Here I am

Help! Everything's wrong at once...

Attention: TDR Forum Junkies
To the point: Click this link and check out the Front Page News story(ies) where we are tracking the introduction of the 2025 Ram HD trucks.

Thanks, TDR Staff

P2609 No Voltage Drop Seen From Intake Air Heaters

Where to place water meth pump?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Well, left for vacation 1 week ago, and everything went wrong.

My truck in current configuration has consistantly got 15 - 16 mpg average. Two weeks ago, I took a trip to Toledo, and mileage was down to 14, but I attributed it to towing the jet skis.

Leaving for vacation last week to Pensacola, FL, netted me 12 mpg on the way down. I noticed some white smoke when starting cold, but would clear up after 30 seconds or so. When we got down to FL, I noticed that engine RPM would "hang"... when punching the throttle quick, the engine used to be very responsive, revving quickly and come back down quickly. Now, when patting the throttle quickly, the rpm hangs at 1100 - 1300, and sometimes will not fall below that even after 2 minutes or more. Also, on the way down, I noticed the truck "hazing" constantly while driving... much more so than was normal. A passing truck even slowed to flag me down, because the hazing was so bad. The passenger side jet ski had a thick black film on it when we got to FL. I checked oil level at each fill up, fearing an injector had hung open, but all was normal.

Would it be possible for an injector(s) to be slobbering, or dribbling fuel that would cause the rpm to hang, poor fuel economy, white smoke at start up and constant hazing?

Second big problem... the day we planned to come back, shifting got VERY hard... almost to the point it was impossible to get it in gear. I've daily driven the 3850 DD clutch for over a year now, and usually don't have any trouble; however, no matter what you do, it's almost impossible to get the truck into gear, and very hard to shift once started. The shifting would be compared to not having a clutch at all, and having to synch the gears almost perfectly to avoid major grinding.

My first thought was hydraulics/slave cylinder. However, I believe the clutch is disengaging properly, because I adjusted the rod out to the point that pressing the clutch too far gives the "tat-tat-tat-tat-tat" sound. But, it seems like when the clutch pedal is pressed all the way, that the clutch is still trying to grab... like when you start the truck in gear, the truck tries to take off even when the clutch pedal is pressed in to the point of hearing the "tat-tat-tat". Any thoughts? :confused:

I've been running Smarty TNT#9, TM 3, RP 2, Timing 4, TST standard program on 2/0 or 3/0, and TS MP-8 on about 10%. RP cruising is around 17,000 psi. I installed the 3850 sprung hub DD SB clutch about a year ago with upgraded hydraulics, and, while it's always been tricky to shift, it's been fine.

I've recently been working through the installation of a Mitchell gear splitter, which is just a 2-speed overdrive unit that mounts in a divorced configuration... but I've been driving with the unit installed for several weeks without problem.

Just before I left, I also got a BAD oil report from Blackstone, showing the oil was saturated with soot, copper of 213, iron of 122, lead of 21, chromium of 6, etc, etc. This sample was taken at 8,000 miles running Schaeffer's 9000 5w-40 synthetic, Donaldson ELF7349 high efficiency oil filter, OilGuard bypass filter, FilterMags on the outside of the primary, and some very strong neodymium-iron-borite magnets inside the OilGuard housing as well.

I've always ran GDP's 2 micron fuel filter, a 7 micron in the OEM canister, FilterMags on the outsided of the 2-micron, and used Schaeffer's diesel treat with every fill up.

Well, to top off the vacation, I jack-knifed the jet ski trailer and caved in the passenger side of the truck, and got a good case of food poisoning/diarrhea as we were leaving to come home. And, when under the truck looking things over, I noticed 2 of the Sway-a-way shocks were busted and leaking oil badly :(

Any suggestions on anything? (well, besides the diarrhea... it's passed now :-laf)

Signature is current, with the exception that the Helix 2 and springs are still waiting to be installed... .

Thanks..... Eric
<!-- / message --><!-- sig -->
 
I think you have one or more fingers broken on your pressure plate. This happened to me ,and it sounds just like mine was shifting(or not shifting). You need to call Peter at Southbend . He will take good care of you.
 
You have one or more injector stuck open mechanically. It is usually caused when debris/water gets past the filter, or if the pump is coming apart. Run it long enough and you will melt the piston(s).

The reason it hangs is because the ECM keeps the rail pressure up when you let off the throttle in anticipation of getting back on the throttle. The injector being stuck allows fuel into the cylinder when your off the throttle.
 
I think you have one or more fingers broken on your pressure plate.

Jeff, you hit the nail on the head! I got everything torn down last night, and one of the four fingers on the pressure plate had broken off, and was rattling around inside... I'll call Peter today, and see how we can work things out. It's a SouthBend 3850 sprung hub double disc clutch with the upgraded hydraulics. The clutch has about 19k miles on it, and has been installed approximatey 14 months. I've never been to the track or sled pulled...

I'm really needing to get the truck going soon, so I'll probably try to get the drivetrain back together, and then maybe take a few days off work to do the injectors, and install the cam and springs at the same time.

The blown shocks will have to wait awhile. I did somewhat get the large dent in the bed to pop out though...

--Eric
 
I am in the same boat as you . It seems like it all hits at once and right before a big trip. I am having problems with high pressure fueling and I lost the clutch driving home yesterday. I overnighted the a new hydro unit, but that didn't fix it so South Bend is sending me a new pressure plate overnight. He is sending me a 3250 plate instead of the 3600 because it is a much simpler design and since I don't sled pull I should be fine for the hp set up in my truck. The crappy part is I have to pay the shop to install the clutch again aftrer 20k miles. I guess it is the price we pay for burning the candle bright.





Aaron
 
I just got off the phone with Peter at SouthBend. He wondered what I was thinking trying to daily drive with a 3850 plate load anyway... I told him that I usually go for overkill, so I can do things once and be done with it.

Well, after being educated a little, it seems that a 3250 is far better suited for my application (no sled pulling). Peter said the "little" 3250 has held 840 h. p. fuel only and not slipped yet!!!

He's shipping out a new 3250 pressure plate and intermediate flywheel, updated clutch fork, and new throw-out bearing this afternoon... you can't beat service like that!!! Peter doesn't just have awesome customer service, he goes well above what is even reasonable!

I can't wait to try the new setup...

--Eric
 
He is sending me a 3250 plate instead of the 3600 because it is a much simpler design and since I don't sled pull I should be fine for the hp set up in my truck.

Did you get the 3250 in yet? How do you like it? How are shifting characteristics compared to the 3600?

Peter sent mine overnight, and it should be here today. I plan on working on it tonight after work, and hopefully having it all together this weekend. I'm really hopeful that this setup will engage and shift a lot easier than the 3850 version I previously had, but we'll see!

--Eric
 
Did you get the 3250 in yet? How do you like it? How are shifting characteristics compared to the 3600?



Peter sent mine overnight, and it should be here today. I plan on working on it tonight after work, and hopefully having it all together this weekend. I'm really hopeful that this setup will engage and shift a lot easier than the 3850 version I previously had, but we'll see!



--Eric



My 3600 12 CB pressure plate failed a couple of weeks ago and it was replaced with a 3250 (Thanks Peter!!!). It shifts smooth, its pedal pressure is a lot lighter like an import car, it engages a bit higher up on the pedal, and it makes a lot less noise than the 3600.
 
Seems you got the mechanicla problems taken care of.

For diarrhea (the next time you get it) eat a piece or clove of raw garlic that will usually take care of it. (No pain No Gain)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top