First long tow, multiple topics, sorry, long post

[mconstable]

OK... towing the fifth wheel from san bernardino to Bristol Wisconsin... several subjects, here goes...

Power was good, at the Cajone pass and twice in Kingman, had to go to 4th gear, all other mountains only put me in 5th.

Seemed to run fairly cool, let it idle while checking in at RV parks, but, here goes, changed the oil before we left CA, checked it after 1500 miles, and it is pretty black, doesn't smell burnt or anything, and still thin, but just a bit black, with the Scotty, I figure EGT's are good, of course I don't have gauges yet, so just speculating, but went through some serious mountains, had cruise on most of the time, so here's the question, if I'm on a long incline that puts me in 5th gear, cruise is on and I'm holding steady about 2500 RPM's if cruise is holding it to the floor to hold speed, are EGT's going through the roof? causing oil to (cook)? I don't lug the engine, always downshift on an uphill grade etc.

Barked the turbo a couple of times... that's fun only happened while going up an incline, and down-shifted from 6th to 5th, think I have it down now, just can't put in the clutch and do it, gotta let off the gas a bit early, so RPM's drop a bit before clutching

A/C stopped working in Alburquqe, thought I had the dreaded problem that's being talked about, but after leaving it off for a while, it worked fine... condenser(?) was iced over when I checked it while fueling.

Fuel Mileage... I know the computer isn't real accurate, but I fought to get 8 mpg, when I first put the Scotty on, computer seemed to read wrong, but higher than normal, so 8mpg I could understand in the mountains, but not in Texas and Oklahoma... any thoughts?

RPM's while towing ... I try to keep 6th gear about 2000 on flat ground, uphill if I have to go fifth, I try to keep it about 2500...

last but not least... A lot of trucker friends rave about Lucas additives... any thoughts?

Thanks everybody... Michael

 

[Tomscreek]

I'm not sure the dark colored oil is anything to worry about. I've owned a diesel now for 3 years and it's my experience that it does get dark very soon after changes without towing or any heavy use at all.

 

[David Muench]

One of the oil's main jobs in a diesel is to suspend soot particles. . So black oil is perfectly normal.

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

You got about the exact same truck as me, and we made darn near the same trip. I went from Rice Lake, Wisconsin to Escondido, CA and back. Was pulling a goose neck trailer with my off-road truck on it, about 12,000#.



Personaly I never had to get below 5th if I remember correctly, maybe once if a slow truck got in the way or something. I took the southern route their and the norther route on the way back. Averaged 7. 5 going both ways, and like you I saw close to the same milage on the flats and in the mountains. We were running in the 75-80 MPH area all the time



The truck was bone stock when I done this and had no guages, but I held it to the floor for many a long hill and never had a problem with it.



Now with the Edge EZ I think the truck wouldn't work near as hard to pull the mountains.



Here is what I was pulling:



#ad

 

[Dean Upson]

Michael,



My '03's oil stays real clean (much cleaner than my g2's) until I tow a heavy load on a long tripand then it gets darker, not to worry.



Dean

 

[Fireman]

Michael,



I will get around 8 if I try to run 75 all of the time, but if I drop back to 68 I get 10 or better. You really have to pay for that extra 7mph. I just changed my oil and took a sample, I'll let you know the results when they come in. While I was at it I switched to Premium Blue Extreme. I'll be towing this week, so when I get back I'll let you know my first impressions on the oil.



Fireman

 

[mconstable]

I'm so glad I stumbled upon this group a couple of years back... I appreciate the help so much, of course I changed the oil last night before we drove again today just in case, but I'm not freaked out about the oil now. thanks you, thank you, thank you!!!! I have been griping real hard about the high EGT's to my girlfriend... she asked what will help, I said exhaust and timing/fueling box ... ... . I probably won't be able to play it up now though, I have such a guilty conscience when I lie ... ... ... ... anyway, thanks so much guys..... I will be getting gauges soon, though, don't like not knowing, can probably talk her into that and not hurt the old Karma, by the way, what do you feel about best RPM's under load, not under load etc?? gotta change my signature, ended up going with 3. 73's instead of 4. 10's on my dealers recommendation, kinda wish I wouldn't have, when I'm towing it seems like 5th is a bit high on RPM's and 6th is a bit low, I try to stay between 60 and 65. Taller tires and stay in fifth or swap to 4. 10's???? talk to you later!

 

[Fireman]

I like to run at 2000 or better, which is kind of fast in 6th, but I haven't had any problems pulling the hills around here as long as the rpms are above 2000.



jmo

Fireman

 

[Mopar_Mudder]

That's why I got the 4. 10's