeable difference in NVH. The engine seems to run smoother (as my R/T was originally designed to run 91 octane). As its pouring rain outside today I can't properly test for pinging. I'll do a proper test over the next few days.

July 20^th 2008 My exhaust system turned out to be OK. I tightened down the header bolts and pactched up a small hole on the pipe before the muffler. Sound hasn't changed much but has improved the at-speed resonance. After my usual 55mph highway commute to visit the out-laws and with the AC on for the majority of the 410km trip (both ways), I averaged 16.4mpg, which is still above the EPA estimated rating. I will also note that I was carrying quite a bit of heavy cargo; baby, stroller, 3 large duffel bags and some odds and ends which probably weighed close to 500lbs. All in all, the D did great in the 37C weather. I'm still meaning to clean up and wax the exterior and get some updated photos!

July 15^th 2008 I believe my stock exhaust is finally on its way out. Over the last several months it has gotten louder. I realized it more so the other day when I left the D running and was loading groceries into the back. I'm in no rush to replace the stock system as it works great. I've been eyeing the Magnaflow cat-back which seems decently priced, and a good performer for the long haul. This weekend I'm going to try the 91 performance tune on my Superchips as I've only tried the 91 towing performance and the 87 octane. I'll report shortly.

July 2^nd 2008 It's that time again, filed up with gas. I went with 89 octane to test the performance (or, um, knock resistance) with my Superchips tuned for 87 octane. From a standing stop when I put the go pedal to the floor, I don't notice pinging, but it still seems to be prominent in the 2500-3400rpm range when I'm rolling along a city street and decide to romp on the go pedal. One thing that I have considered is that I squeezed in a touch over 80L, meaning 15L of fuel in the tank is 87 octane giving me a 88.2 or so octane rating. I'll try a second tank when the time comes and see how it performes and will do a mileage test. Last tank with 75% city driving I netted 12.8mpg, which is a touch better than normal (12.2-12.4 avg over last two years). I'm taking the same route to work and back by the way and the same single trip to two stores every two weeks like clockwork to get accurate readings. As I do not control the weather that's only the real deciding factor to consider here. I will also point out that it's been over two months since I've installed the pads and rotors and just now I realized that I forgot to put anti-squeal on the brakes. They're still as silent as can be but I may add some anti-squeal before the winter hits. The rotors still look like they've just been machined - as clean as can be!

June 20^th 2008 I've decided to start freshening up the D. I'm starting outside and working my way in. One thing I'd like to do but isn't economically feasible at the moment is to repait the front bumper on both sides as there is some rust starting to drip down onto the lower part of the right fender! For now, I've spent a few bucks and bought a can of rust paint that's actually designed for the underbody of the vehicle. I went through the whole can and managed to put a thick coat (enough so it wouldn't drip) around the rear axle, springs, and trailer hitch to give it a 'like new' look. I've posted photos and it's quite comparible to the rusted axle of yore! One thing I might do next spring is take a grinder to the trailer hitch and smooth out the bubbles that make it look beat-up, then repaint it with a gloss black paint as I did today. As soon as I see the Rhino ramps on sale I'll get a set and paint the front section. I'm hoping to remove the bumper so I don't have to use a hand to hold up the cardboard; as I want to get the bumper repainted anyway. Photos will follow later today! Once I can manage a full detail I'll take photos.

June 16^th 2008 My K&N intake over the TB is rubbing on one corner against the hood. I've tried to readjust the filter assembly but it still rubs. The rubber gasket that came new with my 52mm TB may be causing the problem as it did seem thicker than the original. I'm going to play around with a couple things to see what I can do to fix this as I don't want a hole melted into my intake! I had a fuel theft a couple days ago and I have since purchased a locking gas cap. I'm debating how it'll hold up in the winter months, but for now with gas at $6.08/gallon I calculated it out to be a good investment. I would imagine the price of these babies will go up with demand as fuel prices will continue to rise. Europe is paying approx $2.25 Canadian/L!

