How to turn MDS off Dodge Ram

My truck is a 2012 bighorn 1500 2wd w/5.7 Hemi. I believe this procedure works for 09+ with column shifter use +/- to activate manual mode, same principal applies. Feel free to ask questions...

[@Cb77617]

If one of your spark plugs are bad, it will still run perfectly fine. Only when there is an issue with both spark plugs that you will notice… 🤷‍♂️💯💯

[@jpit8910]

On a column shift, if you hit the - button on the shifter while the truck is between upshifts it will automatically go to 6th. I do this when first starting out and the truck is shifting from first to second gear. This way you don't have to toggle from first through 6th.

[@davidharmony5308]

Or you can buy a tuner and hit the "off" button

[@SuperBobfrapples]

David Harmony n

[@JeffreyStrader]

David Harmony I purchased a Diablo Tuner shortly after buying my 07 Ram Hemi. Turning OFF the MDS was the first thing I did, then I had a Flowmaster 40 series exhaust system put on it...:-)

[@MDC2020]

That MDS is such crap

[@HyLifeSociety]

Start at 00:58 to skip the smalltalk👍😊

[@scottdonaldson7845]

My 2011 1500 sounds like an srt 4 after some PCP and coke when MDS is active. (K&N CAI and MBRP catback single exit)

[@TheBudgetMindedMotorist]

I used to have an SRT 4 now have my ram. you are so right! haha

[@booobtooober]

Although other things can and do happen, the MDS has been linked as the primary cause of lifter failure. In a nutshell when the MDS deactivates four cylinders it diverts oil pressure to lock out those lifters. This pressurization cycle robs the still running lifters of oil pressure. This shouldn't affect performance under normal conditions but the problem is exacerbated by issues or malfunctions in the system such as dirt, wear, excessively broken down oil, etc. I believe this affects all MDS engines 2006 - present. There are two ways to deactivate MDS without mods. 1) Turn on the tow/haul switch 2) Whatever shifter you have in your vehicle, switch it so that your highest gear number appears in your instrument panel. The (ECO) light turns off if already activated and/or does not come (back) on. On my 2012 Ram I press the shifter lever up/down switch down one click so that a 6 appears on the instrument panel (If you have an 8 speed tranny switch that to 8). If you have a center console shifter switch to manual. You will need to perform option 1 or 2 every time you shift into drive even if you’re already driving when you shift to N, R, or Park the MDS will automatically reset to on. So as of the second half of 2019 FCA has fixed the problem (again), all I can say is the jury is still out.

[@virenvs905]

The vibration mostly happens in 3rd gear because it's trying to lock up the torque converter at low speeds. I simply give it enough gas up until 3rd then take back on the throttle. The torque converter locks up and it's smooth sailing from then on 😊

[@wbforsure2104]

The way to fix that issue permanently is to get a Cummins

[@HyLifeSociety]

One day!! lol

[@roynelson7613]

I really do appreciate this video buddy I'm going to send it to my daughter and son-in-law they bought a truck not long ago used 2016 Dodge Ram and they were telling me about the vibration and I'm like what but seeing this video explains a lot man so I'm going to pass this on to them and thank you very much my good friend

[@HyLifeSociety]

Roy Nelson glad I could help, another thing to keep in mind is the mds works with the oil pressure. If a thicker oil is used during oil changes the mds won't work smoothly, and the truck will run worse when it's active. I believe on the newer trucks you can deactivate the MDS on the menu settings as well.(might be worth looking into)

[@MrRamAir1]

lol good to know I just bought a 2010 Dodge Ram and was wondering why it's sputters when the Eco come on

[@camarokurt]

I get the exact same mileage, doing the same trip day after day, same weather, same driving habits, etc, weather I shift to '5' or let it use MDS. (2011 5 speed auto - and the 5 speed only go up to 4th gear when you select 5. you'll notice minimal rpm change from 2 to 3 on the 5 speed when shifting manually, because 3 is actually 2P when you are in manual mode. No idea why they did it this way, or maybe my truck has a programming error.) MDS is just a scam and very bad on the engine in the long run. Think about what's happening with those poor lifters on the MDS cylinders, not to mention the pistons being pulled down every revolution since they are dead. The pistons are still moving.

