2016 Ram 3500 C&C engine issue

[jmorse]

Truck has 100,539 miles on it. It is stock except for the City Diesel actuator (replaced @ 88000 mi) bought from Geno's. Over the last month, four times I have experienced a sensation like the engine is quitting. After accelerating and then leveling off to a steady speed the engine seems to die for 2-3 seconds (seems like forever). Yet the tach stays where it was and the speed drops maybe 1 mph. Pressing the go pedal does nothing. No CEL or chimes to alert of an issue. Engine pulls hard when towing or accelerating and never misses a beat. It has happened at high speeds (65 mph) and low speeds (35 mph). My hunch is it is an electrical issue, not a mechanical issue. Drained the fuel filters just to check for water. There was none. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

 

[AH64ID]

How old are the fuel and air filters?

 

[jmorse]

How old are the fuel and air filters?

All were change when I serviced it last @ 92395 mi. I always change the fuel filters @ the same time I do the engine oil & filter. It is about due for another service.

 

[AH64ID]

All were change when I serviced it last @ 92395 mi. I always change the fuel filters @ the same time I do the engine oil & filter. It is about due for another service.

Are you coming up on a year? Or do you not run them out to 15K miles?

 

[jmorse]

Are you coming up on a year? Or do you not run them out to 15K miles?

Looking back in my service records, it was actually serviced @ 89500 mi, not 92359 as I stated above. Sorry my mistake. I do not go to the 15000mi interval. I watch the dash gauge indicator and usually average around 11000 mi between services. Right now filters show 12% so service will be needed soon.

 

[SnoKing]

Truck has 100,539 miles on it. It is stock except for the City Diesel actuator (replaced @ 88000 mi) bought from Geno's. Over the last month, four times I have experienced a sensation like the engine is quitting. After accelerating and then leveling off to a steady speed the engine seems to die for 2-3 seconds (seems like forever). Yet the tach stays where it was and the speed drops maybe 1 mph. Pressing the go pedal does nothing. No CEL or chimes to alert of an issue. Engine pulls hard when towing or accelerating and never misses a beat. It has happened at high speeds (65 mph) and low speeds (35 mph). My hunch is it is an electrical issue, not a mechanical issue. Drained the fuel filters just to check for water. There was none. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

What is the boost gauge showing when this happens?

 

[Cummins12V98]

Are you using OE fuel filters?

 

[sag2]

Is it actually dropping speed? If you say the engine seems to die for several seconds you should drop more than 1 MPH and the tach should drop significantly. I don't recall if Alfa OBD does data recording, but that would be a great diagnostic tool.

 

[jmorse]

What is the boost gauge showing when this happens?

Have not been watching boost when it happens. it's so random, never know when it will do it. I will watch boost and hope I can see something.

 

[jmorse]

Are you using OE fuel filters?

Yes, buy filters from Geno's.

 

[jmorse]

Is it actually dropping speed? If you say the engine seems to die for several seconds you should drop more than 1 MPH and the tach should drop significantly. I don't recall if Alfa OBD does data recording, but that would be a great diagnostic tool.

I do have a cheaper scanner, but not alpha OBD.

 

[SnoKing]

Have not been watching boost when it happens. it's so random, never know when it will do it. I will watch boost and hope I can see something.

I had an issue all the time that I owned my 2015, that some others have also seen, in that boost would freeze at 10psi and speed would decrease on slight hills on cruise control. I only happen with my truck at over 6000 elevation. Went on for a couple-three seconds. If your motor is actually falling flat, then boost should drop off.

 

[jmorse]

I do have a cheaper scanner, but not alpha OBD.

Maybe the engine isn't quitting, so to speak. but the truck pauses, coasts or whatever you want to call it. Just is not a good feeling. I'd think if it were in the transmission or drivetrain the tach would jump up when it happened.

 

[jmorse]

I had an issue all the time that I owned my 2015, that some others have also seen, in that boost would freeze at 10psi and speed would decrease on slight hills on cruise control. I only happen with my truck at over 6000 elevation. Went on for a couple-three seconds. If your motor is actually falling flat, then boost should drop off.

I'll set my gauges so I can monitor boost. Located in upstate NY, so elevation isn't an issue.

 

[BigUglyRacing]

Not sure why but this just popped into my head. (prob not enough daylight these days).
Would or could it be possible that the throttle peddle may be loosing or decreasing the value of the signal at a certain point in the travel. And the motor is just floating along rpm wise. Was thinking like the old tps issues that would pop up on cars.

 

[jmorse]

Not sure why but this just popped into my head. (prob not enough daylight these days).
Would or could it be possible that the throttle peddle may be loosing or decreasing the value of the signal at a certain point in the travel. And the motor is just floating along rpm wise. Was thinking like the old tps issues that would pop up on cars.

I thought about that. Maybe a bad spot in the pedal. Today I have started shutting off the traction control each time I drive the truck to see if that system could be the culprit. Won't be driving it much until after Christmas.

 

[jmorse]

I have been doing a lot of local deliveries over the last 3 days. I have put on about 400 miles. The truck has not missed a beat. Boost has held steady when cruising on the flat (9-11psi) and has increased when pulling hills depending on load as much as 23psi. I let the truck do the work and do not put the pedal to the metal so to speak. I have a 14000lb Deck over trailer and the heaviest tractor has been around 7000lbs. Roads have been dry (no snow/ice) and I have run with the traction control off and on. At this point, I'm going to have to wait and see if the issue shows itself again. Truck will be 7 years old in January with 100979 miles and has endured NY winters since new. I still think it is an electrical glitch. Maybe a bad/ corroded connection somewhere. Thanks for all your responses. Have a Great New Year!

 

[BigUglyRacing]

Yeah run it till it shows its head again. Being a NY truck I know the corrosion you could be dealing with.

 

[Lordsman]

Could be the Fuel Control Actuator.
Mine would act up when it was cold outside, then got worse and worse. Dead pedal, bad idle on start up, stumble on acceleration. Very bad when cold outside. Picked one up at Geno's and it fixed the problem.

 

[jmorse]

Could be the Fuel Control Actuator.
Mine would act up when it was cold outside, then got worse and worse. Dead pedal, bad idle on start up, stumble on acceleration. Very bad when cold outside. Picked one up at Geno's and it fixed the problem.

When this happened, it was actually fairly warm, say in the 40's. I'll keep your advice in mind.