5.7 HEMI Question

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dave1251

dave1251

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Jul 15, 2005
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A while back I asked which Spark Plugs should I use for my Dodge Ram with an 5.7 HEMI. The most popular answer I got was to use copper champion plugs. To make a long story short I went to 3 differnt parts stores in my area. Not one of them had copper plugs! So I settled for 16 Champ Platinum Plugs for a total cost of 42.30 with tax. Not to bad since this was regular price no sale. But here is the problem the truck has never ran this good. I bought it with 17 miles on it. Now it has 28,700 miles. I did the tune up a bit early due to me deploying soon. With my wife and I expecting our 4 child in June I do not want to burden her with auto maintaince. But here is the kicker I think the engine is dying you know the old saying it never ran better right before it died. I drove from Yuma Az to San Diego Ca with the cruise control set to 80 and I still averaged 18MPG. Normally this is about 16.3. The thing is producing so much power the transmission is missing shifts. I had the engine reving nearly 5,700 RPMS yesterday and the darn thing would not shift in 5th gear. You guys have any insight you are willing to give me?
 
Look in your manual to see what the procedure is for "re-teaching" the computer in it, that could possibly have some effect. Sounds like you gave it a mechanical tune-up and the way you are driving it has got an Italian tune up too and it is running like it should.

One thing is that it will hold gears until you lift off the throttle typically, you select the gears with your right foot in an automatic. Part throttle it upshifts, high throttle, high rpm it assumes you need all the power you are using (say climbing a steep grade or overtaking) and will hold gears, bring your foot up a touch and it will upshift.

Missing shifts and holding gears are two different things. Missing a shift is when it tries to change gear and jams, something happens and it just can't. I had a transmission that was about to die finding false neutrals between 1 and 2, and finally the transmission only ran in second and third gear. "High, or low." Holding gears is when you have your foot to the mat in third gear and the transmission won't go into fourth because there is so much vacuum that the transmission controller says you're trying to tow a mountain. If you hit a certain rpm in most Chrysler products, it creates a forced upshift, but as long as it is under load and below redline.
 
Champion Platinums, just bought a set myself, putting them in today. Glad to know they work okay. paid just about the same price as you did.

Shifting- More or less what Mgregoir said. If you hold the peddle down it won't shift. Should have hit the rev limiter somewhere around 5500. 18mpg running 80, that is fantastic. I have seen as high as 20mpg if I don't go over 75mph. At 80mph I usually run 17.5 or so.
 
Champions work great in Chrysler products. And some Mitsubishi's (which are actually Chrysler).
 
wow a transmission mishap in a dodge\chyrstler?? wow thats surprising lol.. sorry for the smart mouth comment but dodge\chrystler transmissions sux bad... i would read up on how to reset the computer.
 
Your one of the few so far who seem to have had any problems with the 545RFE. The only weak link in the transmission is the 2nd Prime gear. You by chance haven't been using it a lot have you ? (Dropping the hammer around 45-70mph). Etheir way pull fuse 23 and try to start the engine with the gas peddle fully depressed, then replace the fuse and start the engine let it idle for about a minute or so and then drive it.
 
Originally Posted By: adam123
Your one of the few so far who seem to have had any problems with the 545RFE. The only weak link in the transmission is the 2nd Prime gear. You by chance haven't been using it a lot have you ? (Dropping the hammer around 45-70mph). Etheir way pull fuse 23 and try to start the engine with the gas peddle fully depressed, then replace the fuse and start the engine let it idle for about a minute or so and then drive it.


You hit the nail right on the head. I love when passing a driver then he/she thinks that you are not going to pass them. I dont like people like that. If you do not want anyone passing you dont drive. Even though I was driving 80 I was passed a lot. About a car every 10 miles.
 
The copper is in the core, to dissipate heat quicker from the tip.
But there are other ways to accomplish this.
Don't worry about the copper core - you still have a resistor in there and electrical flow is not improved either way.
Double platinum tips are great, for reasonable money spent.
 
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