I am new and have questions........

[socalmat]

Hey guys and gals. What an awesome truck. I have 5000 miles on it all ready and have had it only a month now.

Questions... ... . At a stop with the outside vents on, is that diesel I smell or is it a coating on the engine. A buddy of mine also has a new truck and complains of the same thing. I have not cleaned the motor yet but to me it does not smell like diesel fumes. Second question... . the owners manual says that I have a 38 gallon fuel tank and that the idiot light will come on when approximately 1/8 of a tank remains. So, after the light comes on I travel a little further then fuel up. Yet the most I can put in is 26 gallons or so. This would leave me with a 1/4 to a 1/3 of a tank if it is as big as the manual says it is. So, does anyone know for sure that this truck has a 38 gallon tank or has anyone experienced the same with there idiot lights?

Any response will be greatly appreciated.



2002 SLT+ Longbed 4x4 Sport, 6 Speed, White with every option, including venier style manually adjustable throttle for cold country.

 

[joesoot]

Welcome!

The smell you are referring to is normal, it's the smell of the blow-by bottle attached to the timing cover... good place for it eh

Right where the fan can blow it at the cab.

I found on my truck the low fuel light usually comes on with roughly 8 gallons left in the tank.

 

[HC]

Welcome to the board!

This is only a guess, but the smell could very well be due to the breather bottle. The Dodge set-up for the oil breather isn't very popular here - just a tube that collects oil droplets, located too near the engine fan, with a tendency to blow a light mist of oil all around the engine compartment. Search on "breather bottle" and you'll find a lot of discussion from those who have relocated the bottle further from the fan to help alleviate this problem.

On your second question - if the manual says you have a 38 gallon tank, then I believe you do (35 gallons on my 2001). Another common complaint here is that the "low fuel" light comes on too soon. Dodge essentially did this on purpose, because the consequences of running out of fuel with a diesel are so severe. If you ever run it completely dry, you will probably need to do things like crack open injector connections to bleed air, and some have even given up and called a tow truck. It also has potential to do harm to the VP44 injection pump, which is a very expensive repair item. Some believe that keeping at least 1/3 to 1/2 tank also makes it a little easier on the pumps, which can avoid maintenance later on. I don't know if that one is true or not, but it is something to think about.

Enjoy your new ride!



(P. S. - Joe's response shows the advantage of being to-the-point. I swear I thought I was posting the first reply, but I wasn't fast enough!)