The Ultimate Dodge Cummins Performance Package

Today's late-model performance aftermarket is filled with a wide range of options consumers can invest in to add more power to their trucks. There is little doubt that when it comes to late model pickups, including the popular diesel models, air intakes, power Programmers and Tuned Exhaust Systems lead the pack in popularity. These are three of the easiest ways to get more ponies from your engine, most of the time each being a total bolt-on application as well as largely being emissions legal.

Over the last few years diesel powerplants have become extremely popular. For Starters they come fresh out of the box with impressive torque and horsepower numbers as well as generally getting decent fuel mileage too! Another aspect which makes diesel powertrains so popular these days is that consumers are developing an understanding that these engines have the inherent ability to produce much, much greater power numbers with a few specific performance additions. In some cases and when combined with the right components, it is not uncommon for diesel engine owners to experience an increase of torque figures by the hundreds while greatly increasing horsepower too.



But it should be said in this day and age of record high fuel prices which includes diesel fuel too, fuel economy is becoming just as important as making more power. Generally when we talk about adding performance related products such as an air intake system, power programming modules or exhaust systems, we relate to the power increases from such products. Today we seek to not only discuss the increase in performance, but how these products can also increase the miles you can get out of a tank of fuel. This in turn means you get your performance fix while saving money every time you fill up your tank.

To address the issue of finding out just how to "hot rod" your diesel engine while providing a system which can increase fuel economy, the brains at Flowmaster Mufflers teamed up with K&N Engineering and Edge Products Inc. to put together what can be considered the "ultimate power package" for the big three diesel trucks. The trio of technical forces gathered at Flowmaster's R&D center in Hayden, Idaho where three 2006 model diesel trucks were tested. Those included the Dodge Cummins, Ford Powerstroke and Chevy Duramax. For this installation we will address the 2006 Dodge Cummins 5.9L Turbo Diesel.

Flowmaster built a very high-tech research facility that features the best testing equipment and dyno on the market. The goal was to document the installation of Flowmaster's American Thunder Exhaust Systems four-inch cat back, featuring the new Hushpower muffler, along with a AirCharger Performance Kit as well as the popular Edge Products Juice w/ Attitude power programmer. Each of these kits by themselves have proven to be extremely popular with consumers as well as each product by itself being capable of notable to substantial power and economy increases. The goal was to give the consumers cold, hard facts in terms of power enhancements if these three key ingredients were combined into a performance package.

In the following photos you will see how each kit was installed. This is the part of the article where we show you how you can install the products yourself should you feel the urge to do so. Each is really that easy to install. Prior to the installations the 2006 Dodge Quad-Cab 4x4 5.9L Cummins Turbo Diesel was tested on Flowmaster's SuperFlow dyno to get a baseline average of the stock power and torque figures. After several runs the average stock power was 249 hp/525 lb-ft torque. Max power achieved was 294hp/546 lb-ft. torque. After the installations of the Flowmaster American Thunder cat-back exhaust, K&N AirCharger intake system and Edge Juice w/ Attitude programmer, the Dodge was driven around town for a while to let the computer learn about its new products. Then the truck was secured back onto the SuperFlow dyno where more than a dozen test runs were made with the Edge Attitude "on the fly" adjustable power level was set to level 3 which is the most commonly used level by consumers.

After compiling the data the Average results from the runs produced an average of 329hp/656 lb.-ft torque, which translates into an increase of 74 horsepower and 131 lb.-ft torque! The maximum horsepower achieved was 350hp/739 lb.-ft torque, which translates to a 55 horsepower and 193 lb.-ft torque increase from the maximum baseline stock numbers. The dyno graph shown will give you a visual as to the power increase the Cummins delivered when benefiting from this new combination power package, the black lines showing the stock average baseline figures as compared to the red average power package figures. The dyno graph itself speaks volumes for the power increase this trio package produces.

But there is a catch. You could get better fuel mileage too! With more power available from the Cummins engine, that translates into the potential to save a lot of money on fuel since the engine is actually working more efficiently. There are plans for this kit to be marketed in the near future exclusively through several major retailers. But you don't have to wait since we have laid all of the kits and information out here for you. So if you are looking to greatly increase the performance of your 2006 Dodge Cummins engine while trying to squeeze a few more miles out of every gallon of gas, this could be the aftermarket upgrade package you have been looking for. After seeing the dyno runs in person, I hardly doubt you would be disappointed.