2003 5.9l ho runs rich/ smelly at idle

[Dlt]

I have a 2003 5.9L ho manual dodge ram, 95,000 miles. The truck runs rich, stinks at idle, stock programming.
does not seem to run bad on road, fuel economy normal. any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm moving soon, need this truck.

 

[Mark31]

Until the "heavies" chime in to give expert opinions, I wouldn't start it. You could have a leaking, sticking injector that could cause havoc. The extra fuel washing down the cylinder walls and getting in the oil ain't good. For me, I would err on the side of safety and have it hauled to an expert. Choosing between a couple hundred hauling bucks compared to a catastrophic event, no matter how remote the possibility, is something you will have to decide.

 

[Prairie Dog]

Mine has stunk for years. Maybe it's just me but it seems worse than when new (107K now).
Nonthing changed when I got new pump and injectors.
Nature of the beast kand ULSD?

 

[AH64ID]

Mine does it too. It’s a failry emissions free diesel, so you’ll smell it.

 

[Mark31]

I guess I misunderstood. I thought this was a new problem--that the truck had just started having "bad breath". Mine smells some, too, when cold. i would hate to have to let it run cold in a closed-in garage for more than a few seconds!

 

[Bob4x4]

There are 03’s built without a cat.They will smell muck like older diesels

 

[AH64ID]

There are 03’s built without a cat.They will smell muck like older diesels

I guess I should have added that my 05 has 03/04 pistons/injectors and the kitty is MIA.

When I wrote the program for my truck I used the 03HO OEM tune as a baseline.

 

[Prairie Dog]

I don't think there were any 03's built with cats unless it was the 250HP Ca. version.

 

[Tuesdak]

Did you just change the oil? Oil can have an odor from the road draft tube.

 

[RPosey]

For instance Shell Rotella, new Shell Rotella oil always smells bad.

 

[seafish]

The Pennzoil that Lithia uses for the 3k interval free oil change on my truck ALSO smells (really I should say stinks but that is gramitacally incorrect) "rich and fully" though my oil level never climbs.