Anybody want a 24valve? Bad mileage, no power etc.

[Chace TX]

I have never been impressed with this pickup. After having three, 12 valve Dodges, it will take a lot to impress me I guess. I have just over 15,000 on my 2001. 5 4x2 5-speed. It has been getting around 18mpg empty, and 14 pulling a 2500lb boat. Yesterday I pulled a 20' gooseneck stock trailer. Went 268 miles and when I filled up, it held 24. 5 gallons (10. 9mpg). The trailer with very small load might weigh 4000lbs. I never went over 70mph, because it would not go over 70mph. Any hill would drop me down to 65 or lower. Everyone says buy an EZ, well I am not going to add $500+ to the price of a piece of junk. What should I do? My 12valve automatic 4x4 would get 14mpg pulling twice as much weight. Service guy at the dealer will say as usuall "could not duplicate the problem. " Well no $#!t, you dont have a trailer hooked up to it. They have used the "could not duplicate" line everytime I have taken it in with a problem. I paid a ton of money for this pickup and I have to depend on it everyday. If I want to get 11mpg I can buy a 454 chevy new for 1/2 as much (yes there are still some new ones around here. ) Anyone want a used 24valve dodge? Not saying that anyone else's 24valve is not a great vehicle, I just think mine is a problem.

 

[Shrimpy]

Welll... ... . If you are giving it away. . ... ... Seriously, wish I had some advice to offer. This may be to little to late but maybe take it to a Cummins facility?? I know this will cost money but I would much rather let them work on it than most Dodge techs. And I feel for you on the money issue... ... I just got a NEW to me truck. I consider myself now riding in style..... I upgraded from a 1992 to a 1995 .



Good luck, and about that giving thing... ... ... ... .

 

[Chace TX]

Not going to give it away.

But, I will let someone take over payments with a little cash up front. I have had a 91, 95, 97, and now 2001. Still think that my 91 was the best vehicle $ for $ that I have had.

 

[Shrimpy]

Chace, give me some numbers in a e-mail. Also what options does the truck have? Thanks.

 

[J D Young]

re: "not spending $500 on a piece of junk", my advice: Spend it. I did, & could not believe the power & acceleration difference. re: milage, 18mpg ain't bad, & I've had a Chevy 454... they don't get 1/2 that on their best day, & they get 6 mpg pulling a 16' flatbottom boat, much less a real load, & they are shot @ 120K.

 

[1 ALC]

Having problems now,

get that chevy 454 and then you'll have some real problems. .

and a real piece of junk.

 

[Chace TX]

Thanks for the advice.

That is not exactly the kind of advice I was looking for. I am not getting a 454, already tried that, just making a comparison. 10. 9mpg sucks

 

[Patriot Diesel]

you have got to try the EZ

Most places that sell the EZ will give you 30 days to try it out. Give Andy or Doug at Advanced Diesel Technology a call. They will take real good care of you. Their website is www.smokindiesel.com . You will not be dissappointed. The EZ made a huge difference in my then "stock" towing capabilites.

 

[Lsfarm]

Get some real service

My advice: get some real service from either a Dodge dealer that has a tech who knows and cares [can anybody help out here? I'm in the wrong part of the country].



Or go to a Cummins service facility.



I've had six Ram diesels, and the first one, a '96 12V was the slowest, and average on fuel mileage. The remaining 5: 24V trucks all had much more power and got the same or better mileage.



I towed a 24', square fronted car trailer [ streamlined like a brick] with a 6000# car inside at 70-80 mph from Detroit to Montreal then south to Bartlett NH. The fuel mileage never varied from tank to tank or for the whole trip average: 12. 5 mpg.



This was a 2000 HO sixspeed. loaded with junk too, CGVW around 18,000#.



My current truck is much faster, and is a pleasure to drive: Automatic with EDGE EZ.



Find someone near you who will let you borrow their EZ, or drive a truck with one, it will make a believer out of you.



For your sake don't just dump it, make it YOUR truck instead of a cookie cutter Dodge Ram, Make it into what you want it to be. It's easy with a Cummins!!



Good Luck, [actually you don't need it, just an EZ] Greg L.

 

[Wyo Horsehauler]

Buddy of mine had them change the mass air flow sensor on his and it corrected it!

 

[TowPro]

There was also a thread going around about the air charge temp sensor. It was reading wrong, but in the correct range so the test software would not pick up the problem. I think it was telling the truck the engine was cold all the time.

Originally posted by Wyo Horsehauler

Buddy of mine had them change the mass air flow sensor on his and it corrected it!

 

[MCummings]

Are you sure somebody didn't sneak a Powerjoke underneath the Hood ???



The problems you are having with your 2001 truck is, Low power, Low Mileage.



Low Power, Low Mileage. . I get those symptoms real bad with Boost leaks and clogged air filter. Can you say 9 MPG empty?

If EVERYTHING is buttoned up real tight, and I have a new/good airfilter, I get ~15MPG empty, in the city. I have a "heavy 2wd 3500,, camper, grill guard, Junk in the Bed,, Junk in the cab,, including a rather "nice" stereo atleast to me...