June 5^nd 2008 The new pads and rotors work great! After a month since I installed them and they hardly even look rusty, which is good considering the amount of rain we've received over the last few weeks. I did another highway jaunt and am glad to report that my overall trip mileage has improved from 18.3mpg to 18.9/19.0mpg US (hand calculated/overhead). That's steady state crusing with a few stops along the highway for construcion with a cruise speed of 55mph (88km/h). My front bumper has started to rust in a few areas, no doubt due to stone chips and bugs that I've been reluctant to clean off. A paint touchup and a full three phase wax job is in order. Best part was that I ordered Mothers� products through my Amsoil dealership and it was 8% cheaper than buying at Canadian Tire including shipping so I couldn't go wrong! Save $8 on fuel to go get the stuff and have it delivered for cheaper. Anyway, Once I got it all spiffied up I'll definitely take some photos which are long overdue. I'm also really pushing to get the Rancho RS9000 adjustable shocks....

April 29^nd 2008 I managed to install new rotors and pads today as the weather held out. Took me just over an hour to install! The pevious pads and rotors weren't very old, about one and a half years, and I threw them out!. Ah well, at least I saved myself $160 in labour at the dealer; and that annoying wheel squeak is GONE! I'm impressed with the quality that the Monroe pads offer. I did the install at another house that had a level driveway as mine is full of holes and isn't level. I left the camera back at my place of course. Pedal feel has also improved ever so slightly. The old pads weren't even worn 1/5".

April 22^nd 2008 Mileage verdict is in. I've been achieving 1-2mpg better driving on regional roads. Most hills require less throttle than before due to the added modifactions to boost performance. Besides U-joints and a cat back system to install yet I have had an ongoing squeak sound from the left front wheel. Dealer diagnosed it at no charge and told me it needed pads and a new rotor as the one pad was wearing unevenly causing the side with more pad to rub against the hub. Cost - $425.00. Needless to say I decided to go to Canadian Tire and picked up two steel wiper blades, two Monroe rotors, and a set of Monroe pads for $186. A lot better than the dealers quote! I figure it'll take me a good three hours to install. I'm betting the pads and rotors are of better quality than the OEM items. With any luck I'll get better brake feel with this setup as the Monroe pads are very thick, and made of a ceramic material.

April 5^th 2008 I filled up with 3/4 tank of 87 octane. At heavy throttle, especially around town accelerating from stops (as there is no wind noise), ping is very bad above 3500rpm. It sounds as if I had a handful of rocks in a tin can that was on high speed in a paint shaker! Needless to say I'm going to keep the throttle light and see how that goes. I don't hear any pinging at lower rpms - which is GREAT! This is the year of the pot hole, so I imagine I'll have to push ahead installing new shocks, just have to decide which ones to go with.

April 3^rd 2008 PING! Is the enemy of earlier LA and Magnum engines. I now have a full concentration of 87 octane fuel in the tank. Anything with more than half throttle with the rpms above 3200rpm creates heavy ping. Superchips is set on the 87 setting still by the way. I'm going to do some more tinkering and hopefully get my MSD6 unit installed this weekend - weather providing. Around town in normal driving with shifts between 2000-2500 rpm there are no signs of engine pinging! I'm going to get a few tanks of fuel to check mileage and will post an update on the performance. Also, the left front wheel bearing came in and I had it installed yesterday for nearly $700. Genuine Mopar parts - ick. However, I have great service at this dealer and will gladly pay the extra 10% over an unknown service shop. Much better piece of mind. The squealing I was hearing is gone. Now the U joints will set me back approximately $900 for all four (two front, two rear). I'll get them replaced within a months time along with some new shocks. I'm still torn between Bilstein and Rancho. I'm leaning more toward the Rancho shocks, just because I can get them at Canadian Tire and get huge rewards on my MasterCard. I'll book an apointment for the install when my next tire rotation is due.

March 29^th 2008 I weined the truck off 91 octane and installed the Hypertech 87 octane program. Before I did the install, I filled up with 4L of 89 octane then 17L of 87 octane still under the stock program (made to burn 91 octane). The drive back from the gas station left a none too settling pulsing sensation at idle. The D idles smooth with the 87 octane program installed. I'm going to take it out for a test run later tonight so see how it performs. If the engine doesn't miss or ping at all in the rpm range I'll keep the program installed and save myself $500 or so a year on fuel costs.

March 27^th 2008 Time for another wheel bearing. I replaced the front passenger bearing last November. Time has come for me to replace the front drivers side! $600 approx with taxes at the dealer. They're one of the most trustworthy places here to get it done. Besides, I looked for part options locally and online, and with shipping costs the bearing still runs over $450. For an hours labour for them to install it is worth the hassle. Besides, I'm not sure when I'll be able to get the D in for the install so the dealer will hold the part for me once it comes in. They've been great for service.

