Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) 1500 RPM Woes.....

[Jonz]

Is it just my truck or what? #ad
If the RPM's hit 1500 or lower I am talking PIG. Is there anything I can do? As soon as the rpm kicks up a bit the turbo starts to boost everything come alive. Makes no differance if I am towing or not.



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2001, 2500 Black 4x4, Bank PowerPack, DTT T/Q and VB, K&N. Max Boost about 38lbs Pulling a 9000 Weekend Warrior full of dirt toys for the whole family.

 

[azcummins]

When your truck gets below 1500, you are lugging the engine and blowing raw diesel out the tail pipe. When I got my RAM, I drove it below 1500 to go easy on it. My MPGs sucked. I asked my buddy who has been driving big rigs for 15 years why and he explained that the harder you drive it, the better it does. After that, I kept it above 1500 and I never let it drop below it.

Keep that Cummins Hummin!

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Mark Callahan

1998. 5 3500 4x4 24V 5spd, Geno's Muffler Kit, Chrome exhaust, Western Hauler Headache Rack, Chrome Rocker Panels, A-Pillar Mounted Boost and Oil Temp Gauges, No Turbo Silencer Ring (Yeah Baby!)

 

[LSMITH]

Jonz, I do not have a lack of power at 1500. That is 60mph in mine, locked up in OD. It feels stronger at 80mph(2000rpm) but it is definately not a dog at the lower revs. I disagree with AZ that lugging is 1500 and below. Lugging is when you continue to add throttle and cannot accelerate, not a set RPM #, and not the same between trucks. My opinions.

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99 2500 QC 4X4 AUTO SB 24V LARAMIE SLT 3. 5 LSD 285-75-16'S Everything but leather NRA Member

 

[Whitmore]

I have several hundred thousand miles with big rigs,several had cummins and one specialty rig had a 600 cummer in it,all these rigs the power band was 1800 to2,250 rpm, I am still havin a hard time gettin my new ram over 2200, I think im over taching it ,any way watch your egt guage and your temps will help you learn as to weather your lugging or not kevin 2001 eth dee #ad

 

[jkern]

according to the service book that i have, lugging is defined as any full throttle condition that the RPM is below the max torque rating RPM, so in other words, if ya ain't acceleratin', your a luggin' i also find that my truck while not a "dog" or "pig" below 1500, does perform much better in the power band of about 1800rpm to 2700 rpm. this is where the ISB seems at home.



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Jeremy Kern
1999 2500HD 4x4 QC,SB, ISB, 5spd, 3. 54LSD, 33x12. 50 cooper STT's Denver off-road bumper with Ramsey RE12000, PIAA series 520, Rancho RS9000's, heavy ft. springs, JVD Torque Enhancer, DiPricol boost and pryo gauges, and a bunch of other little things! www.geocities.com/phrn30 for pics!

 

[Ramboy00]

LSMITH
What rear-end do you have? I see that 2000 rpm in your truck is 80 mph. I have a 3. 54 and I only turn 70 mph at 2000 rpm. Are you sure your numbers are right?

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'99 D3500, auto. ,2WD,3. 54 LSD, all options, Banks Power Pack w/K&N filter, '99 40ft. Alfa Gold Triple-slide 5'er

 

[Mopar-muscle]

jonz , welcome to the world of a BOMBed ram , i see in your sig that you have a DTT tc and VB , its the nature of the beast . i have been thru this , the design of the TC induces a bit of turbo lag , as you state , once the boost comes up , away you go . mine does the same thing , not much to do about it but learn to drive around it . i'm sure if i'm wrong Bill will jump in and tell me so #ad
but this is what i got from my conversations with him .

 

[TXRam]

The Banks kit has a larger exhaust housing also, right? That'll delay spool-up also.

 

[KevinK]

With the larger turbine housing on mine, the lag is almost embarrassing. Once I get above ~1600RPMs, the truck finally starts pulling. I've learned that I need to step on the "gas" a couple of seconds before I expect to move. It's really fun trying to pull out into traffic.

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2k 3500, QC, 4x4, SLT+, auto, 3. 55s, 4" exhaust w/muffler, 14sq. cm Holset turbine housing, Westach gauges (EGT, Boost, transmission)

 

[Jonz]

My turbo housing was not changed do to the fact that it's a 9cm and they don't have an upgrade.

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2001, 2500 Black 4x4, Bank PowerPack, DTT T/Q and VB, K&N. Max Boost about 38lbs Pulling a 9000 Weekend Warrior full of dirt toys for the whole family.

 

[Jonz]

Sounds right, I noticed the lag more after the transmission upgrades. Once I start to make power (1600-1700 rpm) It makes up for any lag I had.

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2001, 2500 Black 4x4, Bank PowerPack, DTT T/Q and VB, K&N. Max Boost about 38lbs Pulling a 9000 Weekend Warrior full of dirt toys for the whole family.

 

[LSMITH]

Ramboy, I have the 3. 5 gears. I also have 285/75/16 tires, 33 inches tall. I have figured it out to be about 3. 25 final drive ratio. Driving next to cop cars at night looking at their calibrated digital speedo has confirmed that at 1500 RPM I am going 59-61. Extrapolation from there is where the 80 mph figure came from. I have not found a cop to drive by at 80 or used my GPS as I have not been in a 75mph zone since I got it.

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99 2500 QC 4X4 AUTO SB 24V LARAMIE SLT 3. 5 LSD 285-75-16'S Everything but leather NRA Member

 

[RKohn]

It'd be nice if they could adjust the speedo to read right with larger rubber. With the tires spec'd @ 636rpm, it calcs out almost 2200. I'm seeing mine about 2100 @ 80, but maybe it's that Polish tach that DC puts in. They outta fire the lardhead made the gauges with those oddball increments.

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

The main reason power seems lower below 1500 is due to low turbo boost - it seems to take long enough for boost to come up when trying to accellerate briskly, that 1500 comes along before the boost does. But if I'm in town cruising along at 1300-1400 rpm, and hit the throttle, power seems good - not indy style, but good... I also find the the added Comp box has noticeably expanded the power band - especially helpful when towing.



Just imagine what dogs these would be WITHOUT turbos!

 

[Ray Davis]

Jonz I also have a banks system and had a low end power problem for a while, but it use to get up and go, so I new I had a problem. mine felt like it was defueling I found a loose wire on there connector going to the map sensor. were there wires crimped in to there bullet type connectors. there's three of them

Hope this helps.