[@tumbleweed01man]

and better gas mileage with the mds off try it out and you will like it have a great day

[@thebeliva17]

All i want to know is how the hell did you manage to get 25 mpg?

[@HyLifeSociety]

If you keep an eye on the MPG bar you can baby the throttle and get good mpg, but ever since I installed the Mopar intake I can't go easy on the throttle anymore, its dam near impossible.

[@thebeliva17]

+Surgeon001 Well, I'm mostly in the city, will probably be harder for me to try and reach that

[@jaystax8370]

yeah... I run between 15 and 16

[@jaimezapien4897]

Yep I always ,unless I'm freeway driving, I always put it in manual, because I don't want the lifter problems related to the shut off of other cylinders, doesn't hurt your vehicle In Any way to drive manually actually the performance is beautiful, I have a exhaust system like no other and it sounds wonderful,fuck mds unless driving on long freeway hauls

[@coreygunz68]

Idk what happened with my 2010 but the ECO is really sensitive and I’m only getting around 13mpg were I used to get 19mpg. Any help?

[@danielvaldez6409]

What gear should I have my 2011 ram 1500 on jus to b driving on a regular road without howling anything

[@jayl8034]

You need to learn how to "feather" the throttle on a Gen3 or Gen4 Ram with a Hemi. The cam in a 5.7 is a hydraulic street-roller design ,so it helps to know its profile. Keeps the shifts under 2400 RPM and you don't enter the torque curve of the camshaft. Once you cross 2600 RPM, you are dumping fuel into that 5.7 to feed the cam. I have a tune on my 2007 Ram 1500 and did a turn-down exhaust under the bed. I get some drone when the engine gets torquey , but I actually like it. The turn down exhaust gives the truck body a clean look. Keep the shifts under 2400 and watch the gas mileage on the trip computer.

[@nikkowhite7732]

What are your mpg on the ram right now?

[@jayl8034]

@@nikkowhite7732 Depends. If I idle the truck a lot,the mileage drops. I do a lot of combined driving from living rural and that gives me 15.5 -16.5 mpg. I do have steep gears on my Ram, so I think that is pretty good. If I hotdog it or get a bad load of gas the MPG goes down to 13. Best I EVER got was 19.2 for awhile on the open highway doing the speed limit.

[@nikkowhite7732]

Thanks I'm sitting at like 10 lol ima try some seafoam and see if that helps

[@studioxps72]

I didn't see much of a gas mileage savings runs better in all 8.

[@HyLifeSociety]

Same here, you only see the difference in long trips if you baby the throttle, I've kept 22mpg as long as your not traveling to higher altitude. (Up hills kill gas mileage) In the city I want full power at all times.

[@brianmaricle9646]

What is MDS i got a 2016 dodge ram bighorn 57 hemi has it got this

[@HyLifeSociety]

Multi displacement system, deactivates 4 cyl when on eco mode to save gas. But it wears your engine unevenly and eventually wears out your valves. Most people deactivate it with a tune or manually turn it off

[@hughghazz7906]

Never EVER had an issue with mine making noises, or running like shit, it did have a weird vibration but it works as designed. It doesn't hurt anything and it saves about 2 mpg. Have them do a trans controller up date and you won't get that vibrating feeling anymore...

[@josephevans6777]

Best info I've found on this. Thank you! You just saved me a bunch of money!

[@JeffreyStrader]

My wife's 2011 Ram sounds like a loud diesel when the MDS engages.....its going back to the garage under its warranty. I did not purchase my wife a Ram Diesel, I purchased her a Ram 5.7 Hemi and I'm tired of all the loud clattering. It's truly embarrassing driving down the road with it making all that noise.

[@HyLifeSociety]

Jeffrey Sasquatch mine doesn't sound that bad when it kicks in. Does yours have an exhaust?

