2004 1/2 trucks question..

[Morse]

I am currently working on trading my boat in for another truck. My plan has been to buy a new left over 06 2500 standard cab 2wd to cut down and add a shortbed. I'm going to swap my performance parts off my dually to make the 2500 a pretty quick and different daily driver. I found a used 04 today that caught my interests. How can I tell if it's a 2004 1/2? I know I have heard I need a 2004 1/2 so it's the same setup as my 05. This way everything will transfer over. Any help is appreciated. I want to do the 06, though if the money is much better for the 04, I may go that route. Thanks guys. . Once again, how can I tell it's the late model I need so I can transfer everything from my 05?

 

[MChildress]

Look at the sticker on the valve cover it will show 325 hp on the 04. 5. Look under the truck it will have 4" exhaust all the way through and a cat infront of the muffler. There are several other differences but these would be easy to look for. I believed the build date started 01/04,I know I ordered mine 02/04.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

The early 04. 5s seemed to be the most problematic of all 3rd Gens when it comes to injector problems, white smoke & missing at startup, etc. You should look at the door sticker and see when the truck was built, or the engine build date (on the valve cover sticker). 04. 5s built later in the year were probably better.

The door sticker tells the month and year of manufacture, and also has a 6-digit MDH number (month/Date/Hour) that indicates the exact hour it rolled off the assembly line. For example it may say 031421 which translates into: 03 = March, 14 = 14th day, 21 = time in military time (truck came off assy line March 14 at 2100 hours).

Vaughn

 

[steved]

The early 04. 5s seemed to be the most problematic of all 3rd Gens when it comes to injector problems, white smoke & missing at startup, etc. .



Vaughn

Hmm, reading these forums I got the impression the 06s were the worst... at least the threads I have read??? Maybe I haven't read enough...



steved

 

[Bekim]

The early 04. 5s seemed to be the most problematic of all 3rd Gens when it comes to injector problems, white smoke & missing at startup, etc. You should look at the door sticker and see when the truck was built, or the engine build date (on the valve cover sticker). 04. 5s built later in the year were probably better.

The door sticker tells the month and year of manufacture, and also has a 6-digit MDH number (month/Date/Hour) that indicates the exact hour it rolled off the assembly line. For example it may say 031421 which translates into: 03 = March, 14 = 14th day, 21 = time in military time (truck came off assy line March 14 at 2100 hours).

Vaughn

Vaughn can you point me to some of those threads talking about 04. 5 problems? I must have missed 'em.
Thanks
Mike
###

 

[DerekW]

DONT BUY THE 2006 UNLESS YOU HAVE TO!!!!! the 2006 cummins powered trucks featured a 3rd injector spray for the sole purpose of emissions. this 3rd spray does not help power but simply eats fuel economy. I thought about buying a 2006 for my mom for christmas but didn't end up buying. I later learned about that 3rd shot of fuel and I would rather her be driving a 2005 or 2004. 5 plus I can tickle the 2004. 5's with nicer goodies the 2006 requires specific bullcrap. 2004. 5 or any . 5 year model always starts in janurary of the year they decide to change any emissions bullcrap. and it seems everyone else has you taken care of on figuring out when your truck was made and how to identify 2004. 5

 

[WCPoe]

2004.5 and up have 3 injection events

DerekW - I believe the 2004. 5 and up all have the 3rd injection event. The 3rd event is what turns your oil black earlier also. I believe Marco with the Smarty tried to eliminate the 3rd but found that the power just went down. If someone knows something different, I'm all ears. :-{}

 

[steved]

DerekW - I believe the 2004. 5 and up all have the 3rd injection event. The 3rd event is what turns your oil black earlier also. I believe Marco with the Smarty tried to eliminate the 3rd but found that the power just went down. If someone knows something different, I'm all ears. :-{}

You are correct, starting with the intro of the "600CTD" in 2004. 5, all have the third injection event.



steved

 

[Morse]

Well, the 04 was built in Feb of 04. . I have another problem now. . Someone flagged me down while driving today to tell me I was leaking something. . It was blowing oil. Pulled the oil filler cap off and it smoked like a little train out of it. Checked the oil to find out it's way over full. . It was filled with diesel. . Needless to say, looks like the daily driver will be down for a while. I also sold the Beetle and the guy picked it up yesterday. That was going to be money towards the new truck. . Hmmm...

