Cummins BlueTec Diesel

[mrtrombley]

Ok, time to show my ignorance! I don't know much about these engines other than some recent reading. What are the advantages/disadvantages of this engine? I would imagine mostly disadvantages as this was a 2010 emissions compliant engine in 2007. How does it do on mpg/economy compared to the regular HO engine? Is it a 6. 7 or did they make it in 5. 7 too?

 

[KLauber]

Its a nice 6. 7L engine with plenty of power and torque to get you where you want easily. But it sucks fuel compared to the 5. 9L and it costs more to maintain due to fuel dilution of the oil (because of the clean air stuff). The upside? You can lick the tailpipe cause baby it has no soot on or in it!

Ken

 

[mrtrombley]

Thanks Ken, about what I expected to hear. But believe me, I have no inclination to "lick the tailpipe"! I've been looking at the Dave Smith and Greenville Dodge websites and there seems to be quite a few Bluetec's on them. Trying to decide whether to keep putting money into mine or go for something a little newer. Thanks for the response.

 

[Cosmo]

built in exhaust brake is nice, the exhaust stuff is easily removed (although not cheaply) and you can do things with a programmer like turn on/off daytime running lights, TPMS, enable the high idle (with the auto), etc...

Personally I wouldn't spend the money for a 3-4 year newer truck unless there's something wrong with yours. If you're going to do the upgrade, I hear the 2010 trucks are really nice inside compared even to my 2008, and the full crew cab is nice if you transport real sized people in the back regularly.

 

[Jim W]

Hi,



I too have an 08, 6. 7L engine with a 6spd Auto. and 3:73 gear sets, it is a 4X4. The fuel mileage being reported by some is all over the map. A lot has to do with all highway driving or all city driving, they may do. I also believe that some might have the 3:42 gear set in their trucks and this will result in higher fuel mileage then my truck has shown.



I have tracked my fuel mileage from day one when I bought it in Nov. 07. My fuel usage is all hand calculated. When I was stock, my mileage ranged from a high of 14. 10 to 9. 35 MPG. The 9. 35 MPG was when I was towing my 5er out west. I now see a high of 16. 46 to a low of 11. 77 MPG, again the 11. 77 is towing my 5er. I am using a Smarty programmer to achieve better fuel mileage.



Most of my driving is 60/40, city/highway driving. In the summer we are usually pulling our 5er and this is most of my highway driving in the summer months. This is why I never see very good highway mileage of 17 MPG or better as some have reported in the past.



Jim

 

[mrtrombley]

If I decided to trade it would be for at least a '09 or '10 with low mileage. An engine brake would be nice but not sure I would want to deal with all the emission stuff. I love the truck I have, but with 126K on it now, I have had to replace ball joints, front universals, exhaust, rebuild transmission (twice) and on my 3rd set of tires. I'm not sure if it may need injectors, but only driving back and forth to work now is killing the mileage. Batteries will be due soon too, still original. When I was going back and forth from VT to Champaign, IL for work I got close to 17mpg but never broke above it. Right now I am only getting just below 12. I need to start travelling again! Just wondering if a newer one would get any better mileage - probably not!! Just trying to measure the tradeoff of a new payment compared to putting more money in the '04.

 

[KLauber]

Only 126K?? Barely broken in!!:-laf I traded up after 220K.



Yes the EB is awesome especially with a load (16K) behind it.



Ken

 

[dlmetzger]

Another big advantage of the newer pickup trucks (07. 5 and up) is the 6 speed auto (68RFE) has been a great transmission and very reliable as compared to the previous 4 speed autos.