March 24^th 2008 Fuel economy is about the same. I've only driven 300km since the install of the K&N FIPK. Time will tell yet if mileage will improve any once I get a good highway run in. I found out that the spark plug heat shields aren't meant to be removed, so I had the dealer install my new plugs and wires as the weather here is still well below freezing. I kept my MOPAR wires and Champion spark plugs. They have a good 20,000kms left of life in them or about 40%. Most of the electrodes are in great shape for the mileage I had them installed for. Along with the NGK plugs, I had my Taylor wires installed as well. Throttle response is much smoother. I still have the MSD 6A ignition to install. I'm also going to play with the Superchips and try the 87 octane setting once I require fuel. If it works it will net me a savings of over $500 a year!

March 14^th 2008 The Durango is back in my possession with the fender fixed (replaced), and I managed to install the K&N FIPK this afternoon. Idle is a bit louder, especailly after start up. It'll take a couple hundred miles to really notice any mileage difference, if there is one. I opened up the throttle on the highway after the install and there is a very small increase in power. It's mostly noticeable when passing. If I drive around town in traffic in second gear (not greater than 55km/h), performance is exceptional. All I have left is to install my MSD system with the Taylor wires. It was my intention to install the Taylor wires today as well, but the shields around the plugs caught me at a bit of a surprise. I tried to remove one with a pair of plyers and all I did was make part of the round protector flat. I'll try another attempt tomorrow to fiddle around if the good weather holds off. With last weeks two foot snowfall my mileage has dropped to the mid 12's, or around 18L/100km. Not to bad considering the amount of time I had the tires spinning through the white stuff. Plows didn't go down the side streets until 24hours after the start of the snow fall. Which made it great to play in!

February 23^rd 2008 My Durango will not be completed until Monday. So I am stuck with this little runabout until Tuesday, so I can get the weekly rate of $209.98 already discounted from getting referred from the dealer that's working on my truck. I soooo can't wait to get it back!

February 19^th 2008 I dropped off the Durango at the collision centre in Cambridge for the fender work. Should be ready to go Thursday. In the meantime, I've rented a Nissan Versa SL 1.8L hatchback. Full review will follow in a couple days. Click on Nissan Versa Test drive at left for photos and write-up! Can't wait to get the Durango back....

February 18^th 2008 It was a milder day so I managed to partly install my K&N FIPK. My original plans were foiled; to drop off the Durango and pick up a rental so I could get the dent fixed! Anyway, it started snowing really bad but I managed to relocate my cruise control solenoid and reinstalled the stock air box for the week. I need a nice day!!!

February 17^th 2008 Mileage is improving slightly with the milder temeratures. I averaged 15mpg on my last tank of fuel with only 50% highway driving (55mph). Not too bad. It's still not mild enough for me to install my MSD 6A unit, K&N FIPK and Taylor wires! I can't wait! LED tail lights will follow. Note: the bulbs will be LED, the taillights will remain stock!

February 12^th 2008 part two The Durango had its first ever accident. A ninety year old man decided to do a 360 in the middle of an intersection as cars were driving though. It could've been a lot worse if he didn't stop where he did blocking both lanes. The D got dented on the front left fender leaving just under $1500 in damages. He paid cash for it and it'll be getting fixed up this week at Galt Chrysler in Cambridge, ON. They're even going to buff the bumper at no charge as it was just scratched. I also require a replacement side corner lamp; the headlight itself wasn't damanged. Yes, there are photos posted in my photos section of the damage. Once the repair is done I'll post new photos!

February 12^th 2008 part one I took the Superchips programmer off the truck. I'm certain it had to do with the cold weather but the engine was running rough, but it wasn't missing or pinging at idle. It sounded like I had a 12" subwoofer set on low volume! Once the weather warms up I'll try another tune. Its hard to sit in a -21C truck long enough to tune it correctly. I attempted to install the Taylor wires yesterday afternoon but found out that the stock boots are 1/3 longer requiring me to remove the heat shields around the plugs which extend 3" from the block. I found out that they are removeable with a pair of pliers at least. I'll do another install attempt, again, when it warms up a bit. Took me nearly ten minutes to unhook and replace just one wire. I reinstalled the stock wire for now.

