04.5 Mileage dropping AGAIN months after reflash

[JCotte]

RN1

Where I live in upstate NY whenever I am idling in the summer, winter or for an extended period of time i raise the idle using the high idle feature to about 1100 to keep the teperature up. I live in the country where not much time is spent idling in traffic. Cylinder washing occurs when the temrature in the block water temp get much below 140 so it is important to keep the temp up. That is a dn direct relation to the idle speed because the oversize cooling system disapates too much heat for RPMs below 1000 to maintain the temp.

 

[RN1]

Thanks JCotte, Learning about this diesel stuff all the time, so I appreciate your experience with them. I just didn't think this would be an issue where I live. I guess I better get the high idle enabled by the dealer. Makes sense that this could be some of the injector issues, but not nearly all of them. Sounds like they are using this as another excuse to avoid warranty work. Like you, I'm just trying to find an answer for my mileage dropping consistently like it is..... Robert

 

[JCotte]

Hi Robert

Always glad to share what i can. Like I said, this is my 4th CTD pickup and I have had a semi's so I have been around them for quite a while. I do not think it is injectors at all. I think something must be going on though because of the number of people having the same issue. we all fought about the mileage and they did something about it and now we are losing it again. on all the others i have had the mileage just kept getting better as it broke in. this truck on the other hand is like a damn yoyo.

John

 

[RN1]

I was really disappointed getting 13 on my first tank after all I'd heard about all the Cummins getting high teens to twentys. Everyone said it would get better, needs more miles, need to pull etc. Granted, the most I pull is about 5K, I do now have over 19K miles on the truck. Love the truck, but not happy with the fuel usage. Thought after the reflash I was on my way, but now here we are at about 13 again. I had always been a fan of another brand, but just knew I couldn't get a 6. 0, so this is my first Dodge. Still glad about that decision!

 

[JCotte]

RN1

I agree that it is the finest diesel pickup out there. Like I said, I have had 4 already. The exhaust brake may not be able to be put on mine but they have not made the decision yet. The mileage quite frankly pisses me off because my other 3 had always given me 19-21MPG without an issue. I normally stay away from Technology change years but the 03 and early 04's were not having issues so I figured what the heck and bit the bullet. Like you I thought that with the re-flash my problems were solved. It took about 2 tanks but I was again getting good mileage. Now with all of this going on I am thinking "I told you so" about the technology change. Like I said, hopefully it will get straightened out and hopefully after it comes out of the shop on Wednesday things will be better or atleast an answer. I gave my mechanic a link to this thread so he can get in and see that others have the same problem. I will be sure to let you know how I make out

John

 

[RN1]

John,

I am waiting to see what they tell you. I am tired of getting the "it's normal", or "it sounds like it should" or "it's a diesel" from the dealer. I know it's a diesel and I expect more noise. I don't expect it to get 13 MPG and I don't expect it to be so much louder than it was when new either. Depending on what you find out, I may have some ammo for my next visit... ..... Thanks

 

[FDrake]

Maybe its not the CTD...

My mileage fluctuates a lot as well it seems. I go from a high of 19MPG around town and down to just around 14MPG. The truck runs the same all the time, so I think there is another reason. For along time I kept reseting the mileage readout to see what it does when driving and stopped. When driving in town between stop signs and red lights I get about 19 MPG CONSISTENTLY! But when I factor in the amout of time I sit at red lights (NOT STOP SIGNS) I am down to 14 or 13 MPG! The time waiting for the lights is eating the fuel on me. When I drive in a direction that has mostly stop signs or I can hit the lights when they are synced up, I get about 17 MPG consistently. So don't blame the engine or Dodge. Make a driving test your self and see if the area you are living in has done something to the timing of the lights. In our city/county, they are constantly retiming them to try to improve the time for drivers going to work and they change them with the time of day so it favors going into the city in the mornings and going out in the afternoon. Since I am retired, most of my driving goes AGAINST the best timing since I usually am going the other way against the best timing pattern. Try it, see if it tells you something about the lighting and not the lousy mileage. I gve up worrying about it. The truck runs great and the mileage isn't the fault of the engine nor my driving.

