Add on's for improved fuel economy

[Bob Wagner]

TSB is Technical Service Bulletin

 

[Rogue Ram]

Hey Barb, just for grins, if and when u get somewhere that can check your fuel pressure, have them check it so see if your lift pump is bad... ... just a thought. Also, pop the hood and check to see if the hose clamps on the intercooler and the turbo intake are tight (DON'T STRIP THE ONE ON THE TURBO... . it don't like to be tightened as much as the others) .



This may sound stupid, but is there a chance the previous owner put some type of injector in there that could be doing this???!!! You say this rig is not shy about power... ... ... and stock 24 valvers aren't (in my opinion) exactly impressive. I would think that the INSITE program that is spoken of in the hands of a good tech could tell the tale pretty easily... ... ... . if you are eating fuel, the data should show it, and a trained tech should know if its out of spec. While at the dealer or cummins shop, get 18-11-99 done and see what happens... ... ...



Hey, I was gonna dump mine and would have, if it didn't get better. Some times that's the only answer, but I'd keep at it.



Let us know



R

 

[barbwire]

timing

RAndrae; I too, would like to know if the timing is done by computer, or if it is a mechanical twist of the injection pump, or what . I think that possibly would be a good place for me to start. Maybe, it would be one of the more economical corrections anyway. Hope someone will enlighten us on the matter.

 

[LSMITH]

There is nothing you can do about the timing on a 24V except get a box like the EZ or the VA. The timing of the 24V is not adjustable like the 12V engines.

 

[barbwire]

mileage tips

Rogue Ram; I see that I must have been typing a message while you were . Anyway, I checked the clamps last fall, but I'll do it again. How often does this need to be done?

If I get a fuel gauge and hook it up with a grease gun hose at the fuel filter, just for a quick check, would that be sufficient for now?Also could a person get WOT reading while just revving the eng. , or does it require a load to get a real reading?

I also need to know what you mean by insite program, . I have probably seen these things on TDR already, but wasn't taking notes then. But I am now.

 

[barbwire]

18-11-99

Rogue Ram ; I just went in and looked at the TSB's and saw the one that you mentioned 18-11-99. I will definitely bring this up to the mech. at Chrysler when I take the rig in for the transmission repair soon.

But, as much as I hate to admit, that I am a dinosaur as far as these computers work, I wonder if you could tell me how does a person select just that TSB for print? So that I don't end up with 14 pages of stuff I don't need at the present time.

As far as power goes, I only have the 1984 F250 6. 9 diesel that I owned since new till acquiring the Dodge last year, as a comparison tool. Maybe, if someone with vastly more experience with CTDs were to drive mine, they would probably say it is sick. I don't know. But I know that I don't shift down nearly as much as I did with the Ford, although the 410 ratio has a lot to do with that I'm sure. Thanx for your time and consideration.

 

[Rogue Ram]

If you can locate the TSB via the link on this site, you should be able go to your tool bar at the very top of your computer, and hit FILE, then hit print... ... ... the box will pop up, and click on CURRENT PAGE... ... just make sure your cursor is on the page the TSB is on.



The dealers and Cummins have this computer they can hook up to your rig's ECM and can "read" just exactly what the engine has been doing for???? I don't know how long back, up while its running (or so I am told). I believe the computer or software is referred to as INSITE... ... ... . you might get charged to have 18-11-99 loaded into your truck... ... ... . pop the hood, and right in front of you on the painted piece of metal that runs over the radiator/intercooler from fender to fender there might be a silver sticker about half the size of a pack of cigarettes-----it'll have ballpoint pen writing on it as to what if anything has been done to your programming (such as 18-11-99).



Tell whomever you go to that if this hasn't been done, you are wondering if it would help the truck... ... ... ... . not sure just what warranty this would fall under, but if it were me, and they wanted a few clams to do it, I'd do it again if it wasn't covered.



Mama is lonely... ..... gotta go



Rogue

 

[illflem]

The tsb is only 6 pages here http://dodgeram.info/tsb/1999/18-11-99.htm. Right click on it then click select all then copy. Paste it on a MS Word document or even a new mail page then you can edit out what you want by highlighting and cutting then print it.

 

[Big White Beast]

I was duped.........

By my own foolishness. When I bought this truck I was diesel ignorant. I just heard they get great mileage and assumed my 3500 with a big utility bed and rack on top would get great mileage too. Boy was I wrong. Off the lot empty I got around 11MPG. After loading all my stuff in it and ladders on top it dropped to 10MPG.



I raised heck with the dealer and DC, even got DC to pay for Cummins to dyno it. 165 RWHP and they told me this was normal. Needless to say I was devastated. My $38K truck was a pig.



Then the Best/Worst thing happened. I found the TDR.



Now I love my big money pit. The mileage still sucks, though it has improved with mods to 12 MPG. (Finally figured out I don't really drive for mileage ). The biggest improvement came with the EZ, nothing after has added or taken away from mileage. Had I left it there I could have probably paid for the EZ with the mileage gains. But noooooo, I couldn't leave well enough alone. If I drove this truck for a million miles I couldn't pay for all the mods with the mileage I gained. (And they were all in attempt to gain mileage, Hey the HP was a side benefit).



Anyway, on a heavier truck I would reccomend an EZ. It doesn't seem to make a difference on empty trucks as much as loaded trucks. That's when the timing feature really helps.



As great a tool as the TDR is you have to be warned that if you stick around here to long you might just change your attitude:



To heck with mileage, I want more horsepower!!!



Garrett

 

[pwr2tow]

Barbwire,

Without going back and rereading all the posts did anyone suggest changeing out the I. A. T. (intake air temperature) sensor. Doing this gave me almost 3 mpg improvement while towing, it did not change anything or very little change in none towing.



Per our e-mail conversation if you ever get over this way give me a call and we can get together to see if we can figure this thing out. Since some days I work 16 hours it would be best to call ahead of time to see if I will be around.



Ron

 

[Dennis Garrett]

Just got back from another 2800 mile RT to Jacksonville, Fl. Checked mileage twice, factoring in slight odometer error, and it checked 21. 6 both times. This was mostly 2000 RPM cruising, with a few short stops, with some 80 mph episodes, & a few 90 mph bursts included. Not bad, the old girl has 180k on it now, timing never touched. I can save 3 or 4 bucks per tank full pretty easy when fuel prices get high. I just hand wash the truck in the driveway, instead of going to the car wash! I can put the $'s in the tank, instead of down the drain.

 

[barbwire]

Ron:

I will be visiting your Favorite dealer in Devils lake, sometime in the next few weeks, and I will pick up an I. A. T. sensor. I hope that they are still at the same price that you had mentioned earlier. " $23. 00" . The prices that I have found anywhere else, ranges from $36. 00 (best price) to $46. 00. I am sure that somewhere out there in TDR land that someone would know where we could get one at even a better price. Thanks again.

Jess