February 10^th 2008 part two For the first few miles I averaged about 10mpg until the engine warmed up! On the drive back from across town (10miles or so), I returned a good +1mpg according to the overhead computer. Averaged 17mpg instead of 16 at the same speed before I had installed the Superchips product. I'm positive the mileage will improve after I get the FIPK and MSD6A installed with the Taylor wires. As my commute increased to 25miles one way, I only drive it a couple times per week. The added performance on the highway will be awesome. Just have to wait for milder weather!

February 10^th 2008 It's too cold outside to install all the performance mods. I was however able to install the superchips MaxMicro tuner. I set it on the 91 Octane setting. Just for those that aren't familiar with the 2000 Durango R/T: It came from the factory with a 'performance PCM' that added 5hp and 5tq to the engine. The kicker was that the engine required premium fuel to operate. I'm going to take it for a test drive this afternoon once the roads clear a bit to see if performance has improved or not. I did not adjust any other settings such as tire height or speed limiter. Why? Simple - safety. My tires are only rated for 190km/h or roughly 118mph. The stock speed limiter is set at 115mph so there is no need to change either since my stock size tires are still on the truck and I can only go as fast as the tires will allow. The old Goodyear Wrangler HP tires that were on the truck previously were rated to 210km/h. If I decide to upgrade to 20" wheels I"ll get 230km/h tires to complement them. Then I'll have an excuse to raise the speed limiter. I also have this thing with running the engine over 2200rpm on a constant basis. At 180km/h it's running over 3500rpm and thats a no-no in my books with the big bore V8. After I get all the other parts installed (once the weather is better than -15!) I'm going to take the truck to Toronto, ON and get it properly tuned - only providing the Superchips doesn't work out for me.

February 9^th 2008 My parts from Performance Center have finally arrived! Only two and a half months later. Now, if the weather holds up I'll be able to get them installed this weekend!

February 4^th 2008 It's been over a week since I installed the 52mm TB and in two weeks I have a longish highway drive ahead of me, so I'll be able to get accurate mileage testing done! Also, I've heard from Performance Center, and my K&N intake has been shipped, so I should have that on hand to install for the weekend! Other parts to follow of course. Next step is to price around for new U-joints (four total). I'm getting tired of the bang/clunk when I put the truck into gear. Let alone that's all I need is a joint to break while I'm driving along somewhere! Dealer wants $900 with tax in. I'm definitely going to be phoning around.

January 30^th 2008 I've had some time to thoroughly break in my new TB. I believe the larger size has affected my engine braking ability, albeit, not by much! But it's still noticeable. I have yet to properly record any new MPG figures, but they will be in within' the next couple weeks so stay tuned for that. I have noticed by viewing the overhead display that I get more mpg when I coast and use a bit more fuel when I accelerate during regular driving. Performance Center finally got my order sorted out, turns out a couple grille guards that I ordered back in Oct of 07 have been discontinued! They still haven't credited my account accordingly nor mailed the performance mods that are in stock. Their customer service rep stated that I should receive the products within' the first week of Feb/08. We'll see....

January 25^th 2008 52mm throttle body from The Fastman is now installed! What a difference in performance this baby brings! Until I put the TB's side by side I couldn't believe how restrictive the stock TB is. Too see the difference check out my photos at left...its crazy. The part that gets me the most is the piece that's bolted in the middle to hold the air hat on - it blocks 10% of the surface area on the stock TB from letting air in! Definately more pick up right off the go with the Fastman unit, especially from 2000rpm and up! On a quick launch I've managed to confuse the limited slip and get single wheelspin momentarily for a couple seconds. The D is much more responsive...now if only my other mods will arrive!

January 24^th 2008 52mm throttle body from The Fastman has arrived! Took two weeks by US postal service and providing the weather is good I'll install it tomorrow! Check out my photos to view the new TB. It also included a new gasket and smooth top bolts forless air drag!

January 14^th 2008 After 6000kms on my Amsoil oil I finally have to add a bit to bring it back up to just below the full line. Half a quart! Not bad considering I did some higher speed driving (70mph). After working 15 hours straight, it seems best to turn my 30 minute commute into 15-20 minutes! I've ordered a Fastman TB a few days ago. I should be receiving it the same time my other performance mods, late this week or next week at some point. Priced out new U-joints (4 total), dealer wants $900/w tax to replace. Lowest place wants just under $600/w tax. A few of the cheaper shops seemed just that - cheap. I might bite the bullet and negotiate a price with the dealer to around $800 and I'll be content with that, since I know they'll do it right.

