Banks Power Boost

[azbaroness]

We're looking for feedback on the pros and cons of adding the Banks power boost system to our 2007 Phaeton. Does it invalidate the engine warranty - is it worth the money - etc.

All input welcome.

Thanks in advance.

[speed racer]

First of all I want you to know this is only my opinion. If your are looking for more torque and horsepower it does deliver that but if you are looking for better fuel economy 10% to 15% of 7-8MPG is not much for what it cost.

[blacktie.shooter]

The Banks Pack is a nicely packaged version of old hotrodders installation of headers, cold air ram box, and non-restrictive (or thrown away) air cleaner. More air in and out = improved efficiency, along with better cooling around the headers, exhaust valves, etc., = reduced strain on the engine for the same amount of work = longer engine life, etc.

Or, as Speed Racer says, more torque and horsepower.

I sure don't have the same engine you do, but I can tell you that when we had some work done at Sanderson Ford in Glendale, AZ, on our last trip south, when the tech brought our coach out he told me that adding the Banks Pack was the best single thing I could have done.

Between that and full synthetic engine and tranny, I never even come close to overheating, even while towing over western mountain grades in the summertime.

Works for me.

[Oemtech]

Banks makes a very good system... But, the ROI is pretty low in my opinion.

One other thing, on a gasser the O2 sensors are relocated and there is no reclaibration of the ECM to compensate for this. In the 2 cases I have been involved with one O2 sensor is off as much a 5" down stream from the opposite O2 sensor. What you will see on a scan is an imbalance of the fuel trims between the right and left side of the engine. The only way to fix it is to weld a new O2 bung in the proper place recalibrate the system.

[Doggy Daddy]

With no significant guarantee of increased mpg and an expected mpg increase of 1 to maybe 1.5 miles... it will most likely take decades before it will pay for itself in fuel savings, but for those who want more power to climb a hill faster...I guess co$t is not an issue.

[H. Miller]

We purchased a used '04 Beaver with the full Banks System installed so unable to speak about "before".
During a recent 5000 mile trip out west, no overheat of engine or transmission was noted - even on long 6% and one 10% grade. We rarely saw less than 50mph and interestingly enough, found less than a couple of tenths in mpg over any portion of the trip (flat or mountains).
GVW is 32,000 (we were close) and pulled a Saturn Vue with a Cummins 330 ISC........ MPG = 7.8
Banks says "no warranty issues" however that would best be discussed with the engine mfg.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Most of the comments above refer to the Banks kit for gas engines or possible pick-up truck diesels. They will not apply to your 2007 Phaeton, which already has a massive air intake and exhaust system.

Do you have the Mercedes engine? I don't think Banks has anything for that. If you have the Cummins 5.9L ISB, there is a Tuner kit, which does not involve any hearers or ram air and should not be real expensive either.

But I suspect you have a larger engine than the Cummins ISB and I don't think Banks makes a kit for those since they are already well tuned from the factory. Check the Banks web site here:
Cold Air Intake - Diesel and Gas Performance Products

There may be diesel tuner chips available from other sources, but I would not expect much from them. Make sure you understand the specific claims for your engine before you buy. If they are reputable, they will have dynomometer test data that shows specific horsepower and torque improvements by RPM range.

[blacktie.shooter]

Originally Posted by RV Roamer [Gary]

Most of the comments above refer to the Banks kit for gas engines or possible pick-up truck diesels. They will not apply to your 2007 Phaeton, which already has a massive air intake and exhaust system.

Gary, thanks for the help, I should have clarified that a gasser is what I was talking about.

[DavidC1225]

We recently had the complete Banks System installed on our 8.1 GM engine and I couldn't be more satisfied. The power gain is what I was looking for and that is what the system delivered. I have noticed a 0.5 - 1.0 gain in mpg.

[Doggy Daddy]

Originally Posted by DavidC1225

We recently had the complete Banks System installed on our 8.1 GM engine and I couldn't be more satisfied. The power gain is what I was looking for and that is what the system delivered. I have noticed a 0.5 - 1.0 gain in mpg.

Roughly, how much $ did that set you back and approx how many miles of driving will it take for the banks to pay itself off with the fuel savings.
I would love to add have mo power to my GM 8.1 engine, but that will have to wait till I win big at the casinos or the Lotto to get the disposable income.

[JC2]

Maybe Dale "OEMY" will chime in here but I realized the same power/performance gains on our MH when I did the UltrPower Upgrade along with the newer AC Delco plugs and Taylor plug wires and spent less than $1000. I've always felt that Banks was far overpriced when other more economical means were available which would give the same/better results.

[Doggy Daddy]

Originally Posted by JC2

Maybe Dale "OEMY" will chime in here but I realized the same power/performance gains on our MH when I did the UltrPower Upgrade along with the newer AC Delco plugs and Taylor plug wires and spent less than $1000.

Here is some info from Oemys Web Site - .

[DavidC1225]

The complete system was about $2800, including installation. As I said in the other post, I was looking for increased power rather than increased fuel economy, and while any increase in MPG would be welcome, improved fuel economy was not why I installed it.

[blacktie.shooter]

Originally Posted by Doggy Daddy

With no significant guarantee of increased mpg and an expected mpg increase of 1 to maybe 1.5 miles... it will most likely take decades before it will pay for itself in fuel savings, but for those who want more power to climb a hill faster...I guess co$t is not an issue.

Decades? Not even close. A 1.5 mpg increase would be huge, but lets look your estimate, anyway. 10,000 miles per year at 7 mpg = 1429 gallons; at 8.5, it would take 1176 gallons. At, say, $3.00, that savings would be $759 - per year! That said, I would partly agree with you, because you're not going to get a 21% (7 to 8.5) improvement, which would be huge. And yes, cost is an issue; you wouldn't do it if there were no benefit.

Originally Posted by speed racer

First of all I want you to know this is only my opinion. If your are looking for more torque and horsepower it does deliver that but if you are looking for better fuel economy 10% to 15% of 7-8MPG is not much for what it cost.

See above.

Originally Posted by DavidC1225

We recently had the complete Banks System installed on our 8.1 GM engine and I couldn't be more satisfied. The power gain is what I was looking for and that is what the system delivered. I have noticed a 0.5 - 1.0 gain in mpg.

Me, too.

Originally Posted by Doggy Daddy

Roughly, how much $ did that set you back and approx how many miles of driving will it take for the banks to pay itself off with the fuel savings.
I would love to add have mo power to my GM 8.1 engine, but that will have to wait till I win big at the casinos or the Lotto to get the disposable income.

• About $2,400 at Camping World, Wilsonville, OR.
• See above for mileage estimate and ROI.
• Lastly, you don't add Banks purely for the mileage benefit, although it is a nice benefit.
• While more power feels good when you need it, that is not the whole package, either.
• The additional unseen, unquantifiable payoff is the extended engine life, due to reduced effort to achieve the same amount of output.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.