First Pull

[Jfoster]

I’ll be taking my first pull this weekend to break in the truck. 4000 miles on the clock, fresh oil & filter, 100% stock except gauges (Pyro, boost , fuel pressure) I’ve read you want to work them hard before too long to get them broken in right. 7500 pound trailer, probably about 300 miles round trip over a mountain pass, two good long hills going both ways.
Any hints or suggestions? Run it hard or “baby it”? My thoughts are to work it hard. This will be an interesting trip, I had a chipped powerstroke and made this same trip many times, so I know how that performed. It’ll be interesting to see how the Cummins does.
Thanks.


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2001. 5 4X4 HO Quad Cab 6 spd LWB, all the normal toys

 

[roadranger]

Run it HARD! Get those rings to seat in right. Watch your Pyro, as even stock you can hit 1300* while towing.

Keep yer Cummins Hummin!

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Deezul Doug- 01. 5 2500 QC 4x4 LB, ETH/DEE, 3. 54 anti, Tow/Camper group, Westin SS
Step Bars, relocated breather, Autometer Pyro (pre), and 35 psi boost gauges,
EZ w/elbow.

Tow #1 - 6x12 Interstate inclosed cargo trailer.
GVW 7500
Tow #2 - Starcraft camper trailer
GVW 4500

2001 Volvo S80T twin turbo

 

[Jfoster]

Thanks for the confirmations. Looks like I'll "Have" to keep my foot in it..... DANG!
#ad

 

[Bob Wagner]

<font color = red>Drive it like you stole it!</font> #ad

 

[Okie-Go]

Harder the better!

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2001 quadcab slt 2500 HO 6spd. LWB,2wd,dk garnett red,cab clearance lights, trailer tow package,camper special, lock-right locker, 3. 54 gears,ez edge, speed liner,oversized stainless steel chicken slide,66 gallon in bed aux. tank,K&N air filter,Reese 20k hitch, Terry 2000 EX 30ft. double slide 5er, 2000 20ft gooseneck for haulin jeep, firewood and huntin stuff. 5X12 tagalong for haulin the 4 wheeler. Okie Newton

 

[Cooker]

LOL at Bob's response. I'd like to add I agree with him.

-Ryan

 

[Diese1nut]

Don't be afraid to keep the RPM's up around 3K on the long pulls.

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2001,QC. SWB,SLT+,HO,6spd,4x4,,3. 54. White w/agate leather.
Oem molded steps,Jacobs E Brake,Espar,Quad Headlights,Century Royal cap,Manik grill guard, class V hitch, Hide-n-side custom bed. EGT and Boost guages on A pillar,2wd lo,85 gal of fuel.

2000 Holiday Rambler 28'aluma-lite,TT, w/slide.

 

[Missouri Mule]

You don't have to drive it like you stoled it.
Drive it like you rented it for the weekend! #ad
#ad

 

[PAYCHECK]

sounds like okie-go is a man of great wisdom! lol

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01 2500HD QC,SB,3. 54,5 spd,4X4,241HD,SLT+,Sport all black,fully loaded,all leather htd,jacobs e-brake,tow pack,camper pack,,full rhino lining bed and rocker panels,265/75r16 BFG ATs ko,nerf bars,everthing black,4'' Jardine,A. M. Pro Comp pyro & boost on a-pillar,EZ,NO stickers except cummins on door,License plate-1 CUMN, NRA endowment life member

 

[DJOliver]

Just got back from a 500 mile trip and i must confess that my baby ran sooooo. . smoothe when i was running her hard . They are work horses not fhords or chebys.

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2001. 5 3500 6 spd 4x4 ETH/DEE Quad SLT Silver Metallic. Tow Group,Camper Special ,3. 54, western nerf bars, Towing 99 Damon Challenger 5ver 31' ,Jacobs E Brake . Need :Guages, aux fuel tank, tow mirrors & Cb radio.