January 1^st 2008 Snow is finally here and The D runs through 2-3' high banks without incident. I live in a cresent so the plow leaves my area for last. So far this year no one has asked me if I plan to go out somwhere, so I can clear the way for them enabling them to follow in my tracks. I'm still waiting to receive my truck parts/upgrades from the Performance Center. They said 6-8 weeks for an international order around xmas time, so they have until Jan 14th! I've also passed 6,000kms with AMsoil motor oil and its still a light-medium brown colour. Regular oils are black at 4500kms in my Durango. The Amsoil oil is good until 25,000kms with a filter change at 12,500kms, but at 10K I'll do a full service again just to be safe.

December 1^st 2007 With xmas around the corner and several folks ordering vehicle parts online my order has been delayed a couple more weeks. ARG! I've learned that when it says that all the items that I've ordered are "in stock", not to believe it. I bought a couple car seat heat/massagers at Canadian Tire along with a 1 into 3 12V plug splitter. This way I can run the navigation direct from the battery and plug in the cell phone and seat heater cushions into the cig lighter socket. As I drive transport I have a 12V cooler that I got used, but in excellent shape. When camping season comes I'll put it to use with the rear 12V socket. I found a place locally that sells automotive LED bulbs, for taillights and such. So, hopefully this will help even out the electrical load when driving, and not drain the battery too much.

November 24^th 2007 The cold weather has arrived. With the Amsoil engine oil the D has been starting excellent. Temps have only dipped to -12C as of yesterday. When the temp drops below -5C or so the brakes are really touchy if I press on them with regular pressure. If I'm really light with the pressure they stop fine. When I increase the pressure they stop abruptly; enough to jerk my head around let alone the wife's. I would bet that the new wheel bearing I had installed (the old one had an ABS sensor on its way out as well) that the ABS system is now performing the way it should instead of pulsing my brakes when I'm idling around in a parking lot with my foot barely pressed against the pedal! It's better than it was in previous years but I have a feeling that I'll be taking the fuse out again this year since the system is rather annoying and unpredictable. My parts that I ordered nearly two weeks ago haven't arrived yet. I'm very anxious to get them installed before I go up to Sudbury, ON after the new year to visit relatives. It'll also put my 180F thermostat to the test.

November 14^th 2007 It's official. I was bitten by the 'mod' bug this afternoon and couldn't help but to order $1000 worth of engine upgrades. I've ordered a K&N FIPK, MSD ignition system w8ith taylor performance spark plug wires and Superchips micro tuner (all were on sale so I coudln't pass up). I also ordered some winter grille and bumper inserts. That was I can keep the 180 T-stat in all winter and not have to worry about the engine temp dropping too low while I'm on the highway. I'll see how they perform when I get them next week. I've also been off work for nearly two weeks from a mild flu/serious cold infection that just wouldn't go away. I'm feeling better now at least so I can pay off the VISA from the parts I ordered. Stay tuned!

November 7^th 2007 I'm glad I upgraded to synthetic engine oils. I've been driving around like mad (just had a baby, OK the wife did), and put on over 3000kms in the last few weeks from visiting out of town relatives. Now that I've caught some sort of mild flu from the hospital over the weekend I'm saddened to say I won't be driving the D much this week. Had the first snow fall of the year last night and I'm already waiting to get some that actually stays on the ground! Bring it on!

October 24^th 2007 Over the last couple months I have aquired a sqeak when making right hand turns. I'm going to replace the U-joints and U bolts when I get new shocks all around (after xmas) and see if that gets rid of the squeak and the poor-ish ride quality I've been noticing. Still, when I get out of my Freightliner and into the Durango, it drives like a brand new lexus!

October 7^th 2007 After a week of running on synthetic oil I have noticed a slight increase in mpg. With split 50/50 city highway I'm averaging right around the 14mpg US mark. Before it was 13-13.5mpg. I do plan to upgrade the transmission and transfer case to Amsoil ATF when the next service is due. Overall the truck has been running well considering I park it during the week while I drive transport. I've recently purchased a Garmin n�vi 360 GPS unit. It wasn't cheap, but the features will serve me well while I sit behind the wheel! I tested it out in the Durango today and it works excellent. I even drove off course and it rerouted me instantly. The only problem with using GPS and driving transport is it won't notify me of low bridges.

