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What is the main reason for the sluggish feel?

KichoRebel

KichoRebel

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Hi, I have a Ram Rebel 2021 and I just recently performed several mods really close together and I can't figure out what exact mod is what is contributing the most to feeling very very slow. (also, 2mpg less)
1) Cold Air Intake (S&B) - is it worst than stock on extremely hot environments like Phx AZ? Currently at 110 degrees.
2) 3 inch leveling kit?
3) slightly slightly bigger tires than stock. Went with 285/75/18 (10-15 lbs heavier than the stock tires)
4) Installed a Carven Muffler R 3 inch.

I know everything is playing a factor on my sluggish feel, maybe not the muffler, but I really hate how it feels now. I will be disconnecting the battery to see if the computer resets itself on the exhaust flow as it is the last mod I performed, but i don't think will do anything.

Feeling pretty sad on the performance to be honest, might need to go for some headers to add some more punch, I don't know.
Thanks everyone
 
I’m gonna say it’s the tires. You added 40-60 lbs of unsprung weight, AND increased the diameter by almost 2” (which is about 5% more rollout). So you will definitely suffer on mileage and responsiveness.
 
KichoRebel said:
Hi, I have a Ram Rebel 2021 and I just recently performed several mods really close together and I can't figure out what exact mod is what is contributing the most to feeling very very slow. (also, 2mpg less)
1) Cold Air Intake (S&B) - is it worst than stock on extremely hot environments like Phx AZ? Currently at 110 degrees.
2) 3 inch leveling kit?
3) slightly slightly bigger tires than stock. Went with 285/75/18 (10-15 lbs heavier than the stock tires)
4) Installed a Carven Muffler R 3 inch.

I know everything is playing a factor on my sluggish feel, maybe not the muffler, but I really hate how it feels now. I will be disconnecting the battery to see if the computer resets itself on the exhaust flow as it is the last mod I performed, but i don't think will do anything.

Feeling pretty sad on the performance to be honest, might need to go for some headers to add some more punch, I don't know.
Thanks everyone
Click to expand...
1) The cold air intake does nothing, it is a waste of money.
2) Raising the front of the vehicle will definitely reduce gas mileage, especially on the highway.
3) As Eighty said, larger tires is the biggest performance hit.
4) The muffler will do nothing other than make the truck louder, again a waste of money especially considering that the OEM stainless steel exhaust will last the life of the truck, the aftermarket stuff probably will not.
 
Eighty said:
I’m gonna say it’s the tires. You added 40-60 lbs of unsprung weight, AND increased the diameter by almost 2” (which is about 5% more rollout). So you will definitely suffer on mileage and responsiveness.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the response, I just didn't think that going slightly higher would make that much of an impact, but yes it makes sense. i don't want to be the fastest between our offroad team but neither the slowest lol.
I guess this is why modifying our cars never ends, now to save some $ fore more power mods. i can't imagine if in the future I go for 37s or 40s.
Thanks
 
Snekpete said:
1) The cold air intake does nothing, it is a waste of money.
2) Raising the front of the vehicle will definitely reduce gas mileage, especially on the highway.
3) As Eighty said, larger tires is the biggest performance hit.
4) The muffler will do nothing other than make the truck louder, again a waste of money especially considering that the OEM stainless steel exhaust will last the life of the truck, the aftermarket stuff probably will not.
Click to expand...
It hurts to agree after investing the money on the CAI.
On the muffler, yes I agree, I just wanted a little bit of deeper sound and I did get it with the Carven R, nothing obnoxious at all no drone, perfect. I know, there is no performance, but sometimes you want to believe, lol.
Thanks for the response. The tires makes sense, I just thought it wouldn't impact that much.
 
I have the S&B love the looks and sound I think it helped just a little, what I like the most is I can see at a glance if it's dirty.
 
As.me ruined, ties and lift are what's hurting you the most. Get a throttle controller and you will get some "pep" back. No performance increase, but it will feel more sporty.

If you don't want to go full unlocked PCM and custom tune, then find a Pulsar piggy back to slap on. It makes a good difference and also increases pedal feel without needing a throttle controller. It dropped 1/2 second off my 1/4 times in my truck.
 
1923bob said:
I have the S&B love the looks and sound I think it helped just a little, what I like the most is I can see at a glance if it's dirty.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I just didn't know with the extreme heat here in Arizona if it was actually hurting me more to have the side vent open and actually hurting the performance by pulling hot air. I've closed it too but feels worse.
 
HSKR R/T said:
As.me ruined, ties and lift are what's hurting you the most. Get a throttle controller and you will get some "pep" back. No performance increase, but it will feel more sporty.