I get alot more mileage on the highway,, all the way up to 25MPG@~60MPH, I can get 20MPG on the highway when I want to,, the 25MPG was kinda a "freak incident" I must have had a tailwind. .



You should be able to get 15-18MPG empty, and 12 towing. These are "normal" numbers for a 24V

If you want Higher MPG,, DON'T LUG!!, This is the First thing Bill K. and most others Will tell you when asking about MPG,, don't tow in Overdrive,, even though the 12V motors loved to work WOT@1,500RPM the 24V is a very different beast. .

If you don't have Gauges,, WHY NOT?? Get Some!

If you are worried/talking about milage, at least get a boost gauge,, drive with the least amount of boost.

I have nearly the same truck as you do. just an earlier model.

I have a hill close to my house,, it's pretty steep, maybe a 6% grade (steep for flatland) if I am doing 50MPH in 5th gear, I run about 15+ pounds of boost empty, if i am at the same speed in 4th gear, I can actually accelerate up the hill, and not get 15 Pounds of boost. Less Boost equals More MPG. The optimum RPM for the 24V is 2K-2. 5K Less is lugging and more,, is better than lugging.

What I'm saying is,, Use 4th gear, even though the engine is screaming at 2,600-2,700RPM You will get more power, and better MPG than using indirect overdrive (5th) gear.



The dealer won't do much about MPG with yuor truck,, know why?? Because there is no MPG established for your truck If you are getting anything over 0 MPG they are (dealer) aren't worried about it. A Cummins shop would definatly be worried, but what I am saying is there are no NUMBERS to go by. Whatever you get is what they are supposed to get kinda thing. Look at your windowsticker, and you'll see what I mean.



Low Power,, Power is a mix, and is very relative. Power also comes in different forms.

When comparing the 12V to a 24V,, the 24V seems to be a Sleeping bear. In all reality,, it is a sleeping bear,, below 2K RPM the motor is nearly dead, and gets only "Marginal" MPG under load. (un-loaded is a different story)

When towing, try to your best to keep RPM over 1,500RPM at all times 2K-2,500 RPM will give more power and more MPG than 1,500RPM.

Ever notice how neck snapping the acceleration is in 1st gear at WOT ? As the gears progress,, 1,2,3,4,5 the gear with the least amount of acceleration for amount of power is going to be,, you guessed it,, 5th gear. It's gonna take ALOT more fuel to maintain speed in 5th, then 4th. The power you don't have to use in 4th gear is what offsets the MPG used with more RPM, compared to 5th gear.



Anything below 1,500RPM is also Torture on the drivetrain, and clutch!! I never even thought twice about going to WOT at 1,500RPM,, Now I have DD1 injectors, and a PE COMP,, I can easily slip my stock clutch at 1,500 RPM and get lots of driveline noise,, where,,making even MORE power at 2,000-2,500RPM my clutch won't slip and I the power is smooth.



My Dad has owned three Dodges,, and ALL,, including mine,, towed excessivly, and excessivly over all GWR's (GVWR, GCWR, etc. ) the '91 Cummins he had got excellent MPG,, and loved the Low RPM. We had to replace the clutch at 75K, we gave it to a needing family member at that time also.

My Dad's 2nd Ram was a '96 12V. That motor liked the low RPM also,, it could tow all day, and get 14-17mpg but wouldn't get above 70MPH We put 120K on that truck before the clutch started slipping a little when taking off.

My '98. 5 so far has been our best Dodge,, It got 12-14MPG towing,, and can tow at any speed we want too. 85MPH if we dared. I still have the original clutch, and the 5th gear nut. My Dad never towed in 5th gear,, NEVER! That Cummins would be spinnnin to what sounded like 5K RPM,, but is was really only 2. 7-2. 8K That's when he would get 14MPG, in 5th gear, he would go down to 10MPG (that's why he never towed in 5th gear)



The trailer he towed was a 25Foot 25,000GVWR Gooseneck Tandem Axle, Dually. The trailer alone grossed in between 19-30K.



He now has a Duramax with Allison transmission. I get 7. 2 MPG when I tow, and he gets about 8MPG. We tow a "lighter" trailer now. a 20' Tandem Axle, Dually that ways about 16-25K



Hope I helped,, The post was getting long,, I'lll stop now.

MerrickNJr



P. S. A little money spent on your truck can go along way, don't be afraid to customize it,, this is what makes YOUR truck YOURS!!

Just look at mine. Now that's MY truck. Not Cookie Cutter.

 

[Chace TX]

Talked to dealer again.

Thanks for all your advice. I am going to let the dealership try to find something to fix. They are really hard to convice to look at something i. e. the map or iat sensor. I talked with the service manager and he said it did sound like there was a problem and he would have it checked out, in a few days. MCummings, I know exactly what you mean about keeping it wound up. If I lug, it really is a puke. The reason I think there is a problem is because if I shift from 4 to 5 at 2700-2800 it will be right at 70mph, when I let out in 5th it is right at or below 2000. But I can not get it to rev any more. It just sits right at 2000 with the pedal on the floor. I did notice that it would accelerate just a little more if I mashed the acc button on the cruise, but not enough to make much difference. Read this and tell me what you think,

The salesman that I bought from (old family friend), said that service reps from DC had told him.