October 1^st 2007 Amsoil 5W30 has been installed in the engine! I decided to have a flush done at the dealer before installation. I've never used synthetic oil in my vehicles engines before and there hasn't been any noticeable gains of power/performance but with 5000lbs of truck to haul around its to be expected. With the Canadian dollar at a near 1:1 with the US dollar I'll be ordering more mods! Next month I'll be adding the K&N FIPK. I've decided to scrap the supercharger idea after several months of though. No, it wasn't the price that turned me away, it's the fact that I'll have to upgrade every other mechanical part to handle the increased output. My muffler is starting to rust near the back so that'll be a project for me early next year! Stay tuned....

September 23^st 2007 I started a new job and the D sat in the yard at work for 6 days. As my Durango was my daily driver, having it park for several days at a time worried me. I got back on Friday and man, it started up and ran like nothing before! I suppose I gave it a good vacation and it treated me well. I noticed that the volt meter went up faster than usual when I started it, just over 14V! Awesome. I'm going to order my K&N FIPK from my second pay (when I get it). Also, I'm going to live with the stock shocks for now since it's no longer my daily driver, just weekend toy.

September 10^st 2007 I had an issue after the wheel bearing was installed. Turned out the brake backing plate wasn't secured properly. It was making a rubbing noise at speed; now it runs as smooth as can be! Next item up to add - Bilstein shocks and K&N FIPK! I have two months left on the Lubrico warranty!

September 5^st 2007 I came back from Staples the other day with a few office supplies and while travelling down the local expressway I felt a very light pull on the steering wheel and my ABS & parking brake light came on. I thought right away that it was the rear wheel speed sensor. It turned out the right front ABS sensor had malfunctioned. I got the right front wheel bearing replaced and low and behold - a new sensor came with it! I do hate myself for not going around and pricing it first since the dealer took a good piece of me! Ah well.

September 1^st 2007 I've ordered the right front wheel bearing finally! It should be in next wednesday and ready for installation. With my new job pending (starting in two weeks), I've been going through dozens of online performance stores. My warranty runs out in a little over two months and I'm getting the itch to do some modifications to the D. Stage one will be intake, superchips and exhaust (stocker is very rusty). Stage two will include the hotchkis sway bar, fastman TB, MSD ignition system, 20" wheels and tires, upgraded front brakes. Strage three (the final stage) will include a ProCharger supercharger at 9psi for a rated 60% increase in HP and an upgraded transmission from the fastman to handle up to 700hp. I might seek alternate sources if I can find a better deal - but we'll see when the time comes! Stay tuned.

August 19^th 2007 The D cruises graciously at 1550-1700rpm (80-88km/h). Drove to MoparFest (New Hamburg) then onto Stratford to look around, and it was a smooth ride actually doing JUST over the speed limit speeds! Trip computer averaged 18-20mpg as the engine was barely churning over. I'm getting pumped up as some Amsoil ATF arrived that I plan on installing in my transfer case as soon as my next engine oil change is due. At that time I'll be installing Amsoil 5W30 in the crankcase as the warranty on my truck will be finished in a couple more months. This week I'm going to go all out and get the truck undercoated for the first time since I bought it, and do a complete 3 step wax!

August 3^rd 2007 The D is no longer consuming any oil. The plenum gasket has worked marvelously! I'm still in need of a front right wheel bearing (hub assembly) which will have to wait. When the wheel bearing gets replaced I'll have the shocks changed out for some Gas Magnum (Monroe HD) shocks or another aftermarket brand providing the price is right. Last month I inflated my tires to 34psi (from 31/32psi; max is 35) and removed the roof rack cross bars. I have noticed an increase in mileage. With 90% highway driving I achieved over 600km on 80L of fuel. Last tank I netted over 500km with 70%highway and 30% city driving. Needless to say, mileage has improved.

July 15^th 2007 I'm nearly due for another oil change since installing the plenum gasket and have noticed NO consumption! Just gave the D a wash and wax (used Mothers). I noticed that I've accumulated a lot more scratches since the last wash & wax. Yay - more work!

May 25^th 2007 It's installed!!! The plenum and intake gaskgets were installed over the last day and a half at the local lubrico warranty shop. I can now get my emissions test done - lovely. Truck runs great with no pinging or engine hesitation on acceleration! Awesome! Now to get that right front wheel bearing done....