[@SuperJlonergan]

if your truck vibrates and shit get it fixed...that means theres something wrong...spark plugs are a simple part that have been around forever...anyone can fix a spark plug issue

[@SuperJlonergan]

+SilentAssasin425 I have a '14 1500. If you covered the dash cluster so u didn't see the Eco come on you would never know it was on.

[@billynolanjr2266]

Why? It saves fuel ! I never even know its on ot not and can't feel anything ! All I see is the eco flash , why disable something that is made to save fuel ?

[@HyLifeSociety]

Dozens of reasons, simplest one is to have full available HP instantly. My main reason is the MDS system is not perfect, its a relatively new thing, and its always the same 4 cylinders that stay on, I want my engine to wear evenly. I love my truck and the gas milage difference doesn't bother me as much as knowing that if something goes bad with the engine it'll probably happen when its out of warranty. So I'll enjoy my throttle response and have some peice of mind. But its an option and everyone's entitled to do as they please with their truck, its just nice to have options built in without having to buy some aftermarket tuner to do it.

[@jasonneal]

I do the same thing with my 2012 JGC 5.7 I drove from orlando to miami, 300 miles, on eco mode, then when i drove home, I drove in 6th gear at the same speed and got better fuel milage. I drove between 70 and 80 mph. Im guessing the eco mode cuts your HP down so much that the engine is less efficient. Think about it. your cutting the spark from 4 of your cylinders, which turns the cylinders and everything else that is running with that bank into dead weight. the engine is no longer running optimal.

[@stevenbryant4718]

Think about it... more uphill one way and more downhill the other. Driving conditions dictate when MDS turns on. In other words you haven't said anything of value.

[@mrmoore9815]

This video just saved me so much stress in running my truck in Tow/Haul until I can swap my MDS Solenoids out. Thanks man.

[@HyLifeSociety]

Np bud, glad it helped.

[@mannyp.8519]

I just bought a 2013 RAM 1500 Laramie Longhorn which was advertised as having the cylinder deactivation feature, but I don't get any "ECO" light on the dash, does it mean it doesn't have the cylinder deactivation or how can I find out?

[@HyLifeSociety]

Manuel Penela eco mode isn't connected to your mds system, eco mode is just there to tell you how to be easy on the throttle for best gas results. Mds on 2013 and up is much smoother so you might not notice when it's on but if you really want to know just grab the last six on you vin and call a local dodge dealer, ask for the parts dept and ask them if they can tell you if it came with MDS.

[@rwjw77]

Manuel Penela it's a setting that can be changed. You can set it to show the light or not. When the Eco light is on it is running on four cylinders. Yours has been doing it the whole time you just can't tell because it is seemles. There is no good reason to turn it off.

[@juancarrasquillo6581]

Es seguro apagar el sistema mds no le pasaría al motor a veces lo uso pero tengo esa duda

[@tonyslawncare]

Cool

[@daveray8177]

You have a 2012 and your getting 22miles to the gallon? I have the 2012 sport and I'm averaging 15...and that is WITH the plus gas and an S&B intake.

[@HyLifeSociety]

+Dave Ray you won't get it on the street, I get it on the freeway with mds on and light throttle. Soon as you start passing and leading lanes you'll drop to 17/18pmg. Works for long or out of state drives but in town I want all my HP .

[@bigbaby523]

+Surgeon001 its all about your driving habits man. If you start getting heavy on the foot and passing people your gas mileage will drop. If you sit in the right lane at steady speeds you can easily get 22+

[@anthonymacneil2279]

That doesn't work with a 8 speed as I have a 2013 Sport Crew and manual doesn't do any good because I installed a Pro Spintech 9000 muffler and I could really hear the drone and hated it. I have a Bullydog Platinum GT and just did a deactivation of MDS it a whole different animal. Have a S&B CAI also but didn't really say any MPG difference yet some do some don't time will tell if so it's easy to turn MDS back on but I doubt I will with the new exhaust.

[@TheIrishPhantom]

Works on my 16' model 1500. Hemi with 8-speed.