Frank

 

[JCotte]

RN1

Unfortunately the noise is going to stay. It is a by product of modifying the pre and post cycle injection pulses. that is why the mileage went down to start with. The noise is still alot quiter than the older engines and quite frankly I do not mind it, but others might and thats fine. The mileage however I do find as unacceptable and will not stop until I get it figured out. The only people I know that find it acceptable are people that came from Ford and Chevy because they never knew the great mileage we were getting. I feel that Dodge and CTD are letting us down thus far and they will hopefully work on it as they did when they posed the re-flash to us. "Normal" don't get it for an answer when I "Normally" ran at 19. 8 after the reflash. No Change in driving habits, fuel stops or warm up time. Like i said initially the mileage should be improving with the winter blend going away. I sent Carlton Bale who works for CTD a message and asked him to review this thread and see if he could enlighten us to any issues. Carlton has been instrumental in the post on the EB certification and testing and hopefully he will take a look at this and offer some insight into what "might" be going on with our trucks. If he does join this thread I hope no one will jump on him when he replies. He is a friend trying to help us that works for CTD and not someone who can change CTD.

 

[JCotte]

Frank

Nice try but I live in the sticks and the nearest town has a total of 4 read lights. Not quite the same. My truck is driven on the same roads under the same conditions day after day. Nothing varies except whether I see deer or turkeys in the field that morning. This has not changed since the truck was bought. Scenario plays like this.

Bought truck. Drove truck Mileage sucked

Re Flashed truck. Mileage back to "expected"

Mileage stayed as expected 4 months

Over last month Mileage creeping back down to Pre flash Levels.

Other than the seeing deer or turkeys, nothing else has changed. Don't know what it is but it is something because it has changed.

 

[FDrake]

It was just a thought.........

I saw the difference it made for me so I thought maybe it could apply to you. It was just a thought.

Frank

 

[DGStrate]

Try changing/checking ...

If you were seeing good mileage that then began dropping off again, 2x check to be sure you air filter is clean and unrestricted. Also, change your fuel filter if you have not recently. I have found that between good tire pressure, a clean fuel filter, and a clear air filter (plus a TAG-III) I can nurse the most mpg out of mine. If I baby it I get really decent mileage. If I have fun in it, it drops, as expected.



The one other thing to consider is valve adjustment. I know it is not recommended until some obscene number of miles (100k or 150k) but on my '01. 5, I did it at 58k miles and it picked me up over 2 mpg and about 1/2 of the valves were out of spec.



Good luck!

 

[Wardog]

Since the reflash I've noticed my hand calculated mileage is consistently 1 mpg below what the OHC shows. I fill the same way each time. . two vacuum clicks and I'm done.

 

[Pit Bull]

Bertram. this is my fourth CTD and this mileage is ridiculous. i have never run under 20 mpg when unloaded. To think that it is OK to lose 25% in mileage is wrong. when you spend an additional 5500 for an engine and then lose mileage is something wrong.

Got to agree, it use to be the reason to get a diesel, good mpg. That was back when it was common for owners to get in the low 20's empty. If these new CTD's are going to run 15 and below unloaded, why buy a new diesel? Go out and buy a 97 CTD, it will pay for itself in fuel savings. :-laf

 

[Mr. Hemi]

Which reflash did you get? I just had mine done and told the dealer to do TSB 18-037-04 for poor milage and white smoke. They said it was replaced updated by the earlier 18-007-14 reflash? Could not make sense of that one but after two tanks I am averaging 17. 9 to 18. 5 around town, back roads. Also has lock-up in 2 nd gear now.

 

[klenger]

I am curious to here more about this TSB 18-007-14. What is the date of the TSB and Subject? The original white smoke TSB was 18-007-04 and the one for improved fuel economy is 18-037-04.

 

[Mr. Hemi]

It is the older TSB and it has done little for the MPG. After filling up today with moderate, easy driving I got 17. 4 on the last tank.

I think they either are a little clueless on the TSB's or more likely, like to do both so I will need to take it back for the TSB i requested, 18-037-04.