May 3^rd 2007 It's arrived!!! My 1/4" thick aluminum plenum gasket kit from Hughes Engines has arrived! I also ordered an intake gasket kit as well, since the old gaskets cannot be reused.

April 24^th 2007 I have updated photos of the D! I still have no noise coming from the wheel bearing that the dealer wants me to replace. However I will shortly anyway as I want to get the front tires aligned as it's not only overdue but I want these new tires to wear evenly! I'm waiting on my servicing dealer to look up costs on getting an M1 intake installed. Should know the results later this week! Fuel economy is good also, averaging 17L/100km with split city/highway driving!

Mar. 24^th 2007 Another oil change has come and gone. Dealer mentioned that my serpentine belt has a crack in it and wants $160 for a new one, including installation. It dawned on me the other day that I've never replaced the PCV valve. I did that myself and saved $20 in labour! I have yet to notice, but apparently the left front wheel bearing has some play. Quoted $560 and change for the wheel bearing - just the left side! On the plus side, fuel economy has been averaging between 14-15L/100km. Most of that is with freeway driving and ignoring the wifes requests to go through drive thru-windows. I've also noticed over the last month that the truck rides rougher than it used to. Age? Tires? Who knows, it all checks out fine!

Feb. 2^nd 2007 Starting in -21C weather and no starting problems! I've driven nearly 700km on a fresh oil change and have noticed zero oil consumption...what changed? I'm still putting plans together to replace the plenum with an aluminum unit instead of the stock steel, just for added peace of mind. Fuel economy is now my winter average of around 10.5-11.5mpg. Last tank registered at 10.8mpg (23L/100km). No towing was involved but I did load up and deliver several hundreds of pounds of rock salt to some family members/co-workers etc. Largest load was 1100lbs (fifty 10kg bags of salt!). Even when loaded with an 800lb load the D drove as if it wasn't even there. I also must confess that I full throttled the truck when merging onto the highway! If I didn't do that I would probably average a good 12mpg per tank. The new BFGoodrich Long Trail T/A tires are performing better than expected. BSW out!

Jan. 11^th2007

The new tires have been installed and the ride is excellent! The BFG Long Trail T/As should prove themselves more as I roll on more miles. The BFG's must be made of softer rubber compounds as compared to my Goodyear Wrangler HP tires they replaced. The HP's were only good on dry surfaces but were beginning to show their age (cracking, and uneven wear from a previous bad tie-rod). The steering wheel is true to form and highway slogs should be a breeze. With any luck the tires will last a good 80 000kms! It's night out now but I plan to take some pictures after I wash'r up this weekend...so stay tuned.

I'm also working on getting to the bottom of oil consumption problem. As my truck is still covered by a Lubrico warranty for all powertrain problems I hope they'll cover the repair. Even if they do not I'll get it fixed out of my own pocked and order a Hughes Plenum Gasket which is said to be far superior to the weld-in ones. We'll see....

Jan. 10^st 2007 It's been a week and the Amsoil gear lube is working great! Great driveability! With the anti-slip (friction) modifier I required just a touch over 4 quarts of 75W90 severe gear fluid. I haven't switched to Amsoil engine oil quite yet (it's ready and waiting to go in that crankcase!) as my engine has been starting to consume oil over the last few months. I suspect the plenum (intake) gasket is leaking. I glanced down my TB and didn't see any excessive black oil buildup so I'm guessing if it is leaking it'd be leaking toward the front of the engine. The only course of action is to take it to my Lubrico repair facility to see if they will cover the repair. I've added a quart of oil to bring it up just below the 'max' line on the dipstick after 2000kms. It's at the 'add' line already and I'm due for another change and could easily add 1.5 more quarts. The sump holds 5 quarts (maximum capacity). I'll post again when I find out more details.

Canadian Tire also phoned to let me know that the tires I had ordered are ready for installation. Tomorrow I get the new tires installed!. I'm keeping both rear tires from my current set as they still have a good 5/32 of tread remaining (front tires are at, or just above the wear bars - arg!). The two rears will make good spares. The right rear tire over the last couple months has been holding a steady 20psi. I'll top it up to 32psi and it won't even last a week. Perhaps the offroad abuse has caught up to the tire. Not that the R/T rims are meant for such use!

Lastly, I've started looking around and collecting prices and specs on header/exhaust/Y- pipe and muffler setup. The whole system is starting to show its age, let alone the rusted exhaust tip looks horendous on a freshly cleaned, rust free vehicle (for now)!