About %20 of all 24valves had a low mileage/power problem that they could not identify or cure. Also, that the only way that the owners of these vehicle's could get acceptable power was to install an aftermarket fueling enhancement. Only, they don't recommend that any one put such an item on their Dodge. A local mechanic that is a Cummins wiz told me the exact same thing.



Could be B. S. I don't know. I want to put an EZ on it, but I am going to wait until I can afford gauges at the same time. I am not new to the Cummins Dodge. I have installed all kinds of performance goods on mine and others pickups, trouble shot and fixed all kinds of problems. I just think that this pickup should do more, better than it does right now. One more question. Assuming that an EZ box adds the suggested 68hp. Say my pickup is making 150rwhp right now, if I add just an EZ box am I going to get the 68hp for a total of 218hp or will I gain the hp that mine should have had from the factory

(235 rated hp x %80=188) plus the 68 from the EZ for a total of 256hp. Where as a Cummins that was making 200hp before an EZ, go to 268hp. Still more hp than mine. I am aware of the fact that every vehicle is different and not any one mod will do the same thing for every application. I am just trying to justify keeping this pickup vs. trading for a good 12valve.



I guess my main problem is that I can afford this pickup, I just can't afford to make every mod that I want to.

 

[Archive]

Chace, I had a friend that has a Dually, HO that had the same problems. . about 65-70 was all she would do on the highway. . empty. . the dealer worked and work, but never could get it fixed. He either took it to a cummins shop or a pump shop and they worked on the VP pump. (I don't know what they did. ) but when he got it back... It was born again... a completely different running truck... I'm not sure where he bought his truck. . but its a TX truck... Good luck. .

Bryan

 

[DGFoster]

Chase hang in there!!

Chase you got to hang in there,I felt the same way when I first got my 2000,I was sick to my stomach everytime I drove it,but it got better and better,id get the EZ and try it for 30 days if you don't like it they will take it back,I don't have an EZ but I know it is a good product,do like the guy said about the 30 day thing.

And I will tell ya,mine didn't start to even blink good til 12,000 miles on it. Know I wouldn't trade it for 2 PowerStrokes and im a Ford guy at heart.

Towing lite loads will help break it in right,but if you can hook on to an 9000 lbs boat or something in that order,but something heavy will help a bunch,the first big boat I hauled I could tell a difference after I unhooked from it,the engine even sounded different and my mileage went up a LOT.

So give it some time and try some of the sugestions the TDR guys post.

Hope it works out for you,good luck

 

[DHawthorne]

I don't have a HO but my 2000 was really eratic with mileage when I first got it. To make a long story short, the dealer checked it out and found out the ECM was not talking to the VP44 all the time. Great mileage when it was and 5mpg less when it was not.

Just dumping fuel. Don't known which rear you have either. The dealer re programed both and its been good ever since.



Dave

 

[TPyle]

Chace,

You have recieved a lot of very good information. I'd like to add 2 thoughts though. First, are you sure that your 20' gooseneck only weighs 4000# ? That seems light. Second, in regards to lugging vs. rpm, the rpm that produces peak torque should be used as a reference for the minimum rpm at which to tow loaded. Also, the driveline shudder some are experiencing under load is not just slipping cluthes but torsional vibrations. These occur naturally in all engines but are most noticable under high power/ high load/ low rpm situations. This is the reason virtually all big truck cluthes have 5-7 springs mounted around the cluthch disc. They absorb the vibes.

Keep your truck. You'll really enjoy it once it gets right. I recently pulled a 4000# load (Allison CLBT5860 trans weighs 3000# and steel trailer 1000#) and was suprised at how little acceleration was lost. I don't know how much speed was lost as I don't pull faster than 75-80mph. The only thing i did notice was the sound out of the exhaust pipe!

 

[DarrellB]

I don'tlike mine either I can only spin the tires in the first 4 gears. and when I hook a trailer to it I can't even tell it's back there. What a peace of Junk



Just my opinion

Big D

 

[klenger]

Mine's a POS too. It rattles and smells funny. When I'm towing my 5er over the passes, I can't see the other trucks because they are always behind my camper. I probably get rid of it as soon as the engine craps out.

 

[Big White Beast]

I relate all too well......

Man was I dissapointed when I finally got the Ram of my dreams.



Low power and lousy mileage. Took it to three different dealers. Complained to DC and got a trip to Cummins. They put the truck on the dyno and said all was within DC's specs.



My truck weighs 10K lbs and was getting 10. 5 MPG. No matter how I drove it that never changed.



Then I found the TDR.



One simple install of the edge EZ and I gained 2 MPG and power to spare. If you do only one thing to your truck this has to be it. Well mabey a better air filter too.



Of course after a small taste you can see by my sig that it didn't end there for me. DTT mods go in tomorrow and then I will have the truck of my dreams.



Garrett