 

[scootergmc]

DONT BUY THE 2006 UNLESS YOU HAVE TO!!!!! the 2006 cummins powered trucks featured a 3rd injector spray for the sole purpose of emissions. this 3rd spray does not help power but simply eats fuel economy. I thought about buying a 2006 for my mom for christmas but didn't end up buying. I later learned about that 3rd shot of fuel and I would rather her be driving a 2005 or 2004. 5 plus I can tickle the 2004. 5's with nicer goodies the 2006 requires specific bullcrap. 2004. 5 or any . 5 year model always starts in janurary of the year they decide to change any emissions bullcrap. and it seems everyone else has you taken care of on figuring out when your truck was made and how to identify 2004. 5

Your truck has the 3rd injection event.

 

[Morse]

Haha. . It had some kind of an event. . The odd thing is I've been running the truck very easy. If it's not on stock, it's been on tow/economy.

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Hmm, reading these forums I got the impression the 06s were the worst... at least the threads I have read??? Maybe I haven't read enough...



steved

I'd have to go back and do some searching but there was lots of discussion about it late winter-spring 2004. More complaints than usual of poor MPG too. Part of the discussion was reflashes attempting to solve MPG and cold starting smoke. As I recall there were stumbling/cut-out problems too. A couple of guys on NW Bombers haven't been real happy with their 04. 5s from odd missing issues & white smoke.



Vaughn

 

[klenger]

Mine's been perfect. 20 mpg commuting and 10-12 towing. Other than a few TSBs and AC service, it's not had any repairs.

 

[p-Bar]

Mine's been perfect. 20 mpg commuting and 10-12 towing. Other than a few TSBs and AC service, it's not had any repairs.

Mines been perf too, had them do the white smoke thing just for the extra mpg. 19. 25mpg @ 70mph

 

[steved]

I'd have to go back and do some searching but there was lots of discussion about it late winter-spring 2004. More complaints than usual of poor MPG too. Part of the discussion was reflashes attempting to solve MPG and cold starting smoke. As I recall there were stumbling/cut-out problems too. A couple of guys on NW Bombers haven't been real happy with their 04. 5s from odd missing issues & white smoke.



Vaughn

Now you did it... got all the 2004. 5 owners stirred up... :-laf



I had the flash for mpg (not needed), had the CP3 replaced (leaking), and had the front main seal replaced (leaking) so far, but that was all very early on and everything has been ok up to now (110k).



steved

 

[Cattletrkr]

My '04. 5 has been quirky as can be. I've suspected injector froblems for the last 100K, but nothing has ever turned up. Maybe it's programming, maybe it's injectors, who knows. Truck just keeps going.



This just might be the funniest thing since Ford owns Cummins.

DONT BUY THE 2006 UNLESS YOU HAVE TO!!!!! the 2006 cummins powered trucks featured a 3rd injector spray for the sole purpose of emissions... . I later learned about that 3rd shot of fuel and I would rather her be driving a 2005 or 2004. 5

 

[Bob Wagner]

DerekW - I believe the 2004. 5 and up all have the 3rd injection event. The 3rd event is what turns your oil black earlier also. I believe Marco with the Smarty tried to eliminate the 3rd but found that the power just went down. If someone knows something different, I'm all ears. :-{}

We tried removing the 3rd injection event and lost 100 hp and gain 100F on the dyno.



The 3rd event is not strictly for emissions

 

[JJPage]

We tried removing the 3rd injection event and lost 100 hp and gain 100F on the dyno.



The 3rd event is not strictly for emissions

Good Morning Bob!



Just curious, Have/has You/Marco tried adding the 3rd event to 03/04s? Has me thinking there may be hidden power to be had.



Jess

 

[betterthanstock]

Just curious, Have/has You/Marco tried adding the 3rd event to 03/04s? Has me thinking there may be hidden power to be had.



Jess

The 03 pistons are different. They changed the pistons, and the design and the aim (angle and number of holes) of the injectors in 04. 5 to slow down the combustion speed and thus reduce NOx. This increases HO and CO, so they added a catalyst. So I think their problem when eliminating the event must be that the combustion chamber burns too slowly, and adding that third squirt on the end, finishes up the combustion, and adds more power, and cuts down on smoke.



Cummins has very sophisticated computer simulation of combustion. If you search their site, you'll find some pictures of that.



In your 03, you can get more power, and slightly better economy than you get now, with honed injectors .

 

[JDarr]

does the third event happen during certian conditions or does it have it all the time ? i just bought a 2006 and i have a 2004 CTD i know my ISB 305 doesnt have 3rd event but just curious how it works ?