Nov. 10^st 2006 I just received an order of Amsoil products to change the Dealer fluids over to Synthetic fluids. I am also an Amsoil Dealer. If you wish you can order products through myself by visiting here! If you wish not to go the online route, visit my contacts page to the left. To update on the battery gauge; it seems to raise faster now that I've put on a few more miles and started the engine a good 100 times. Winter is here and I'm back to my weekly work/errand schedule - no more holidays or out of town excursions. As such, my mileage is now a steady 12.5mpg with 80% city driving.

Oct. 18^st 2006 It has me baffled! Since the new battery installation, the batt. guage on the dash takes a good while to get up to 14.4V. WIth the old battery it would jump right up past 14V after start up. When I start up the D, the engine cranks, starts, and then the battery guage begins to climb at 10V...12 seconds later it finally arrives at 14.4 volts. I'm still trying different things to try and diagnose the problem. I connected another battery (80CCA lower) and the battery gauge was still slow to climb. I hate gremlins.

Sept. 1^st 2006 Well. I completed another highway leg (50-55mph), and achieved 17.9mpg as the trip average. The trip included a mere two stops briefly at red lights. Now that my wedding is all over with, the moving is done, I racked up nearly 8000kms on my Durango in 6 weeks! Plus an additional 2120kms on my Spirit during the same time frame. I have to commend my durango on how great it moves items around. With a mere 88cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, it seems like it held a lot more. I'm also in the market for a new trailer (cargo this time!).

August 13^th 2006 Fuel economy has dropped now that I sorted out an electrical problem. For two days it was getting harder and harder to start until it didn't start one afternoon! Got it to the shop the next day, and was told that the battery was kaput. Now instead of my volt gauge jumping right up to 14V, it slowly makes its way from 9V to 14V. Takes 15-20 seconds to get to 14V. It's going back in for another diagnostic as I believe there is a huge current draw somewhere in the syetem, or the alternator's pooched! Always something...!

July 9^rd 2006 Just took the Durango on three, two and a half hour long, highway runs. I believe my durango is finally broken in at 106 000kms. After the first trip, I recorded the MPG of the remaining two trips to be certain of my findings. Low and behold I achieved 17.0MPG steady crusing at 90km/h (55mph)! That's including two drive-thru coffee stops and a few red lights along the highway. I was transporting furniture on each return trip. Cargo weight was no more than 350lbs for each trip.

July 4^rd 2006 Took the Durango in for some work today. I assumed the worst and thought my steering rack was leaking. It turned out to be a cracked power steering hose at the base of my pump/reservoir. This was the first repair I've made on the truck since I bought it two years ago; outside of regular maintenance. The Spirit seems to be running fine, took it on a 3 hour trip and had NO tranny problems. As much as I'd love for cars to fix themselves, it has me guessing at what was going on during the past few months. I'm sure it'll arise soon enough.

April 26^rd 2006 My wonderful, highly acclaimed, Dodge Spirit seems to be having some front end problems. Namely, the CV joints / transmission. It's the original tranny! Odo passed 143,271kms (89,043miles) today. The suspension is getting rather firm, so I suspect the shocks and struts will need replacing - when the tranny dies, to save myself a service visit. Ha. If my financial status was a bit better I would do the 2.5L 4V diesel engine swap and get a new tranny to mate up. I hate waiting.

March 3^rd 2006 Turns out the front rotors and pads were ok on the D. BOTH rear drums were leaking fluid. Needless to say the cylinders were replaced and new linings were installed. The fluid loss was very minimal as I added no brake fluid since I purchased the truck! Fluid still looks brown but I'll change it out next year along with the power steering fluid. The dealer couldn't find any codes as I told the service dept. that after 3+ hours driving on the highway the transmission wants to upshift for a few seconds while in cruise - and on straight flat roads! I priced a TPS sensor and guess that it would be the most probable cause of the problem. I'll soon find out when I get the replacement!

January 24^st 2006 Well, it's time for new rotors and pads on the front of the durango. Parts have been ordered and I'm awaiting a 'nice' day so I can do the installation. After one and a half years since being re-painted, my Spirit has sprouted a rust spot under the right corner of the chrome trunk rack! Ack. The front pads on the spirit will also be replaced once I get a 'nice' day (-5C or better!).

"Did you hear about the guy who finally figured out women? He died laughing before he could tell anybody."

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