[@Switching-Cars]

ya working for me too with a 2016 ram outdoorsman 5.7L 4x4 8 speed

[@skmc6915]

I have a SpinTech on my 07. I hated it at first but love it after a month or so. You late model guys have resonators so yours sounds waay better than mine does IMO.

[@rnljrt.c.b8100]

Lol how do you average 22mpg I've had my ram 2 months now i only get 13.6 to 14.2. My foot is kind of heavy though 😂

[@HyLifeSociety]

I can barely touch 20 mpg now after a couple mods to the truck. It's easier to be light on the pedal when you don't have any performance upgrades lol.

[@rnljrt.c.b8100]

Surgeon001 indeed 😂

[@tumbleweed01man]

mds suck I turned my off running much better than on 2014 ram crew cab )

[@russellh22a]

nathan cowley how does it save more gas with it off?

[@stevenbryant4718]

Good grief, can't you read your manual?!

[@mikemead1484]

a 2004 Dodge Ram 1500 after I started I've got a beeping sound for about 15 seconds

[@HyLifeSociety]

mike mead I'm not sure it works on 3rd gen trucks, I think only 4th generation.

[@nyinfamous2k2]

WTF I have a 2012 Ram also and I cant get over 11.5 mpg , how are you getting 22.6?

[@danielw3618]

nyinfamous2k2 press over on reset mine gets around 24 unless im runnin wide open i have reset mine from time to time itll say im get 11.2 if i dont reset it

[@nyinfamous2k2]

ah ok ill try that. maybe its stuck on gas guzzler mode lol

[@HyLifeSociety]

nyinfamous2k2 the truck will display the average since the last time you reset it. So if you've never done it it'll take weeks for your average to go up if you're easy on the throttle. My last reset was less than 2 weeks when I did the video on mostly highway, in town I get 18-20mpg.

[@danielvaldez6409]

Do gears automatically shift if ur driving uphill

[@HyLifeSociety]

Yes, it'll automatically shift up to the gear you selected. I always leave it on the highest so it uses al the gears. But if you leave it on 3rd for example, it'll only use gears 1,2, and 3. It wont go past the gear you left it on.

[@marcorafael312]

thanks bro

[@kottonmouthking2054]

I did a side pipe no muffler sounds sick bbk headers and a bbk intake 2012 dodge ram rt

[@HyLifeSociety]

+kotton mouthking thats awesome got any vids of how it sounds?

[@bones007able]

wow 22.3 avg MPG? I can't even get close to that

[@mr.paladin8721]

I get 26.3 mpg on a level road with no wind regularly. I get 23 mpg around town. 2017 Ram 1500 5.7 Hemi

[@APECK636]

I have a 2013 I get 14 mpg with my 33 mts it sucks but o well

[@EliteStricker]

I can average that easily as I drive highway daily 2010 Dodge Ram 1500 Stock tires

[@daygowest9346]

so forgive me for not knowing, but what does the MDS do?

[@skmc6915]

Disables 4 cylinders during coast or no load spells.

[@wesleyalexander7455]

Why the hell would you buy a V8 and every want it to run on 4 cylinders! You know that the gas mileage is going to be shit but you instead get performance! Why not just run it off a battery like the hybrid vehicles.

[@HyLifeSociety]

Wesley Alexander when I drive to other states I can get 23-25mpg with the MDS on, you don't always need the power if you're in the same gear going 75mph for hours at a time. Turning the truck into a hybrid would require a shit load of batteries taking up space, ask anyone with a truck if they want space taken up by batteries to run a hybrid system! #fuckno

[@redhairedstallion]

Great tip. I'll have to try it out.

[@Tucson20]

I just use a Tuner

[@djcrak]

Which one? You have a link? TIA

[@DavidGarcia-sx8th]

I HAVE A 2010TURCK WILL THAT WORK ON MINE?????

[@HyLifeSociety]

it may, do you have a column shifter or is it like mine? I think the column shifter has the +/- button on the end. The way to test it is putting it in manual, shift all the way up and and slowly accelerate to see if the truck is going to shift up, if it doesn't, the RPMS will just keep climbing.