2000 Dodge Intrepid R/T. Wife loves it.

 

[Jfoster]

Results:
WOW! Cummins did it right. The harder I ran it, the smoother it got. 380 miles, 12. 9 average mpg, about 14500# combined, two Mountain passes. A couple interesting observations though, my truck is 100% stock except gauges and a Turbo Temp Monitor, for those of you running stock (ETH/DEE) without EGT gauges, you can easily hit 1300 degrees. I was working it pretty hard, but nothing compared to what some of you do, I’m a “lightweight” in the GCW category. I was able to peak at 1250-1300 degrees on 2-3 climbs. (pre turbo)
As some of you may have read, I’m a powerstroke convert. In the PSD I had the 6 speed, 3:73 rears. Same route I could have stayed with the Cummins, but the PSD would have been working a lot harder, and if I would have had to slow, the Cummins would have out-pulled on acceleration. Also the advantage of the 3:54 in the Cummins is I can actually use 5th gear more without running the rpm’s too high. I was comfortable at 2600-2700 rpm, 65-70 mph, 20-21 psi, and right at the 1200 degree mark. About there the engine seems to “morph” into a completely different animal; something like “Now THIS is what I was built for”
What a ride. Thanks for the advice. I feel like I just passed the initiation for membership in the club. #ad

 

[Big MAK]

A couple months after the ISB's introduction the EPA fined Cummins/Caterpillar/Navistar/Mercedes/Everyone for programming the ECMs to wake-up over "xx" mph and "xx" rpm under "xx" load.

i. e. that diesel really is programmed to realize Now THIS is what I was made for. One of the parameters had something to do with running at that load level for more then "yy" minutes. The point was the EPA test had a time limit... so the diesel engine mfgs programmed the engines to run differently after that amount of time #ad
! (I think that's what actually caused the fine). I reported as much 'seat of the pants' after my first pull with an early generation ISB... that it woke up after about five minutes under load.

So yes, they do run better under load. Made that way.


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Big MAK
98. 5 ISB 5spd 4x4 Quad Cab 3500, 275s and Original PowerMax
A "WARRANTY FREE" ZONE
https://www.turbodieseltrucks.com

 

[RobG]

Many will recall my gripes of crappy fuel mileage on my 2001 ETH. Well, it still isn't stellar like many are getting, but it IS improving.

It seems that after every trip I take with the truck loaded up (GCWR around 18-20k), mileage goes up a bit more. It REALLY helped after my trip to and from Los Angeles a few weeks ago, when I got to pull the Grapevine in both directions. I kept it planted both ways, running 2700-3000 RPMs, keeping the EGTs right around 1200-1250 for almost the entire way (occaisonally topping 1300 until I saw the blinking light and backed off), or occaisonally dropping to 1000-1100 on some of the more "level" sections. 'Course, it was deafening inside the truck, between the HX-40 screaming and the DD 4" exhaust howling, but it was nice passing up all the trucks that were doing MAYBE 25 mph (I was doing 55, faster than most of the cars too).

But anyway, my point is that the heavy loads and working it hard really seem to be helping. I'd venture a guess to say my mileage is up between 1-2 mpg over the last time I posted/*****ed about it. And I'm at 9500 miles on the truck now. So I'm hoping that by 15k, it'll be even better.

Rob


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2001. 5 RAM 3500 QC 4x4 ETH/DEE Silver/Agate, 4. 10, USGear OD, Rickson 19. 5 Wheels, DD EZ, DD3 Injectors, HX-40, Southbend Clutch, SPA Guages, Psychotty, Firestone Airbags, Hellwig Rear Swaybar, Torklift Superhitch & Camper Tiedowns, Mag-Hytec Diff Cover, DD 4" Exhaust, US Gear Exhaust Brake, etc.

 

[Pogodually]

Drive or ride it hard, just don't put it up wet. #ad

 

[stg2500]

I also just returned from a the first trip towing a 6 x 12 tandem axle from down south. I also tried to run it pretty hard. I came up I-77 to I-81 up through the hills of the Carolinas and Virgina with no problems pulling the hills. It seems that after I unhooked that the truck gained a lot of power. I now can't wait for the next pull. I averaged 14 mpg prior to the trip and also pulling the trailer. After unhooking the I am averaging about 16 MPG. I am hoping that this number will increase with more pulling. The next scheduled pull will be a 35' camper which should test the CTD a little more than the 6 x 12 did. I can't wait!! By the way I have about 4600 miles on the truck in a little over a month.