If you don't want to go full unlocked PCM and custom tune, then find a Pulsar piggy back to slap on. It makes a good difference and also increases pedal feel without needing a throttle controller. It dropped 1/2 second off my 1/4 times in my truck.
Click to expand...
That definitely interests me, I've saved the Pulsar piggy in my to do list, thanks for the suggestion. I do want to tune it but I was going to wait until I install headers next year maybe.
I do not know enough of the pulsar, so now I will be doing some research. Thanks!
 
You said it feels sluggish, so my first thought was the CAI or the exhaust. I put TRX wheels and tires on my Rebel and I didn't notice much of a difference at all. So, if it suddenly feels "sluggish" the CAI could be causing an intake restriction and not allowing the proper airflow, which will make it feel sluggish. Also, if the exhaust has any issues with flow, it will also cause sluggishness.

The size of the wheels will be seen in your MPG, as stated, but going from peppy to sluggish after those mods makes me think airflow.
 
scottmoyer said:
You said it feels sluggish, so my first thought was the CAI or the exhaust. I put TRX wheels and tires on my Rebel and I didn't notice much of a difference at all. So, if it suddenly feels "sluggish" the CAI could be causing an intake restriction and not allowing the proper airflow, which will make it feel sluggish. Also, if the exhaust has any issues with flow, it will also cause sluggishness.

The size of the wheels will be seen in your MPG, as stated, but going from peppy to sluggish after those mods makes me think airflow.
Click to expand...
Yes, for sure feels like the engine is less powerful, even like it would not shift down to increase the revs at one point, I did disconnect the battery to reset the computer and stepped on the gas a few times and is now feeling a tiny bit better so it might be the whole flow exhaust, but still not like before. I checked, but I don't see any leaks in the CAI, muffler job was really well done really good welds, CARVEN is a straight pipe basically so I don't there is less scavenging.
That is why I was thinking that I might have done a disservice by adding the CAI in this hot weather and now I'm pulling hot air instead. Maybe the stock air filter was even better in this climate.

Like 1923bob said there is a side plug on the S&B CAI that I have off because when I tried it plugged it didn't feel good either.
 
Have also seen lots of reports here that after a large tire diameter change like you have done the transmission shift points are off enough to materially degrade performance.
You can get it recalibrated at a dealer for your tire size potentially, or I believe you can do it yourself if you purchase a Tazer device or maybe it was through Alpha OBD itself .
 
Crazy. I have a 19 Bighorn 4x4. 6in lifted and 35s with 3:21s and I don’t feel sluggish at all. I lost a couple mpg (avg 15 mostly city)

Stock airbox with drop in kn and stock exhaust.
 
msnyder1112 said:
Crazy. I have a 19 Bighorn 4x4. 6in lifted and 35s with 3:21s and I don’t feel sluggish at all. I lost a couple mpg (avg 15 mostly city)

Stock airbox with drop in kn and stock exhaust.
Click to expand...
I'm averaging 13, I used to avg 15-16mpg. Your comment makes me think about the change in the flow due to the CAI and the hot air.
I was also reading, it takes some time for the computer to adjust to these changes, we will see.
Thanks, I didn't thin my small tires were gonna hurt as much
 
I have 35s on a 3” lift. I’m kinda sluggish but it’s not terrible.

Edit: OK, so acceleration is a little off, but once you start going, you really feel it. Even on the 35s, you can just feel the power. Much more than when I was stock.

As for the mods you have, man just have fun with it. Don’t take anything for gospel unless a super reputable shop says so.

What people don’t realize is that the exhaust and the intake do the hemi justice for the sound. Here you have this beautiful loud hemi waiting to roar, and the factory goes and makes it as quiet as possible.
 
Last edited:
BeesNuts said:
I have 35s on a 3” lift. I’m kinda sluggish but it’s not terrible.

Edit: OK, so acceleration is a little off, but once you start going, you really feel it. Even on the 35s, you can just feel the power. Much more than when I was stock.

As for the mods you have, man just have fun with it. Don’t take anything for gospel unless a super reputable shop says so.

What people don’t realize is that the exhaust and the intake do the hemi justice for the sound. Here you have this beautiful loud hemi waiting to roar, and the factory goes and makes it as quiet as possible.
Click to expand...
I really like the sound from the CAI and the muffler,
sound wise it is great, you are right.
Just wanted to pinpoint what could be to see if I could get that power back.
Hitting the dirt and dunes later this month and I usually race a silverado Long headers full exhaust , tuned. and I beat him (my brother lol), there are also jeeps and GMCs in our team.
I just don't want to lose that edge, you know... that HEMI pride! Still have 3 more weeks to do something or like you said, chill out and have some fun!
Thanks
 
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