[@DavidGarcia-sx8th]

@@HyLifeSociety just like your shifter...2010 dodge pickup

[@HyLifeSociety]

@@DavidGarcia-sx8th OK cool, do it just like the video than and you should be fine.

[@jamesrodriguez1713]

What is mds

[@HyLifeSociety]

James Rodriguez Multi-Displacement System, it deactivates four of the V8's cylinders when the throttle is closed or at steady speeds (when oil pressure is low) and gives you better gas mileage. The reason you want to turn it off is when you have an exhaust system and four cylinders shut off it sounds terrible. Imagine a 4 cylinder vehicle with 3"-4" dual exhaust.

[@TheSeddig]

multi displacement system.

[@tomkeaveny4305]

Just had cam cam/lifter failure on 06 5.7 police,170k miles.drivers side. Should I replace the cam and lifters or spend 3 k on a 77 k mill ?

[@HyLifeSociety]

Tom Keaveny I think it all depends on what kind of shape the rest of the vehicle is in. If it's rough around the edges I'd go with the cheaper route.

[@beastfromtheeast9318]

I would sell it like it is. That car with a broken engine is worth less then installing a working engine in it.

[@SHNIDER666]

Hi Surgeon001 i have a Ram 2500 5.7 SLT 2012 and the issue is shown on my scanner is P3449 Cylinder Deactivation do you know where i can get this peace?

[@HyLifeSociety]

SHNIDER666 That's code is supposed to be cylinder 7 solenoid, (it'll probably be a dealer part). But I'd call a dealer first and ask the parts counter to verify the code for you and give you a price on the solenoid. Your cylinder deactivation works off oil pressure so if you haven't changed the oil in a long time it's possible a pathway has been blocked, but not likely.

[@lastcowboy3161]

range works 100%..........

[@AJCoReTV]

LAST COWBOY will range work on a 2017 Durango? The website says 2006-2011.

[@HospitalmanMikey]

just curious, why would anybody want ECO MODE off? isnt that a gas saving technology? Just wonderin guys

[@HyLifeSociety]

If you want to save gas sure, you leave it on. If you want your truck to have better throttle response you turn it off, just preference.

[@LukeEdward]

HospitalmanMikey There are long term issues with oil consumption, walls of the deactivated cylinders, spark plug fouling, emissions system fouling, etc. A lot of premature wear and fouling issues from internal pressures and vacuums in an engine and no counteracting forces. I lay man's terms, think of what would happen if you ran half of an engine correctly and the other half out of its designed parameters; i.e. movement without designed detonation. And if folks think that engineers "design these systems to run that way," research the malfunctions from carbonization in Ford Ecoboost and VW turbocharged systems, the many failures of the DEF systems in modern diesel trucks. They all work for a while, but suffer from real world (versus controlled environment test) failures of systems designed to make them run cleaner and more efficient.

[@HospitalmanMikey]

Luke Edward Thank you for this! Very Interesting stuff!

[@skmc6915]

MDS makes the exhaust sound shitty and weird, depending on the system. If you do mostly city driving, you'll hardly know the MPG loss if at all.

[@HyLifeSociety]

Luke Edward couldn't have said it better!

[@MarkNOTW]

Buy a Diablosport tuner and disable it permanently! This may be the cheap way but it aint real convenient. Plus with the tuner it gets rid of torque management and increases power while giving you the option to run various tunes based on your gas octane

[@HyLifeSociety]

+SilentAssasin425 Diablo sport and bully dog are both good options.

[@AJCoReTV]

Mark L does that void warranty?

[@Firefighter8253]

Since I have stock exhaust and the truck runs fine I assume it's best to leave this setting on am I correct?

[@HyLifeSociety]

Yup, this video is basically just to let people know we have options.

[@Firefighter8253]

ok thanks

[@RD-gv7ub]

Can I do that to my 2014 ram 1500 5.7 don't have shifter my truck have a knob

[@HyLifeSociety]

Chimichanga there should be a manual setting that lets you shift with a plus / minus on your steering wheel. Set it to that and shift all the way up to let the truck use all the gears.

[@AJCoReTV]

Chimichanga use the paddle shifters to activate